“Jose Rizal” is a 1998 Filipino biographical film of the Filipino patriot Jose Rizal, directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano as Jose Rizal. This movie is based from Philippine History and has a soul of its own being a Filipino. The movie depicts the life of “Jose Rizal” from the past. The movie was based from the true events from the colonization of the Spaniard in the Philippines. In the movie, it is shown how Rizal fights for the freedom of his nation. Most of the Filipinos are idolizing him for his works which served as an eye-opener on how Filipinos became servants under the hands of the Spaniards.
It was indeed a novel work by “Marilou Diaz-Abaya”. According to Director Abaya, the movie is about how Rizal grew fighting for freedom from the hands of contumelious Spaniards.
The movie started when José Rizal was imprisoned in Fort Santiago under the abusive Spanish colonization. Meanwhile, in Balintawak, Andrés Bonifacio and his fellow secret organization, the Katipunan, commenced the uprising against the tyranny created by the Spaniards by tearing their cedulas as a sign of freedom from the Spanish slavery.
Soon, a first lieutenant of the Artillery, Luis Taviel de Andrade, visits Rizal. Taviel de Andrade did not waste time to study carefully Rizal's case. In just a short period of time, Rizal and Taviel captured each other's sympathy and eventually became friends as they had usual meetings in Rizal's cell in Fort Santiago. Taviel was even able to celebrate Christmas with Rizal in the cell where they drank pan get and sang together.
After Christmas, Rizal was sent to the Real Audiencia, the colonial court of appeal, to hear the trial against him. Soon after, the magistrates decided to condemn him under firing squad on the 30th of the morning in Luneta.
At the night before the execution, Rizal hallucinates, seeing his alter
ego—protagonist, Crisostomo "Simoun" Ibarra, from his second book, El
Filibusterismo, tempting him to change the climax of the novel.
On the morning of his execution, his kin receives a small alcohol stove
(not a gas lamp as commonly portrayed) from his cell containing the last poem
"Mi Ultimo Adios". Stopping at the place of execution facing the rising sun,
Rizal requested the authorities for him to face the firing squad, but the request was
denied. Calm and without haste, he requested to have his head spared instead and
the captain agrees. At the moment the shooting squad points at his back, he readily
uttered his final words: Consummatum est ("It is done").
In the events following Rizal's execution, members
of the Katipunan begin their armed uprising, completely catching the Spanish forces off guard, seizing their mounts, munitions and their rifles. After that, the organization captures a church and the members execute the friars in an act of vengeance. Later that night, Bonifacio and his top generals meet in their headquarters to plan a new offensive seeking to capture ten towns in duration of one week from the Spaniards. As Bonifacio continues speaking, the film ends as the camera pans to Rizal's picture at the wall of his headquarters.
The story was properly conveyed. All the important scenes are included and I found it amazing when the writings of Rizal such as the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo was also included in the portrayal. There are no dreary parts and sense of humors is also observed. The movie is like a roller coaster where you’ll experience different emotions.
The production deserves appraisal. From all the costumes, the props, the sound, the settings, all of it is worth praising. The efforts poured in the movie resulted to a realistic movie which could catch the hearts of every Filipino. The costumes are appropriate where it gave me the vibe of 19th century. The props are all realistic and appropriate for the movie. For instance, every gunshot is very realistic that it would really give you goose bumps and the feeling of fright. The sound effects are also good. The transition is so smooth that it will give you the feeling of how intense the scene will be. The setting is also nice. It do conveyed where the scene is. Overall, the production is great.
The actors and actresses are also amazing. They are also worth praising for they gave justice to their roles. Even actors with major and minor roles gave a big part on the movie. From “Caesar Montano” who played the role of Rizal did a great job. He is an effective actor since he conveyed the emotions and the message that the viewers must receive. Overall, he didn’t fail my expectation of the movie.
Overall, I do find the movie interesting. It is also a good movie that every Filipino should watch. “Ang lahat sa inyo ay hiniram, pati na rin ang inyong mga depekto.”,a line stated by Rizal in the movie, which I considered as one of the brilliant lines I’ve heard. It’s just a single line but captured my heart and made me realize how cruel the Spaniards from the past where we Filipinos haven’t still meet independence. It is a must watch movie for us to know where we started.
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This is the first historical film that I've watched. Cesar Montano's acting skills is suitable for his role. Impressive film :)