There’s a lot to discuss about what history has taught us about Lapu-Lapu and Magellan but what better way to understand the conflicts that happened during those times than through entertainment and add a bit fiction to tickle the imagination of the audience and interest them with characters and situations that are conversation-worthy.
I guess that’s the goal of ‘1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom’ is: to tell a timeless story and add a twist so the new generation can still connect to it and maybe research more about our history.
There has been a lot of talks about the film, but after watching ‘1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom’ during its premiere, the good intentions outweigh the film’s shortcomings. It’s fast-paced, well-acted and has production design and visuals that will transport you to the year 1521.
What’s different on this take on Lapu-Lapu and Magellan is that there’s a fictional love story that’s happening from both sides, so you kind of can also look at it like the Romeo and Juliet that happened in our history.
Love that can break the boundaries of race, language and conflicts between the people that surrounds them. What the film actually presented can be a realization of how small conflicts turn into big misunderstandings that can develop to war.
Bea Alonzo, while her character is fictional, portrays it well. Her eyes and her movements show genuine care for her community as what the story is required from her character Diwata. Her love interest Enrique, played by Hector David, Jr. has that undeniable charm, no questions asked as to why in spite of their differences, Diwata falls in love with him. Danny Trejo has that leader appeal that can be both scary and worthy to look up to and Michael Copon has the build and fierceness a leader of a tribe should have.
‘1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom’ is different from what we see from the old Lapu-Lapu vs. Magellan stories. But there’s a lot in the film that can turn one audience patriotic and romantic at the same time.