The film is based on the historical event known as “The Siege of Baler,”where 57 Spanish soldiers held fort in the town of Baler for almost one year (October 1898 to June 1899) during the final moments of the Spanish occupationin the Philippines. The film’s story is actually a romance between a Filipino-Spanish soldier (played by Jericho Rosales) and a Filipina Baler native (playedby Anne Curtis).
Baler is a classic set love story played in the role by Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales.
It has a unique set up of the love story between a Spaniard and a Filipina that happened in the siege of Baler, Quezon in the World War where we fought the Spaniard colonization. The HUKBALAHAP or Hukbo Laban sa Hapon is the main army of the Philippines that time who resisted in the war against the Japanese and can be clearly manifested in this movie as the same people who fought against the colonization by the Spaniards. The movie, Baler is played in the perfect combination by Anne Curtis, a Filipina who fell in love with Jericho Rosales a Spaniard.
This is yet another once in a lifetime team up by two of the best actors and actress in Philippine cinema. Baler is a movie that captures a different twist in its story as set in the early times of the Filipino-Spanish colonization and as the warring parties come across. The Romeo & Juliet-inspired love story is given a “romance inthe time of war” twist. I can say that Baler is already the best movie in the film festival, thecraftsmanship is definitely there.
The Essay on The Involvement Of The International Brigades In The Spanish Civil War
On the 18 July 1936, leading Generals of the Spanish Army led a revolt against the democratically elected Popular Front government of Spain. Within days the country was plunged into civil war with the Republicans fighting the insurgent Nationalists for control of the country. The various democracies of the world turned their backs on Spains plight and even hindered the Republicans by supporting ...
There were nice shots of the Baler town in itsrural glory and the acting of Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis is commendable. Even the supporting cast of Philip Salvador, Carlo Aquino, Rio Locsin, NikkiBacolod and Mark Bautista had strong performances in the film. However, I do have my scene picks: First and foremost is the flimsyproduction of the Baler church where the Spanish soldiers held fort. It didn’t look authentic at all and you could see how unreal it was. Second is the miscast of AnneCurtis as Feliza, the lead female character.
I was wondering if there other actresseswith better Filipina physical features that were more appropriate for the role. Andfinally, as the film wanted to be authentic to the historical events, the moviedragged on from the middle towards the end as the film tried to show the boredomand hopelessness of the Spanish soldiers as they were holed up for more than 300days. Baler is a good addition to the list of Philippine war epic films. And in a filmfestival filled with movies that aim to be commercial successes, Baler looks to be acritical and creative triumph
