Film Evaluation

Film Evaluation Report

On the movie

“Rizal”

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirement in the Subject

J.P Rizal

Submitted to: Mrs. Marciana Amahan

Submitted by: Roche M. Dalapo

February 2013

Character of the Movie

Cesar Montano ……………………………………………...Jose Rizal

Joel Torre ……………………………………………………Crisostomo Ibarra / Simoun

Jaime Fabregas……………………………………………...Luis Taviel de Andrade

Gloria Diaz……………………………………………………Teodora Alonzo

Gardo Versoza……………………………………………….Andres Bonifacio

Monique Wilson……………………………………………..Maria Clara

Chin Chin Gutierrez…………………………………………Josephine Bracken

Mickey Ferriols……………………………………………….Leonor Rivera

Pen Medina…………………………………………………..Paciano Rizal

Peque Gallaga……………………………………Archbishop Bernardo Nozaleda, OP

Bon Vibar……………………………………………………...Ramon Blanco

Subas Herrero………………………………………………...Alcocer

Tony Mabesa………………………………………………….Camilo de Polavieja

Alexis Santaren……………………………………………....Olive

Chiqui Xerxes-Burgos……………………………………….Father Villaclara, SJ

Archie Adamos……………………………………………….Olive's Aid

Fritz Ynfante………………………………………………….Anatomy Class Professor

Jhong Hilario…………………………………………………Prisoner Servant

Gina Alajar……………………………………………………Saturnina Rizal

Tanya Gomez…………………………………………………Narcisa Rizal

Tess Dumpit…………………………………………………..Maria Rizal

Irma Adlawan…………………………………………………Lucia Rizal

Angie Castrence……………………………………………...Josefa Rizal

Rowena Basco………………………………………………..Trinidad Rizal

Kaye Marie June Congmon…………………………………Soledad Rizal

Ronnie Lazaro………………………………………………...Don Francisco Mercado

Dominic Guinto………………………………………………..Young Rizal

Ping Medina……………………………………………………Young Paciano

Dennis Marasigan…………………………………………….Marcelo H. del Pilar

Gregg de Guzman…………………………………………….Propagandist

Mon Confiado…………………………………………………Propagandist

Eddie Aquino………………………………………………….Propagandist

Manolo Barrientos………………………………………….....Propagandist

Rolando T. Inocencio…………………………………Propagandist (as Roli Inocencio)

Gilbert Onida……………………………………………............Propagandist

Jim Pebanco…………………………………………………....Propagandist

Troy Martino………………………………………………….....Propagandist

Kokoy Palma…………………………………………………....Propagandist

Richard Merck…………………………………………………..Propagandist

Jess Evardon…………………………………………………...Propagandist

Marco Sison…………………………………………………….Pio Valenzuela

Joel Lamangan………………………………………………....Gobernadocillo

Tony Carreon

Noni Buencamino………………………………………………Elias

Roeder…………………………………………………………...Basilio

Richard Quan…………………………………………………...Isagani

Cristobal Gomez………………………………………………..Pader Damaso

Nanding Josef………………………………………………….Antonio Rivera

Ryan Eigenmann………………………………………………Fernando

Jon Achaval……………………………………………………..Fraile 1

Cloyd Robinson………………………………………………...Fraile 2

Marco Zabaleta…………………………………………………Fraile 3

Ogie Juliano…………………………………………………….Padre Rodriguez

Minco Fabregas………………………………………………...Padre Sanchez

Shelby Payne…………………………………………………...Fr. March

Pocholo Montes………………………………………………...Maestro Justiniano

Jesus Diaz………………………………………………………Madrid Instructor

Karl Meyer……………………………………………………….Belgian Printer

L.J. Moreno……………………………………………………...Companion of Josephine

Bracken

Bey Vito………………………………………………………….Don Dorolco Onjunco

Kidlat Tahimik…………………………………………………...La Liga Filipina Guest

Toto Natividad

Summary of the Movie

The film starts with Dr. Jose Rizal (Cesar Montano) in Ghent, Belgium, supposedly writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo. As the narration during the opening minutes continued, scenes that illustrate Rizal’s first novel, “Noli Me Tangere” was shown and Crisostomo Ibarra and his alter ego, Simoun, (Joel Torre) was introduced. This stood more as a second story of the movie as the said scenes progress throughout the movie as Rizal’s thoughts. As the two novels spread throughout the Philippines, a certain and somewhat unassuming character in the name of Andres Bonifacio grabs a hold of a copy of a Rizal novel and instigates a rebellion with his founded Katipunan which upheld a full-blown revolution. Archbishop Bernardo Nozaleda (Peque Gallaga) takes notice of this, claiming that Rizal gave the primary incentive in the revolution and warns Governor-general Blanco (Bon Vibar) that if he does not take care of Rizal and the growing conflict, he will be replaced. As the hunt for Rizal continues, the Spaniards get a hold of his older brother, Paciano Rizal (Pen Medina) and tortures him to get to Rizal. Paciano does not give any information on whether Rizal was the source of rebellion or not and was continued to be tortured, only to find out that he was already captured by the Spaniards later on. Paciano was eventually released and left their home together with his father, Francisco Mercado. Rizal is then seen being escorted by the Spanish guards to be interrogated by a colonel who is convinced that Rizal is a traitor since his latest novel was dedicated to Father Gomez, Burgos and Zamora.

