2008 Metro Manila Film Festival: Baler Movie Review
Mighty)
The day after Christmas, I went to the Cinema of Walter-Mart North EDSA (at Munoz) to watch the historical film Baler. I love watching historical films, especially those that can really transport me through time and space and make me feel what happened during that period. It was the first movie of the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival My girlfriend might have been smiling at me because I was taking notes of the film on my mobile phone while I was watching. Anyway, here’s my review of Baler.
A Snapshot
Baler is based on a historical event: The Siege of Baler, which occurred towards the end of the Philippine Spanish War at the end of the nineteenth century where 47 Spanish soldiers took refuge in the Church and withstood the bombardment of the Filipino army.
The film then portrayed the love story between Celso Resureccion (Jericho Rosales), a Half-Spanish, Half-Filipino soldier and Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis).
The summary of the story comes from the lips of Lope (Mark Bautista): “Mahirap umibig sa panahon ng digmaan” (Love is difficult in the time of war).
I Like…
I loved the photography of the film. The color of the shots evoked the kind of nostalgia I felt when I watch the Jose Rizal Film by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. When I saw the creek, the mountains, the river, the greenery and the landscape, I could feel the 19th century drawing me in.
Philip Salvador displayed excellent acting skills, displaying a wide range of emotion from rage to affection and from fear of separation and excitement of reunion. Rio Locsin portrayed the ever-loving mother and Carlo Aquino’s portrayal of the Sakristan whose loyalties to his family and nation conflicted with his devotion to God and to the priest.
Ryan Eigenmann was pretty good for the role he was put in as the officer who succeeded the two officers who died in battle. I believe that Ryan Eigenmann is one of the most effective kontrabidas (villains) of his generation in Philippine Cinema.
Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales also delivered their best in fulfilling the requirements of the storyline.
I Kinda Hate…
The film, somehow, failed to completely suspend my disbelief and transport me to 19th century Baler. Perhaps it was the dialogues, or the production set or the speech (and accent) of the Spanish soldiers. Several times during the movie, I felt like it was a twenty-first century film set in a remote province.
On the choice of actors and actresses… Anne Curtis wasn’t completely right for the role. She is too “mestiza” for the role. A twenty-something morena (like Nora Aunor in her twenties) would have been great!
Jericho Rosales could not be mistaken for a Spaniard, or even a half-Spaniard for that matter. I was distracted by that thought throughout the movie.
Baron Geisler’s character, while delivering a good Spanish speech, was not effective enough for me to overlook that he was Baron Geisler playing a Spanish character.
The film also forgot to consider the social norms and mores of nineteenth century provincial life where almost everyone knew each other, where women were expected to behave like “Maria Clara” and be home before dark and work at home. Feliza’s character had the liberty to stay away from home even after dark and share way too many kisses with her beloved Celso.
Unless, you are on an island completely remote from the mainland, anybody could see two people enjoying each other’s company on the beach.
On the Whole…
Although there were a number of glitches in the film, I still could say that I enjoyed it for its historical value and its narrative.
A lot of genre films are missing in Philippine Cinema. Period films are a great means to make more people aware of our history and what was going on in our country at a certain time in history. Yet, the challenges are very very big! The budget is big too.
Given its limited budget and lack of Spanish (or at least Spanish-looking) actors, I daresay that Baler is a good movie in its own right.
Last thing…
Did you notice the “thank you” notes about Sen. Edgardo Angara? Hmmm… the 2010 politics bulb suddenly lit in my mind. Anyway, if he helped fund the film, then we ought to thank him for it. 
Happy New Year everyone!
| 3.1 (11 people) |
Iti trailer pay laeng gayyem ket para kaniak adda maawidna a tropeo.
ngem napinpintas koma no mabuya ti pakabuklanna, hehehe.
“ayat iti panawen ti ariangga”
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its just a coincidence that i have watched baler.I used a gc and they didnt allow me to purchase two tickets from two different booths(sm cinemas,batangas)sux….i think the movie is boring at first…but tell you this…its really a good choice..i just dont think that curtis’ fits in the role that much,a lot still look malays those days..lol…and the spanish accent sounds very mexican(castillian spanish is different!)….i love the smi sepia background(i dunno how to call that..lol)
Hello dzaztrouz! It’s great to know you also enjoyed the film. I did love it although, like I wrote, there were several details I didn’t like that much.
