Jose Rizal by: Marilou Diaz Abaya Film Review

First, this movie is rated SPG. There are graphic depictions of violence and even torture. The opening few scenes depict some episodes from Rizal's novels. In one a Catholic priest rapes a Filipina. I guess I now know where the Mestizo (i.e., mixed blood) class came from in the Philippines. In the other scene a Catholic priest beats a child for alleged stealing. Strong thing, and it made me wonder how the Catholic Church could possibly retain any power in the country, if this is what the national hero thought about it.

The movie tells the life story of Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. It covers his life from his childhood to his execution at the hands of the Spanish forces occupying the Philippines in the late 19th century. We are also thrown into the world of Rizal's novels (filmed in black and white), so we get a glimpse of how he viewed Filipino society under the Spanish heal.

The movie introduces us to the life of subjugation of the Filipino people under the rule of the Spanish friars. From the execution of three Filipino priests in 1872 for alleged subversion to the harsh and unequal treatment of Filipino students in the schools, this film is a flashing indictment of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. We see scenes both from Rizal's actual life but also from his imagination The movie focuses on the condition of the society and also to the government at the time of the Spanish Colonization. With the use of the novels, "Noli Me Tangere and " written by himself the Filipinos have been awaken to the reality such as the abusive ways of the Spaniards towards the Filipino people. It really gave the picture of abusing and oppression of the Spanish Government and also the Friars. Because of that, Dr. Jose Rizal finally realized that writing was the best way on how to awake the hearts of these poor Filipino and that the start of the climax, the start of fighting. Rizal didn't really stay being blind, mute and deaf in fighting the condition of the Filipino. He also criticized the Friars in using the religion for abusing the people. The movie had successfully showed some of the characteristics of the Filipino like being brave and Patriotism especially at the time of Rizal. But lastly, the most important for him was to give his country the freedom and justice until the end of his life.

At a young age, Rizal was sent to Spain for study. This plan was made by Paciano, with this strategy, Rizal will able to move freely, study and convince the Spanish Government about the abuses happening in the Philippines, while Paciano and his family struggle against the Spanish rules. Rizal excels in his study in medicine at Madrid University. Meantime, he becomes involved with a group of radical Filipino students who also seek to end the Spanish abuses in their country. He eventually has a falling out with the student group as he realizes that the real struggle is taking place back home. He decided to come back to Philippines. He is arrested by the Spanish authorities upon his return to the Philippines in 1892. He is sent to Dapitan in Mindanao where the Spanish authorities can keep a watchful eye on him. It is there that he meets the love of his life, Josephine Bracken, although the movie does not devote much attention to this love affair. When a rebellion breaks out in 1896 the Spanish governor orders that Rizal be moved to the prison in . It is here that Rizal is introduced to Luis Taviel who has been appointed to defend him at his trial. Taviel is a Spanish officer who at first mistrusts Rizal and views him as a dangerous revolutionary. Most of the movie takes place in Rizal's prison cell and involves Taviel confronting him about his life. There are frequent flashbacks but some of them are flashbacks to his novels, so it is sometimes hard to keep the order clear. Eventually Taviell earns to respect Rizal and he decides to do his best job in defending him. But it is to no avail. The evil head of the Franciscan order in Manila arranges for a new governor to take over control of the Philippines. The new governor orders a show trial where the outcome has already decided. Rizal must die. Despite his best efforts, Taviel cannot save Rizal from his fate. The judgment is reached and the execution date is set for Dec. 30, 1896. Taviel admits to Rizal the he is ashamed to be a Spaniard In what is the most unusual scene of the movie, on the night before his execution, Rizal is confronted by his own character Simoun from his novel. Simoun urges Rizal to rewrite him so that his mission can be for a higher purpose. And so in his final work, Rizal pens "MiUltimo Adios" knowing full well that his death will light the torch of the Filipino Revolution.

In overall, the movie focuses on the condition of the society and also to the government at the time of the Spanish Colonization. With the use of the novels, "Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo" written by himself the Filipinos have been awaken to the reality such as the abusive ways of the Spaniards towards the Filipino people. It really gave the picture of abusing and oppression of the Spanish Government and also the Friars. Because of that, Dr. Jose Rizal finally realized that writing was the best way on how to awake the hearts of these poor Filipino and that the start of the climax, the start of fighting. Rizal didn't really stay being blind, mute and deaf in fighting the condition of the Filipino. He also criticized the Friars in using the religion for abusing the people. The movie had successfully showed some of the characteristics of the Filipino like being brave and Patriotism especially at the time of Rizal. But lastly, the most important for him was to give his country the freedom and justice until the end of his life. The movie pertains the life of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Describing his youthful life, his studies, his life when he was endeavoring in the other country, his journey, his life when he was in Dapitan and finally his life when death was approaching to him. The focus of the camera is very clear and it helps the scene to be seen truly. The pictures on the movie is clear. Obviously, the actions and on how the actors and actresses move is very truthful in the eyes of the viewers. the setting like mountains or hills, the farms and the surrounding are also clear. They also carefully used the technologies in order to give more of the quality of the movie.

The Jose Rizal movie is considered as an Obra Maestra directed by a Veteran Director named Marilou Diaz- Abaya. She is really a daughter of an art and this movie proved that. Her ways are very effective in giving the real happenings in the life of Dr. Jose Rizal. The movie was being portrayed clear and the viewers would really believed that it was really as it was before from the setting, actors and actresses and also the time.

Flashback .We can really see from its whole movie because the story started at the jail. This happened when his death was approaching. He talked to Atty. Jose Taviel de Andrade. He narrated his life from being a child until being a grown-up man. He also narrated his love for the country until to his death. The story primarily focuses on the life of Rizal as a good son, respectful and intelligent student and a true gentleman. It focuses also to his works in arts but not in every woman who got involved to him. Obviously, the role of the women before was they don’t have major role in speaking but on the action that's very essential in delivering the message. The core message of the movie was saying what is the real meaning of "Patriotism" that was being instilled in every Filipino's mind.