The film begins on the day before the execution of José Rizal, one of the national heroes of the Philippines. Starting from political propaganda movements to reform the Spanish colonial system, which had lasted more than three hundred years, nationwide independent revolution broke out. During the movement, many lives were sacrificed. Even worse, there were conflicts among activists. Eventually the first attempt ended in failure. Bonifacio, another national hero, was shot and left neglected so that his body hasn’t been found until today. However, in this tragic era, a musical genre of lyrical serenades called Jocelynang Baliwag was born. Lav Diaz successfully reproduced this time of upheaval in an epic eight-hour film, which seemed impossible. Moreover, he adopted the cinematic conventions of the time as much as possible. His long journey of creation, based on written or oral stories, is segmented, but appeals for the validity of the questions in the past. This reminds us that the present is not cut off from a bygone culture. (PARK Sungho)