I hope we have more films like Baler (and better ones too.) 
It deserves the awards!
hello.
did you notice one major error in the film?
During the siege, Feliza was able to get pregnant and give birth to Celso Resurrecion Jr, but remarkably, Celso’s puppy never actually grew! Only a few months into the siege and Bravo, the puppy, should have grown into an adult-sized dog already.
Hi J! Hahah. Oo nga! that was one major error!
I love historical films myself (though I’m more interested in World War II era), so of course I watched Baler. And yes, the first part was just ho-hum and they didn’t consider (correct again) the social norms of the era. That Feliza was wading around the water with a half-naked Celso is an absolute no no at the time. I didn’t think it was believable at all, and the film didn’t focus enough on the development of their love story for me to really feel her loss at the end.
The last parts of the film are perhaps the better parts. They had it tough at those times. All in all, I was a little disappointed with Anne Curtis’s acting. It’s only at the final part that she shone, but I think I speak for everyone when I say Philip Salvador should’ve taken on dramas a long time ago. He’s surprising superb in his role.
uhhh its my midterm project that’s why i watch this movie….for me this movie tells how pilipino people fougth for their mother lands freedom..
well, I watched the movie because its a project of the SSC of UB, well, its kinda modernized, because anne is not a good actress, hndi nya naantig ang puso ko,, d aq napaiyak,, hahahaha!!! nasad lng aqoh sa last part na pintay si celso,, eh huling araw na pla,,, azar! tska nung kinain nila c bravo,,
Hey maghe. I also didn’t like Anne Curtis being in the movie. heheh. tsaka di ba bawal sa dalagang pilipina nun ang ma-late ng uwi.
balllllllllllller….tlgang umiyak ako wile wtchng the baler movie.. yong scene na lmbas c carlo sa church at niyakap xa ng mahgpt n phillip at yong hinanap n ann si echo sa loob ng church.tglng nkaka iyak sobra.kaya lng dissapnted ako kc d cla ngkatlyan…it is really promising story.sobra..hiya tloy ako pg lbas sa theater.yong cast,sobrang ok.mganda yong team up.at mgnda dn yong setting.
ito tlga yong slightly modern version ng history ng pilipinas!!!
Hi Graxa, glad to know that you enjoyed Baler! Ako rin, nag-enjoy.
…it’s so beautiful…i like the flow of the story……kea nga lang. gya ng cnb ni “J”…di nga lumaki si bravo!
hahahah th movie was quite fun to watch……………………………..hehehehe…i really adores bravo the dog………………..bravo is so cute………….
hehehee iyot mga pepz………………..ganda ganda ng baler
very nakaka iyak.owwwsss……..hindi nga lng masyadong convincing ang raming di magkatugma,,,nahihilo 2loy a q..kailangan pa naman sa project na ga2win ko naintindihan ko yung s2ry…im really worse in history and even analyses…i really agree ky mighty ra ming comment..agree nga lang ako sa lahat…sa kin mga clazm8 sana natapos nyu na ang baler..i papasa na yan bukas………lastly baler is really worthy in gaining appreciations………bye
ang pangit ng web site nyo..nakakabwct
i agree with all the points raised by mighty: typecasting, production set, theme, narrative, etc. pinag-isipang mabuti. though anne curtis is a good actress, yes, she seems not right for the character of feliza. and yes, echo seems not to have even a drop of spanish blood in his vein, unless the dominant trait of one of his parents is too invasive; or as advised by a gynecology myth, his mother loves his father so much, vice versa. anyway, what i like most in baler is the non-linear narrative employed in the film, which was told from the perspective of the son of celso and feliza. though not something new, it was effective in the film and set the tone of nostalgia from start to finish-as if an explicit way of putting a historical tag on the film. it also made the audience weave succeeding events not shown earlier-compelling them to be more creative.
Ei Cris.a.sa, thanks for visiting. Yeah. maraming magandang points yung movie. the POV was also good. If magkaron pa ng historical films, sana mas maganda ung casting.
First of all, I praise the movie’s producers for their honest effort to make a quality film.
However, I must say, as a scriptwriting enthusiast and history buff, I would recommend that writers of in-period stories take great care of historical details — the niceties, nuances, culture, etc. — of the time.
