Amigo is set around 1900 in a hamlet called San Isidro. It is a movie directed by John Sayles. It is set around 1900

        One amazing thing about this movie was when Sayles decided not to put on subtitles. It gave different people a feeling of what was it before when they worked together and communicated without even understanding each word of what they say especially the part of the lovers. They had Filipinos who speak only in Filipino, the Americans in English and the Chinese in Mandarin who only talked about their life.. This is a masterpiece of Sayles that showed the people that American colonialism has already started long ago. It also show people that even Filipinos before are able to govern, and have order in communities. It also showed how the Americans failed to pursue their goal to help the Filipinos because during their war with the Spaniards, they also had fights with the Filipino people like the local “insurrectos”. We can consider it as an eye opener for it partly shows how the Filipinos fought in the Philippine – American war and what the Americans have also caused us to lose. Based on the movie itself, it showed that Sayles did a very thorough study about an important history not only of the Philippines but also of the America. Sayles was not bias and was able show every detail clearly. In the movie, he was not only showing the situation of the past but also the present situation of many countries aside from the Philippines. It was unfortunate in the near end where Rafael was almost saved but then, of all people, his son cut the wire the Americans used to communicate with each other. In the movie, it also showed how the Chinese were during the war and it also showed how different races struggled with each other having such differences. On a part in the movie, it showed how the rebels killed the Chinese people who were serving the troops. It showed how nationality, language and the chaos caused by the war brought the death of many innocent people such as the child of a local resident of San Isidro. The movie also portrayed very well how the friars were using religion as a power to rule over us. It is where the priest was asked about the sin of killing where the priest told the man that killing for the Catholic Church’s sake is holy and therefore, no sin will be committed while killing one another for a reason other than the first will be committing a grave sin which will hinder people from entering to Heaven. The most touching part in the movie was how Rafael took all the suffering and protected his village. He was martyr-like in the movie. He was despised by the friar but was trusted by his people. He is a man of honesty, dedication and diligence. Amigo for me was not only a movie for me to be entertained but it also happen to be a movie for me to learn and have a glimpse of a past that not so many of the people today are aware of. It showed how people struggle to attain unity, freedom and peace against people and conquerors that deceived us and prevented us to grow our country.