SOCSCI_105

Republic of the Philippines

Life and Works of Rizal
A Reaction Paper of the movie:
Jose Rizal (ver.1998)
Vanessa Anne Z. Oliva
BSEd 4-2 (English)
Movie Title: Jos Rizal
Main Cast:
Cesar Montano
Joel Torre
Jaime Fabregas
Gloria Diaz
Gardo Versoza
Monique Wilson
Chin Chin Gutierrez
Mickey Ferriols
Pen Medina
Peque Gallaga
Bon Vibar
Subas Herrero
Tony Mabesa
Alexis Santaren
Chiqui Xerxes-Burgos

September 26, 2014

TFri 2:30 4:00 PM

Jos Rizal
Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun
Luis Taviel de Andrade
Teodora Alonzo
Andres Bonifacio
Maria Clara
Josephine Bracken
Leonor Rivera
Young Paciano
Archbishop Bernardo Nozaleda, OP
Ramon Blanco
Alcocer
Camilo de Polavieja
Olive
Father Villaclara, SJ

Movie Summary:
In the19th century Chile, Peru and Cuba rose against Spain and achieved their
independence. Philippine Spain faced a revolution due to mounting social unrest
among the natives. Thirty-five year old Jos Rizal was the greatest enemy of Spain in
the Philippines. With his exceptional linguistic ability (speaking twenty-two languages)
and interest in the sciences and the arts, Rizal was most effective in his campaign for
freedom as a writer. He wrote two novels: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

These were scathing indictments of Spanish tyranny and of the church which came to
acquire immense political power.
1891. Ghent, Belgium. Jos Rizal writes that he is writing a book about the Philippines
to reveal the truth. There are scenes of a priest having sex with a Philippine woman
and beating a Philippine child. He writes of "our sad country" and "our grievances and
frustrations". We meet one of his characters named Crisostomo Ibarra, who took
another name Simoun.
1895. The Philippines. The Katipunan "sons of the people" shout "Long live Dr. Jos
Rizal."
1896. MalacaZang Palace. Governor-General Blanco presents the Spanish plan to
advance on the province of Bulacan. He says: "We will crush the rebellion."
Monsignor Nozaleda arrives. He virtually demands the elimination of the rabble-rouser
Jos Rizal.
Guerrilla leader Bonifacio tells his Katipunan to tear up their cedulas.
The Spanish torture Jos Rizal's brother Paciano. They want to know what is the role of
his brother in the rebellion.
1896. Rizal Residence, Tondo, Manila. The family is packing to leave. Paciano arrives
home after his torture sessions.
November 1896. Fort Santiago, Manila. The order is given to bring in Jos Rizal. His
interrogator tells Rizal that he knows that Rizal knows Bonifacio, founder of the

Katipunan. They know he met Bonifacio at a secret assembly at Doroteo Ongjunco's

place. Rizal is accused of being a traitor like Padre Burgos. After all, Rizal had
dedicated his last book to him: "For the priests Francisco Gomez, Jose Burgos and
Jacinto Zamora."
Flashback. Jos Rizal says that his brother Paciano was the one to open his eyes to
the injustices in the Philippines. Paciano had known Father Burgos and had witnessed
his execution as well as those of the others.
1869. Calamba, Laguna. As a youngster, Jos Rizal is called Pepe. His mom is falsely
arrested for attempting to poison her sister-in-law. She is jailed for two years. The Rizal
family had disputes with the friars for years and the clergy got their revenge by teaching
the family a lesson. Pepe is sent to school. His brother tells him not to use the family
named of Mercado since the friars might hold it against him.
1872. Ateneo Municipal. Pepe is praised at school for his work.
Back to 1896. Luis Taviel de Andrade of the Spanish army arrives to be Jos Rizal's
defense council. He does not seem too pleased with his assignment.
Flashback. 1878. The University of Saint Thomas. The teacher has a Spanish student
and a Philippine student stand before the class next to each other. He notes the height
difference between the superior Spanish and the inferior Philippine. Jos Rizal rises to
say that if height is of so much importance then why are so many of Spain's colonies
gaining their independence from Spain. The teacher responds: "Impertinent!"

Back to 1896. Rizal's novels are banned in the Philippines. With a knife, the character
Crisostomo threatens to kill the local priest for turning on his father and persecuting
him. His father died in prison and then the priest had his body dug up and thrown into
the river. Crisostomo says that he has lost his wife, child and family.
Flashback. Rizal speaks with his fellow students about Philippine independence. The
Spanish students call them monkeys and a fight breaks out. Rizal is hit in the head with
a thrown rock. His Uncle Antonio bandages his wound. Cousin Leonor then sits with
him. It is obvious that Rizal likes his cousin.
Back to 1896. The defense counsel asks why he would leave his beloved Leonor to
travel to Europe. His brother send him to Spain to study medicine, but also to be free to
write about the Philippines.
1884. Central University of Madrid. A group of Philippine students meet together to
discuss the situation in their country. A man named Agueller is there. Jos Rizal
speaks for independence.
June 25, 1884. Hotel Ingles, Madrid. Two Philippine students Luna and Hidalgo, who
were born in the Philipppines, won the university painting contest and are being
honored.
The authorities search the mayor's house. He is arrested for having a Rizal book. The
friars have a book burning for copies of Rizal's books. The novel character Ibarra is
called a traitor because officials implicated him in a violent revolt. He was discredited in
the public's eye.

