Lalunio, Xyzer Corpuz

Rizals Life and Work

201011158

4:00-5:00pm MWF

Jose Rizal (1998): Movie Analysis

The movie Jose Rizal which was excellently played by Cesar Montano as the
lead role was a heartwarming one that shows how Rizal runs his life. The film works
through a series of flashback showing Rizal as a writer, a doctor, an artist, a lover, a
friend, a brother, and a son which made him to consider as our national hero. It shows
how Rizal really love his mother country for him to sacrifice his own life. 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.
The movie shows how Filipino struggle in the hands of Spaniards just to fight for
freedom but Rizal didnt fight with violence but instead he fought with just his mind, pen
and pieces of paper. Because Rizal knows that using violence against violence wouldnt
solve anything it will just create more conflicts. Rizal used pen as his weapon rather
than sword in fighting against the Spaniards administration, he written it in novels and
poetry. The two books he wrote, Noli me tangere and El Filibusterismo, sought to
increase his people's political awareness. This only shows that the two books are
reflections of the lives of the Filipinos during the Spanish regime. But the thought and
noble ideas of the book do not only live in the past but also in the present manifesting
the universality and immortality of Rizal's ideas. The beautiful transition of Rizal's time
and the setting of the two novels is really impressive.
Moreover, the film made known the line of attack did by our heroes and
countrymen to achieve the freedom of our country under the rule of the Spaniards friar
and military force. There were a lot of discrimination and ruthless treatment in Filipino
on that period and that is the reason of the rebellions between Filipino and Spaniards.
Even in school, it was felt by Rizal and other Filipino students. Many Filipinos were
suffered. They were the servant of the Spaniards.

The actors dedication for the film is inevitable especially Cesar Montano who is
very perfect for the role of Rizal. His values and great performance as the lead actor is
perfect and has a great impact on me as the audience of the said film. Also, the
supporting casts like Jhong Hilario who played as Rizals servant, Jaime Fabregas as
Rizals attorney did a great job on portraying their role effortlessly. They made it easy for
me to understand the flow of the story.
We, as a Filipino citizen we must value and love our country like what our heroes
did. We have to be thankful to all our heroes who offered their lives in order to achieve
our freedom, and Rizal is one of the legacies of what a real Filipino is. Rizal did not die
in vain. He did not die for nothing. He did not die defeated. Rather he died victorious
because his death is the torch that lights Philippine independence that ignites Philippine
Revolution. After watching the film, I couldnt help but feel the sense of pride being him
as the Philippine National Hero. Let us salute our heroes especially Dr. Jose Rizal for
their contribution to our freedom.