Netizens lament pull-out of ‘Heneral Luna’ from cinemas

JOHN Arcilla as Antonio Luna.

Netizens took to social media their disappointment after learning that some cinemas are starting to pull out Filipino historical epic film “Heneral Luna” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jerrold Tarog.

Out of 101 cinemas which first aired the movie last Sept. 9, only 40 screens remained, according to the Heneral Luna’s official Facebook page.

According to the Heneral Luna team, the film has been pulled out from cinemas “to make room for upcoming foreign and mainstream films.”

Heneral Luna’s executive producer Fernando Ortigas and screenwriter-producer Eduardo A. Rocha asked supporters to message their local cinemas to continue the film’s screening.

“Please keep the fires burning, please keep the spirit alive. If the film is no longer in your city, go directly to your local cinemas and ask the manager to bring it back or bring it to your movie house for the first time. Be the hero for your school, for your barangay, for your friends and family by being the one who called them or texted them and let it be known to them that this movie must play in your cinema because there are plenty of people who want to see it and must see it,” Ortigas and Rocha said in a message to fans.

As a response, netizens showed their support for the film by using the hashtag “KEEP HENERAL LUNA IN CINEMAS” which trended on Twitter on Tuesday. As of posting time, “Heneral Luna” is still a trending topic on Twitter.

On their part, Ortigas and Rocha thanked those who watched the historical epic, adding that while they were saddened to by the cinemas’ decision to pull out the film, the audience has given Heneral Luna “a life on its own.”

“While theaters may have pulled this movie out, we strongly believe that that this movie now has a life of its own. Yes, you all have given this film a life of its own. And while we may have made this movie about a slice of Philippine history, you now are all a part of history–our history,” they said.

Heneral Luna is still showing in select cinemas for its second week. AJH/JE