January 1891. Madrid. In the Philippine group of students, a call goes out for Del Pilar
for President. Jos Rizal is disgusted with the choice since they have almost opposite
positions on independence. He decides to return to the Philippines and walks out of the
meeting.
July 1892. Manila. Formation of the La Liga Filipina. The young Andres Bonifacio
enthusiastically responds to the speech given by Jos Rizal.
Rizal says that the friars planted banned pamphlets in his luggage; he was arrested;
and he was deported to the far-off island of Dapitan. One saving grace, however, was
that he met Josephine.
Monsignor Nozaleda is still cursing the name of Jos Rizal. He still demands that
Governor-General Blanco eliminate the rebel. The Governor-General pays a visit to the
cell of Rizal. Rizal scolds him: "You made me believe I could go to Cuba only to be
captured and imprisoned again."
August 1896. A Philippine revolt against the Spanish occurs. Rizal takes the position
that it is useless to revolt at this time because it is like suicide to face the overwhelming
military might of the Spanish in the Philippines.
Christmas. At a formal dinner, Monsignor Nozaleda tells his fellow diners that Blanco is
too friendly with Rizal. Later Blanco is absolutely shocked when he is introduced to the
new Governor-General of the Philippines, Polavieja.

Ghent, Belgium. Rizal receives a letter from the Philippines. He is told of what
happened in his home town of Calamba. Because the town dared to protest against the
friars' misuse of their land, the Spanish descended on the town and forced all the
residents to evacuate. Rizal is extremely mad and upset over the news. Later he
receives a letter from Leonor saying that her mother arranged a marriage for her to an
Englishman against her wishes. She does not even like the Englishman, much less
want to marry him.
Back to the present. The defense counsel tells Rizal that he thought the second novel
to be very sad. The character of Ibarra was o.k., but in the character Simoun there is no
light -- his soul has been corrupted. Simoun turns to violence against the Spanish
imperialists. He puts a bomb within a lantern with a flickering light that will be detonated
when a diner guest tries to adjust the flame. Simoun believes that reforms are useless
and that blood must be shed. (Violence is prevented when a young filippino throws the
lantern out of the window where it explodes outside. The defense counsel asks if Rizal
is becoming Simoun: "You are using your novel to avenge yourself." In the novel
Simoun is shot in the back while running to escape the soldiers trying to capture him.
The defense counsel is so adamant and opinionated that it appears as if he is
"tripping".
The defense counsel attends a big formal ball at Malacanyang Palace. Monsignor
Nozaleda scolds him for working so hard for the traitor Rizal. The defense counsel
defends himself and the principal that everyman should have an effective defense in

court, but another clergyman accuses him of being a traitor himself. Excusing himself,
the defense counsel leaves the ball.
December 26, 1896. The trial of Rizal begins. The point is made that since 1892 Rizal
has deliberately made it known to one and all that he will not longer discuss politics. He
was on the desolated island of Diapan for four years. The prosecution claims that the
rebel leader Bonifacio needed Rizal for an uprising. The defense counters with the fact
that when Dr. Valenzuela came to Diapan to get his support for the uprising, Rizal told
him that it would only be suicide and that he would not support any uprising at this time.
Flashback. Diapan. Josephine was a big help in Rizal's clinic on the island. Josephine
becomes pregnant with Rizal's child, but the baby boy dies shortly after birth and Rizal
buries his son all alone.
December 1896. Rizal is given the death sentence. His counsel tells him that it was a
mock trial. Rizal's mother begs the new Governor-General for mercy, but he only says:
"I'm sorry."
December 29, 1896. Bonifacio wants to try to save Rizal, but Rizal's brother Paciano
argues against it because it would be useless.
In his jail cell, Rizal has an inner debate with the character Simoun, who tells him that
he wants Rizal to rewrite the ending of the novel: "Let the lamp explode" among the
Spanish diners.

December 30, 1986. It is the day of execution. Rizal is able to sneak out a final poem
to his family. At the execution he has to turn his back to the firing squad. His lasts
words were the shout: "It is done!"
Bonifacio and his Katipunan ambush some Spanish soldiers killing most of them. They
also kill a Spanish priest. The rebellion went ahead!
June 12, 1898. General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag for the first time and
declared independence. A few years later, Dr. Jos Rizal was declared the National
Hero of the Republic of the Philippines.

