Bonifacio: Ang unang pangulo

Andres Bonifacio was a hero of and martyr to the Filipino struggle for freedom from Spain. Founder and leader of the Katipunan, a 19th-century Filipino independence group, Bonifacio can be considered the first president of an independent Philippines.

The relatively short film biography, "Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangula," was shot in the Philippines with Filipino actors. Earnest and reverent to the subject, the film will likely appeal most to students and to those interested in Filipino history. Directed by Enzo Williams, the film begins with the brutal execution of three priests, then cuts to the present and presents three Filipino high school students, who visit the Katipunan Museum, and, with the aid of a museum curator, discover and research Bonifacio and the Katipunan. The film cuts back and forth between the present day and the 19th-century historic events, while the youths look at letters, documents, and photographs in the museum, and the curator provides background and poses questions for the students to ponder.

The subject is serious, and there are few light moments. However, the historical sequences are well staged and well acted, especially by Robin Padilla, who makes a handsome and intense Bonifacio. Director Williams provides enough combat action and moments of harsh Spanish oppression to maintain interest. However, the film, despite a world-class sheen, is perhaps too ponderous for general audiences; characters intone well formulated lines and pose in tableau, rather than come alive as flesh and blood. However, the film was obviously intended to be a history lesson and, as such, excels; "Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo" should be shown at Manila's Katipunan Museum on a continuous basis.