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When one asks any Filipino student about GomBurZa, you’ll get a litany of answers - many will correctly point to them being martyrs, while others will just scratch their heads and return the question. What’s worse is that many more will reply with that stupid “majoha” nonsense that went around a couple of years back. However, it really is a mystery for many what these three priests actually did to be called heroes. Hell, even we weren’t sure of the details as well. Now, a film dares to take on the challenge of not just telling their story but making sure that it stays in everyone’s hearts and minds forever.
GomBurZa, co-written and directed by Pepe Diokno (grandson of Philippine human rights activist Sen. Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno), tells the tale of the titular priests Fr. Jose Burgos (Cedrick Juan), Fr. Mariano Gomez (Dante Rivero), and Fr. Jacinto Zamora (Enchong Dee) and the many twists and turns their lives take on the road to their eventual execution in Bagumbayan in 1872.
What better combo has there been than the Metro Manila Film Festival and historical epics? We've had many different films of various quality in recent times, but there is no one better than Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s all-time great Jose Rizal. That movie cemented Diaz-Abaya’s place in Filipino cinematic history as one of its greatest directors of all time.
"After seeing GomBurZa, one can say that a seat in the table has opened for Diokno."
After showcasing his mettle originally in independent features like Engkwentro and Kapatiran, he finally gets to play in a bigger sandbox and makes a splash with writing that has made the great Ricky Lee proud and direction that would’ve surely made Direk Marilou feel the same as well.
"The film is populated with phenomenal performances, none shining brighter than Cedrick Juan’s turn as Fr. Jose Burgos."
After paying his dues in small but memorable supporting turns in films like Die Beautiful and last year’s Cinemalaya entry Ang Huling Palabas, he now gets the spotlight solo. He carries the film on his capable shoulders and imbibes the priest with a steely resolve that belies an emotional core.
This quiet stoicism carries the film through its arguably darkest and most emotional part, and Dante Rivero, as Fr. Gomez, uses all of his veteran acting powers to help the young thespian carry his load. Enchong Dee shines in a small but memorable role as Fr. Zamora, displaying a rarely-seen dramatic gear as a man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Piolo Pascual shines in another short but pivotal role as Fr. Pedro Pelaez, the priest who mentors Fr. Burgos.
In this modern age of instant information (or misinformation), we owe it to ourselves as Filipinos to still seek out our history, not to repeat its mistakes, but to learn from it.
"We are fortunate that more and more filmmakers like Pepe Diokno are seeing the 'Historical Film released during the MMFF' genre not as a cash cow but as a tool for re-awakening the sleeping fire of love for the country that’s slowly withering away from our populace, especially in younger generations."
Gomburza is one of the films showcased during the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival. It is the most awarded film of this year's Gabi ng Parangal. Accolades include 2nd Best Picture, Best Actor for Cedrick Juan, Best Director for Pepe Diokno, Best Cinematography for Carlo Mendoza, Best Production Design by Ericson Navarro, Best Sound for Melvin Rivera and Louie Boy Bauson and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award.
Cinegeeks rating : A+
Watch the trailer here :
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