KARL LOUIS E.

CONSTANTINO March 27, 2017

B.A. Political Science IV

REACTION PAPER
The biopic of Rizal starred by Cesar Montano as the titular character introduces to us the
story of the national hero the struggles he endured, sacrifices he made to his family as well as to
his love, his undying love for his country and the need to heal the ails and ills of the Philippine
society under Spanish Colonial period without the use of armed rebellion. While Im not a
historian by design, the film shows accurate portrayals of people Rizal met or that is important in
his life and important dates and events that Rizal was involved with. But the film not only
realizes the importance of Rizals life, it also delves between the emotion and feelings that
characters were involved with and the simultaneous transition between Rizal and Crisostomo
Ibarra/Simoun to fully emphasize the similarities of the two. Here we witness the cruelty and
oppressive reality of the Filipinos under Spanish control, the abuses and corruption of the friars
claiming lands that they never owned and the government who also enjoy the laurels of the
wealthy lifestyle, ignoring the populace and subjecting them to torture and disgrace. We also
witness the problem of racial discrimination during its era, the comparison between the superior
peninsulares and the inferior indios based on the color of their skin and their height, even the
caste system is also discriminating and offensive.
The film is set at the current setting, around December of 1896, where Rizal is held
captive and incarcerated for his crimes against the friars and the colonial government which
attributed to his antagonism and instigation of revolution towards the Spanish regime. He is
being questioned and asked by his counsel, Taviel so that he can use every evidence needed from
his client to acquit himself for the crimes against him. The film used transitions that highlight the
early years of Jose Rizal and his introduction to the cruel reality of the Spanish colonial rule; his
early education from Calamba, Ateneo and Santo Tomas and, from the insistence of his elder
brother Paciano, to study in Madrid; joining reformist movements in Spain alongside other
Filipino scholars in order to publicize to the Filipino people the cruel reality of the Spanish
colonial; to his return to the Philippines, exile in Dapitan, and imprisonment where he live his
final days.