Reaction:
I think that Cesar Montanos interpretation of our hero Rizal is better than todays
Rizal thespians. I guess, his acting became the springboard of all Rizal-to-be actors.
Overall, the movies great with a bit of flaws but still great. My reaction would be
based on these three ideas: Cesars performance, the movies flaws, and lastly, its good
sides.
Firstly, Cesar Montano is a man worthy of praises for his excellent performance
in his portrayal of Dr. Rizal. His actions embodied and convinced the audience that he is
Rizal; he is not the contemporary Montano but instead, he is the personification of our
national hero. Rizals hesitations, his daydreams, his anger, and happiness these
were all seen within Cesars eyes. Youd almost say he was born as the reincarnation of
Rizal because his acting was almost natural. The way he walked, talked, and acted out
his feelings were neither too dramatic nor too somber it was the right mixture of both
and it turned out splendidly.
Now, how am I sure that that is how the real Rizal works? That that is how the
actual Rizal acts, speaks, and behaves? Well, Im not. Like most people who lived out of
Rizals time frame, I am only assuming things according to how I see Rizal through
various exposures to his works, biographies, subjects, topics, ideas, trivia, and generally
on what had been taught in school.
Every individual, being unique in nature, has his or her own unique mind that
works in different ways. That is why, I view Rizal as to how Cesar played it and

whatever view you may have, that does not generally apply to me. This is my reaction to
Cesars acting and if some people do not agree with that, Im fine with that. But dont
have misconceptions that I like Cesar Montano as an artist and that Im an avid fan of
him, which Im not. I am simply stating my opinions on his performance without any
biases of the sort.
The second part of my reaction is about the movies flaws. If you are not very
familiar with Philippine history; the Spanish Colonial Era; Jose Rizal and the other
propagandists; and or you are simply not good with time frames, then this movie will
confuse you. Why? For the reason that, the movies structure is of the conversational
type every instances that a certain conversation triggers something, the influx in time
is imminent from the present, the screen plays a narration of either the past; an
episode from Dr. Rizals works; or the past in yet, another past. It flows like a dream
within a dream. It shows Dr. Rizals life in bits like a puzzle that works out its way to
assemble its lost pieces. Eventhough this certain type of movie structure has its own
charm and beauty, certain audiences might get confuse. Thus, it becomes highly
recommendable for viewers to have even a bit of background to fully capture the intent
of the film.
Furthermore, I do not know if this is included but, my copy is like the films
structure shown in bits and pieces plus a certain file does not have an audio when you
reach its middle part. But then, maybe it was just that this film is old enough to be
considered as vintage for those who live in the 21 st century like me so its quality is not of
the highest quality.

Lastly, of course I will not focus myself and waste my time until the end of my
paper, criticizing this movie and pointing out its flaws. I will also give out its good points.
One of it I think is the way the movie was presented. I know that I had just
criticized it on my previous reaction but it could also be its natural charm. The novelty of
the presentation of its structure is what made it most interesting. Instead of the plain
and clichd story telling type, it invoked the audiences mind to stitch up the memories
presented giving them the opportunity to see inside Rizals mind. It is a stimulating
activity wherein the audience sees the events just as how Rizal remembers it not on a
storytellers point of view rather, on the POV of Rizal and how his fate unfolded before
him towards his self-induced death.
This movie may be an older version and of the medium quality but it still gives its
audience a great view on the events during Rizals time. It still gives off that nationalistic
spirit and feeling at the end when the guns were triggered and the awful thud of Rizals
lifeless body finally fell back on the earth of his homeland. It is done.
Reflection:
While watching the movie, I felt good and I felt bad. Good for the times when
Rizal was enjoying the joys of the world, the glory of living, and the thrill of experiences.
And then I felt bad for the worst times: the brutality; the inhumane acts towards our
ancestors; and the permanent scar it left on our people ignorant love for the foreign
world and its glittering gifts.

These gifts are chains in disguise but we embrace them, regardless of our
history; regardless of their previous brutalities: we are slaves to our own desires. We
are blinded with the idea of foreign superiority and wanted to be one. Its like the
temptation of Eve all over again and we have been the ignorants who ate the forbidden
fruit.
It was then that I realized of what weve been doing ever since. Weve been
exploiting our natural wealth for the benefit of other people. Yes, that is good helping
other people and such but it depends on the purpose of those other people. They have
been poisoning our mind and we are ignorant enough to believe that what weve all
been doing is good for us. Latently, it is good for them.
Im not all out anti-foreign-ideology or something but, my point is, Ive realized
that all our heroes hardwork have been worthless overtime. It now serves only as a
picture of what had been. Over the years, even without the colonizers help, weve lost
and thrown away our identities replacing it with an alien self.
Now, what do I have to do to stop Filipinos from repeating mistakes and
succumbing to the dreadful temptation to be something else? What things am I going to
do and to what lengths? Well, for at the moment, Ill finish my studies first. When the
time comes where Id be able to stand for myself and see the world for what it truly is,
then I guess, The time is ripe. I will do what I must do.