BICOL COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION

R/F Tabuena St. Sagpon, Daraga, Albay
STUDENT: PILIIN, GYAN JOSS O.
YEAR & BLOCK: BSCRIM2 - A
SUBJECT: CHARACTER FORMATION, NATIONALISM & PATRIOTISM
PROFESSOR: MARIA MARGARITA DE ASIS, RCRIM
Movie Review: CHAPTER 3 - FILIPINO NATIONALISM

The 1998 Cesar Montano-directed film on Jose Rizal opened our hearts and minds to the tyranny of
the Spanish for three centuries. It provides an introduction to the Filipino people's existence of
slavery individuals ruled by the Spanish Friars. from the three Filipino priests who were executed in
ranging from the harsh and unfair treatment of Filipino students in the year 1872 for supposed
subversion to this movie is a biting critique of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines for schools.
We see scenes from Rizal's imagination as well as from his real existence.
The Spanish Government and Jose Rizal's life, in which he encountered challenges that shaped him
as a person, are the subjects of the film. The film's protagonist, Jose Rizal, was portrayed by Cesar
Montano. The story of Rizal's exile in jail is told in the movie. His two novels, Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo, along with the claim that he had instigated a revolt led to his imprisonment by the
Spaniards. Rizal experiences several memories as he meets Taviel, a Spanish soldier in charge of
Rizal's case. Taviel discovered Rizal's innocence. However, Rizal's life was wanted to be taken by
the friars who were the main target of his books. There are other sequences in the movie that I find
more memorable, but the courtroom scene where Rizal presents his case and the execution scene at
Bagumbayan are the best. Rizal was a brother, a friend, and a son. He was brought up and taught to
be a responsible person. His mother gave him some basic Spanish lessons before enrolling him in a
nearby school. He first came across Spanish abuse there. He was sent to Europe to study medicine
 BICOL COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
R/F Tabuena St. Sagpon, Daraga, Albay
since his mother had an eye condition, which inspired him to succeed in his studies there. His brother
Paciano, who had also witnessed the brutality of the Spaniards, had inspired him to perform better in
school. It covers his life from his childhood to his execution at the hands of the Spanish forces
occupying the Philippines in the late 19 th century. We are also thrown in the world of Rizal’s
novels. So we get a glimpse of how he viewed Filipino society under the Spanish heal. 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 raped a Filipina that’s why we had mixed blood. In the other
scene a Catholic priest beats a child for alleged stealing. Strong stuff, 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.Accused of treason, Dr. Jose Rizal awaits trial and meets with his colonial
government-appointed counsel, Luis Taviel de Andrade. The two build the case and arguments for
the defense as significant events in the central figure’s life prior to his incarceration unfold.Upon
hearing Rizal’s life story, Taviel begins to realize that the accused is not only innocent but exhibits in
fact all the qualities of an extraordinary man. When the mock trial unreels, Taviel is all set to act as
the prime advocate for his client as Rizal himself is about to give an earth-moving speech to defend
his honor and address his countrymen. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities have worked out the vast
political machinery to ensure a guilty verdict. A revolution awaits in the wings. Jose Rizal’s life and
works are recounted through a series of non-linear flashbacks which reflect on various aspects of his
life as a writer, propagandist, lover, friend, brother, doctor, and the man that inspired a revolution.

Cesar Montano portrays José Rizal in the 1998 Philippine historical drama José Rizal, which was
directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. José Rizal, a Filipino hero who was imprisoned during the Spanish
colonization, is the subject of the movie, which follows Rizal's life up until the day of his execution.

The significance of this movie in our subject is, the truth regarding the government's role in the
Spanish colonization of the Philippines is the subject of the movie. All complaints and frustrations,
as the movie's speaker said. Additionally, a scenario in which Paciano is assaulted by the Spaniards,
a brother who would do anything to save his family, is presented. He was the one who inspired Rizal
to improve his academic performance for the benefit of his future. Rizal was charged with rebellion,
sedition, and illegal association when he was detained in Fort Santiago in 1986. He started telling
Taviel and a prisoner servant his tales and the things he knew about Spaniards. Jose Rizal may not
have been on the real brutal battlefield for liberation from Spanish authority, but his works served as
sources of inspiration for revolutionaries, particularly those led by Andres Bonifacio. As Jose Rizal
begins his story with his family, you will observe the Filipino ideals such as "po at opo" and "mano".
There are so many movies about Filipino nationalism but this movie is the best among the rest.

The fact that this movie has power demonstrates its inventiveness. This movie only lasted three hours
in my opinion. Rizal was depicted by director Diaz-Abaya both from the outside and the inside.
Although the plot was intricate, it was still easy to follow. Cesar Montano was reportedly chosen by
Abaya to play her Jose Rizal because of his considerable potential. The rest of her film is a visually
 BICOL COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
R/F Tabuena St. Sagpon, Daraga, Albay
stunning, expertly constructed biography of a Filipino hero, albeit I can think of better actors. Cesar
Montano embraces the iconic role of Jose Rizal with enthusiasm and good affection while delivering
superb Spanish lines. He helped Filipino fans forget that he started off as a flamboyant, shallow
performer. In addition to the elaborate sets and costumes, starkly gorgeous photography by Rody
Lacap, and breathtaking visual effects by Mark Ambat, I particularly enjoyed Nonong Buencamino's
award-winning, melancholy music.