Magellan

Starring Gael García Bernal as the titular character, Magellan is a historical epic written and directed by Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz, detailing the Portuguese explorer’s arrival in the Philippine islands and his efforts to convert the indigenous tribe into Christianity. The feature extensively covers Magellan’s life, his travels across Asia, his marriage, and his final voyage to Cebu, which resulted in his death during the Battle of Mactan. Magellan’s clash with Lapulapu is one of the most compelling pieces of Philippine history, a celebration of victory and pride – and Diaz retells the tale with a fictional regale, creating suspense and mystery around Lapulapu and his role in the explorer’s death.

Unapologetically brutal, Magellan doesn’t shy away from the savage behaviour of the settlers, highlighting the way in which they dehumanised the indigenous tribes they encountered through language and manipulation. It’s honest and horrifying, juxtaposed with the long and lingering quiet shots of contemplation in Magellan. The character is charismatic and gentle, which makes Bernal the perfect actor for the role. He has a softness in his performance that strikes an unforgiving contrast to the awful things Magellan later goes on to do to his crew and the people of Cebu. That balance is specifically important in endearing the viewers to his relationship with his wife, whose omnipresence in the latter half of the work becomes a paranormal vision that signifies Magellan’s guilt and descent into madness.

Shot in a 4:3 ratio and filtered in the pastel vintage colours, Magellan burns slowly – this is a signature characteristic in Diaz’s work, one that has gained him a loyal following over the years. In this particular piece, the 160 runtime is used to explore the myth of patriotism. The spherical Earth is often associated with Magellan, whose circumnavigation helped provide evidence for that theory. Diaz uses the circle to symbolise a “loop of murder” and the “endless expedition for power”. As Magellan’s sanity deteriorates and he loses his humanity, visions of his wife begin to haunt him – it is the one relationship that grounds him. Unfortunately, despite the picture’s extensive runtime, no space was given to develop her character and dynamic with Magellan.

This is why Bernal’s performance is important in amplifying the significance of his wife’s apparitions. Another actor of note is Ronnie Lazaro, whose intimidating and calculated aura presents a formidable foe for Magellan. His enigmatic and commanding presence will entice the viewer to believe the legend that is Lapulapu. Beyond these two, most characters – especially the women and the indigenous figures – remain static and devoid of personality. While Magellan is understandably the protagonist, and a lot of care is given to building his arc, with a runtime of over two hours, it’s disappointing that the people surrounding Magellan aren’t as well fleshed out.

Anyone looking to see extreme violence and intense action from this film, especially those interested in the events of the Battle of Mactan, will not find what they’re looking for in Magellan. This feature is quiet and introspective, rather than adrenaline-inducing. While blood, fights, and the horrifying acts done by the settlers are ever-present, Diaz makes it a point never to show any explicit beheadings. Most deaths are either implied or occur off-screen. Magellan is a ruminative piece with plenty of visual interest. While not faultless by any means, it’s innovative in its historical reimagining of a classic Filipino tale without romanticising the tragedy of colonisation.

Mae Trumata

Magellan does not have a release date yet.

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival coverage here.

For further information about the event, visit the London Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Magellan here: