1898. Los últimos de Filipinas

After the nearly annihilation of the military post in Baler (Philippines) by the local independist forces, the Spanish colonial power decides to send 50 men reinforcement to reclaim the village 200 kilometers from Manila. Due to the local uprising they decide to ditch in the local mission. The Spanish forces, against all odds, manage to resits a siege of more than 11 months. Their epic defence is still part of the Spanish army lore and one of the few watermarks n the 89 traumatic loss of the last Spanish colonies. Baler represents not only the end of the Spanish global Empire but the beginning of the US neocolonial power.

My assessment is purely for technical production. Still with nausea, I describe in my language the pain of seeing with what ignominious discredit relates a real fact of Spanish military history of great value and gallantry, of academic study in military schools like West Point, not in vain its motto is " duty honor and homeland. " The Americans perform El Álamo (1960), wrapped in the soft melody of Green Leaves of Summer and "we" a milestone that dishonors those who died for their country and, above all, the truth as it testifies to those who they survived. I see with stupor a drug addict missionary, a cowardly captain, a deranged sergeant and a paranoid lieutenant without command. All crazy. The truth was the overcoming with stoic determination of a siege, the rationing of food and weapons, the commitment of officers and troops without falling for the deceptions of the Filipinos. In effect, there was an honor guard in the capitulation, not for the "four hundred years", but for the impression caused in the victors and for the integrity shown by the besieged. What can be expected seeing how we polarize daily life. We have no remedy.

Despite the high production quality (and the budget that comes with that), the satisfactory cinematography and selection of actors, the film's existence is still the most baffling thing about it. It's ultimately in bad form to praise and give the perpetrators of oppression this heroic treatment. Yes, they are flawed, yes, the film shows the bad and foolish choices, but the actual making of the film and spending all the time and effort on it is the bigger statement here.

Excellent production with a very good cast, and a good score. So enjoyable, it would have been nice as a mini-series.

You have to go back ... back into time. Way back into time that is. As the title suggests 120 years ago right now. You did not have many means of communication, so when you found yourself in a compromising situation, you did not have the opportunity to call for help that easily as it might be today. So Spanish Soldiers find themselves in a very strange war situation with a man at helm who seems determined but also one that goes by he book (for better or worse).

The main character has his positive and negative traits. Something we will come to learn during the course of the movie. He is played by a very famous spanish actor. So there is immediately a certain gravitas. But even people who may see him for the first time will feel his screen presence. And while this is a general (no pun intended) war situation, it does revolve around him and what happened ... obviously not everything will have played out as shown on screen (there could not be enough information for that much detail), but overall this is quite draining ... as it should be