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. One note, this movie is not
for the faint of heart. 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 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 it. 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
stinging indictment of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. We
see scenes both from Rizal's actual life but also from his
imagination. As a young man, Jose is sent to study in Spain. This is a
plan hatched by his brother Paciano. Jose will write and do everything
in his power to bring to the attention of the world the abuses of
Spanish power in the Philippines, while Paciano will protect the Rizal
family at home and keep up the struggle against Spanish rule. Jose
excels in his studies as a medical student at Madrid University and
eventually earns a degree as an ophthalmic surgeon. Meantime, he
becomes involved with a group of radical Filipino students who also
seek toend 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 decides to return to the
Philippines. He is arrested by the Spanish authorities upon his return
to thePhilippines 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 Manila.
It is here that Rizal is introduced to Luis Taviel (played by Jaime
Fabregas) 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 Taviel
learns 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 promptly orders a show trial where the
outcome has already been decided. Rizal must die. Despite his best
efforts, Taviel cannot save Rizal from his fate. The verdict is
reached and the execution date is set for December 30, 1896. Taviel
admits to Rizal that he is ashamed to be a Spaniard.
In what is the most bizarre 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 "Mi
Ultimo Adios" knowing full well that his death will light the torch of
the Filipino Revolution. The final few scenes show Rizal being led out
to the execution ground. He requests to face the firing squad but he
is denied. The Spanish want to shoot him in the back as a traitor. But
as he is shot full of bullets he manages to turn as he falls so that
he lands facing the sky. I must tell you that my wife was crying like
a baby duringthis scene and she's seen the movie twice. I must also
admit that Ihad some moisture in my eyes too.I was also muttering to
myself "Spanish Bastards! Spanish Bastards! Strong Stuff".
 RIZAL Reaction Paper

Angelo V. Carpio Mr. Nelia Lipata

BSCS III 8:00-9:30/TTH