GomBurZa

The film is populated with phenomenal performances, none shining brighter than Cedrick Juan’s turn as Fr. Jose Burgos.

Maraming eksena dito ang pupukaw sa damdamin mo bilang isang Pilipino. (5/5)

Pepe Diokno’s GomBurZa is a cinematic oeuvre that enthralls because of its fierce and honest depiction of a distant part of history, now resurrected with power and precision on screen.

...Diokno manages to capture the historical significance of GomBurZa in his latest film, and he masterfully crafted a film that provided a plethora of insights and emotions for the viewer to comprehend.

Itong Gomburza ang pelikula na mahalagang mapanood ng mga kabataan ngayon. Actually DAPAT siyang mapanood ng lahat! (Super Ganda)

GomBurZa is a poignant and gripping exploration of the untold story of the martyred Filipino priests [...]. The film's pacing is deliberate, allowing the audience to absorb the weight of the historical events and appreciate the nuances of the characters' struggles.

Meticulous attention and a generous budget had been spent to make sure that the production design and costumes looked realistic. [...] [The] storytelling felt very sincere and authentic. 9/10

It is an affecting historical film that makes us appreciate our worth more as Filipinos. Visually stunning and realistic production design with good performance from the cast. 4.5/5

Everyone needs to see this masterpiece. Simula umpisa hanggang dulo kulang ang limang beses para kilabutan ka sa mga eksena ng pelikula. 9/10

Walang gulatan, takutan, matinding CGI, o malalang iyakan. Pero humanda sa istoryang unti-unting ilalatag hanggang sa maiintindihan mo ang ipinaglalaban ng mga paring bida. 9/10

‘GomBurZa’ is a very well-made film that can be demanding to its audience – it plays out in three languages: Spanish, Filipino, and Latin – and situates the world in all its political turmoil. It boasts of fantastic performances...

Crafts are topnotch, particularly the production design, cinematography, and score. The latter (by Teresa Barrozo) is subtle but propels the dramatic urgency of the scenes. (4.5/5)

(Setting aside the goals and intentions of its producer, if there are any) Gomburza is probably, the most important MMFF film since Sunday Beauty Queen. (4.5/5)

It is incredibly well-shot, thanks to cinematography by Carlo C. Mendoza, and meticulously written, thanks to Mr. Diokno’s screenplay with Rody Vera.

Cedric Juan as Burgos is an excellent choice, and his on-point, nuanced portrayal of an intelligent, doomed character also stands out from the ensemble acting of the supporting cast.

"Gomburza" is a beautiful epic. A once in a few years film, watching it is being part of history itself!

...one of the most decent and visually stunning Filipino historical films in the recent years. [...] Kahit may kakulangan, hindi nagkulang ang mga artista sa kanilang pagganap. 3.4/5

While the film's meticulous detailing of historical events may not always make for the most compelling cinema, its last half-hour becomes a powerful meditation on fate, exploring the varied reactions of the priests facing the inevitable execution. 4/5

[...] in the last act, we are shown why these three sparked a revolution. The execution scene is wonderfully shot; possessing a somber tone, mostly absent the histrionics and drama, in a sky with no sun but still with light in the horizon.

GomBurZa fiercely treats its audience with a portion of history not deeply discussed, through a film accentuated by convincing production design and great performances from its ensemble cast. 4/5

Compact, taut and intelligent, GomBurZa is an applaudable achievement in Philippine cinema. 4/5

Hindi lang para sa mga Pinoy tong pelikulang to pero para rin sa kahit sinong interesado sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

While [other historical films] focused on the more flamboyant and mythical aspects of our local heroes, [...] "GomBurZa" distinguishes itself by depicting its heroes as simple, relatable individuals, forging a down-to-earth connection that amplifies its impact and drama. (4/5)

For a country that is continuously wounded and seems to repeat its history a lot, films of this nature are very welcome at any time. (4/5)

Gomburza, while being a credible film that tells of the history of nation, is deeply personal. The faces looking up the three martyrs, Nanding Josef’s summing up the collective grief and pain, are witnesses to the truth we seem to have been oblivious to for the longest time. (4/5)

What a great ensemble it has, even the supporting roles with short screen time. Almost all the main players too had the quality of being clear and concise. (4/5)

“Gomburza” would certainly be a great teaching aid in history classes. We only wish that it were more emotionally involving.

The movie's greatest success would be serving as a visual tribute and lesson for generations of Filipinos about what Gomes, Burgos, and Zamora stood for, and the burning passion their deaths ignited.

Pepe Diokno's historical biopic is a rousing and compelling film, powered by its stellar cast.

Diokno benefits from a very topnotch cast. Gomburza’s patriotic undertones can be mistaken for jingoism, but I guess that’s the point. And it’s probably why it resonates, and why it’s a personal pick for this festival’s best picture. (3.5/5)

Director Pepe Diokno does all his best to make the first half don’t feel like a history lesson and he mostly succeeded. But as the film nears its pivotal scene, the film lives up to its potential. (3.5/5)

The biggest strength of Gomburza is Pepe Diokno’s handling of his actors. Everyone – from the major characters to those with tertiary roles – delivered fine performances.

Marred by its winding structure, Gomburza, in this retelling, feels just as elusive as this thing we loosely refer to as national identity.