Anne Curtis is way too mestiza while Jericho Rosales looks way too Filipino. Baliktad. Even Spaniards born in the Philippines at the time (the insulares) looked, as we say, Kastilaloy. Padre Jose Burgos was one (yes, of the Gomburza trio). Google his picture and see for yourself.
And, please, hire Caucasian actors next time if you need Caucasians.
One lesson in making in-period films is that you run the risk of criticism if you don’t pay great attention to historical details. Watch the 1982 movie “Ghandhi”.
Overall, like I’ve said, the film’s producers still deserve praise for making the effort at all.
_the movie is quite dramatic and it really reflects the history of the Phillippines that is the Philippine Spanish War.
_Love to see Jericho again.hehehe
Cine Indie for MDG
A national short film competition to promote the Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s. Responding to the world’s main development challenges and to the calls of civil society, the MDGs promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases.
In connection with this, The FORUM for Family Planning and Development (The FORUM), a non-government organization calls on Filipino independent filmmakers to put their talents to the test and channel their passion for a good cause by joining the Cine-Indie for MDG, a national short film competition with the MDGs as the guiding theme of the entries.
The Cine Indie for MDG has three categories: Feature, Animation, and Documentary, which should be in Film or Digital format and the length must be 5 to 25 minutes only. Any entry beyond the length requirement would be disqualified.
Interested participants must choose one or more from the targets of the MDGs as guiding theme of their scripts and may submit a maximum of two entries, but only one entry per proponent may be considered as as a winner. Works faithful to the theme of the competition which have already been completed or currently in production phase are still qualified for as long as these have not been commercially shown or have been entered in any competition.
All works must be strictly independent works and not produced by commercial producers, to guarantee the participants’ creative control over the film. All works must have their premiere screening at the Cine-Indie for MGD Festival on September 21-25, 2009.
The aim is to have three (3) winners per category or nine (9) winners total. Winners will receive cash and film equipment and have the opportunity to go on tour to different campuses and communities to talk about their film.
Series of orientations and consultation meetings will be done in selected cities and venues around the country within April to June, 2009 to help promote the MDGs and guide interested contestants in developing their stories.
It is encouraged that filmmakers tackle MDGs that the Philippines is slow or least likely to achieve like MDG 2 and 5.
For more information, log on this website http://www.cineindie4mdg.wordpress.com or you may call the The FORUM at telephone number (+632) 426-5484 or email The Coordinator at chi.vallido@gmail.com. [The FORUM Media Service]
i h8 it kc pinaty c jericho s last part.i was xpcting p amn n mgk2sma cla n ann in the end!!!! h8 q tlga mga movi n pnapaty ang bida….nka2wlng gana!huhuhuh
OVER…….NAKAKAINLOVE TALAGA NAKAKAIYAK DIVAH MGA GUYS ….GUSTO KO ULIT MANOOD KAHIT ILANG ULIT D NAKAKASAWA
MGA GUYS GUSTO NYO MANOD ULIT PUNTA KAYO SA ____ALAM NINYO BAKA MAY NATRUMA NA JAN SA PANOOD NA YAN L;;’,. GALING NI ANNE AT JERICHO NOH;’./ IDOL KO GUD SILA
i watched diz movie because we have diz home study assignment about movie analysis or whatsoever you called dat thing . my friends and i choose ” baler ” . at first i disagree because it’s like so boring and so uhmm. i think u know wat i mean? but when the story goes by . i just get ” wow” hha !! u know dat thing . i dont know how to explain dat !! LOL . first thing first ; i dont think dat anne fits d role gven 2 her . and da accent of d spanish wasnt greatly develop hir . but ol in ol. i loved it !! nd honestly ! i cried !! =) good job guyz !!
the movie was great showing things about the spaniards ung bahagi ng kwento kung saan malungkot ako at ang kamag-aral ko nung pinatay si bravo ang cute kasi niya nung nalaman namin siya yung namatay tumutunog kami ng “aw…bakit siya pinatay?”
)
i love this movie. super happy ako nung pinalabas eto dahil comeback film ni echo na fave actor ko. tapos nakapartner pa niya si anne na super fave actress ko naman. sobrang nakakaiyak.
true na kung titingnan ung physical attributes ni anne at echo, parang di bagay na spaniard si echo tapos si anne naman ung pure pinoy, pero i think ang importante naman ay nagampanan nila ng ayos yung role because of their superb acting diba, hehe.