Father Gomez, Father Burgos and Father Zamora were then seen being executed by garrote for treason. This was witnessed by the young Paciano (Ping Medina), who was also a close friend of the three priests. This ultimately raised Paciano’s political awareness as he influences his 11 year-old brother. Rizal was then enrolled in a local school wherein he had a hard time as he was disliked by his teacher and was bullied. As he continued in his studies, his mother and former teacher, Teodora Alonzo, was wrongly accused and arrested for poisoning her sister. He then moved to a new school in Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he officially used the name Rizal and excelled. Rizal ,at the time he was in prison continued tell his tale to a prisoner servant (Jhong Hilario), who enamored with the wisdom of Rizal. Rizal then met his defense counsel, Luis Taviel de Andrade (Jaime Fabregas) who despised the fact that he was chosen by prisoner. Rizal continues to contemplate on his past during his session with Taviel, including his education in University of Santo Tomas where he and other Filipinos had a scuffle with the Spanish students. His moments with Leonora Rivera (Mickey Ferriols), his first love and cousin, was also in the picture. He was then sent to Europe to focus more on studying medicine as requested by his brother. He studied in Unibersidad Central de Madrid, where nearby, an up-rise against the bishops is ongoing due to a wrongly accused professor.

There in Madrid, he met his other countrymen who also desired freedom from the Spanish Rule and created a reform movement with him, Marcelo Del Pilar and Ponce as its leaders. The movement saw promise at first, but a conflict between Del Pilar and Rizal regarding La Solidaridad and lack of unity within the group subsequently made Rizal leave Madrid and go back to Philippines. As soon as he gets home, he immediately formed La Liga Filipina which was quickly abolished. With this his status as the enemy of the state was reinforced and Rizal was sent to Dapitan where he underwent depression but met his last lover, Josephine Bracken. Though far away, Archbishop Nozaleda was still unimpressed with this and with Blanco. Governor Blanco then instead sent Rizal to prison after making him believe he can work in Cuba as doctor. Nozaleda, who wants Rizal dead, replaced Blanco with Polavieja (Tony Mabesa). During Christmas, Rizal spent his holiday with Taviel who brought liquor and was gradually befriended by Rizal. But as the day passes, Taviel continued his counseling with Rizal wherein his El Filibusterismo and his credibility was questioned. Taviel, who was already convinced that defendant was not the instigator, claimed that Rizal failed with both his novels and that he his writings could possibly be forgotten. At the day of the trial, a flashback of Rizal being visited by Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan to convince him of his approval of the revolution and to join them was seen. Taviel states to the judges that of Rizal’s innocence, the lack of evidence also Rizal’s disapproval of the Katipunan. Rizal also defended himself but his and Taviel’s efforts were all for naught as Nozaleda forced Polavieja to make Rizal’s execution final. Taviel, learning of fixed trial, was infuriated and stated that he was ashamed of Rizal because “he was a Spaniard”. Set to die on December 30, Rizal still had time to bid his mother and sisters goodbye. He asked his mother to take his body, bury it, put a cross on the grave with his date of birth and death, nothing more. To his sister Trinidad who can speak English, Rizal gave her a lamp with “something inside it”. In Rizal’s last night in his cell, he looks at his desk with and paper and his pen on it. With nothing to write for his final piece, he is confronted by his own imagination and conscience in the form of Simoun. After a momentary breakdown, Rizal writes his final piece, Mi Ultimo Adios. Rizal’s impending execution was imminent and with a last conversation with Taviel, he marched to Bagumbayan. He was denied by the squad leader into facing the rifles but promised to spare his head. As the soldiers slowly aim at Rizal’s back, the novelist smiles and spoke his last words in Latin, “It is done”.

With this, Rizal is finally shot, followed by another shot as an act of coup de grace from the squad leader. As the movie closes, the Katipunan finally shows its potential in toppling the regime, infiltrating churches that are symbols of power in the country.

Personal Comments/Evaluation of the Movie

The movie Jose Rizal is a great interpretation of the Philippines tragic history, it tells the life of our national hero Jose Rizal and it shows his life from his childhood to his execution at the hands of the Spanish colonizer, Jose Rizal played by a great actor of the Philippines Ceasar Montano and Joel Torres as his counterpart as the Crisostomo Ibarra and afterward Simoun, the movie started by writing the novel about the cancer of the society that should be exposed to all Filipinos so that they will know what’s happening around them, it shows here the character of Crisostomo Ibarra, the film showed the bad doings of the friars that time, when a friar raped the Filipina and also abused the children even the elders that unsuitable for the very young audiences. It showed here the KKK organization made by Andres Bonifacio and it played by Gardo Versoza and he played the role very well, Jose Rizal was the greatest political enemy of Spain in the Philippines with his exceptional linguistic ability and interest in the science and the arts, Rizal was most effective in his campaign for freedom as a writer. That’s why now I understand that “Pen is mightier than sword” because pen may not harm people but sword can kill a person. And Paciano the brother of Jose Rizal played by Pen Medina was abused here because they want Paciano to tell where Rizal is, Paciano witnessed the execution of the three priests the GomBurZa and he is closed with them. It also shows here how Rizal learn to pray, write, and read Spanish, Rizal went to school, after going to their school her mother Teodora Alonzo played by Gloria Diaz a great artist of today’s generation and she told the young Rizal a story about the moth where the mother of the moth warn his son to keep away from the fire, because he’s stubborn he go near with the fire and so he became burned, the moral lesson of the story is you must listen to your mother because they know what’s the good or bad for you. When young Rizal go to school his brother Paciano told him to change his name Pepe into Rizal because their family are hot to the Spaniards, Rizal studied at Ateneo, he also studied at UST where the Spaniards says that they are more superior than the Filipinos, but Rizal fight them with his own words, we can also see here how Spaniards punish, kill, and throw Ibarra’s father to the river and it made by father Damaso, it also show Rizal chose and meet his defense council Luis Taviel de Andrade and it played by Jaime Fabregas a good actor of the Philippines, Rizal fell in love with her cousin Uhnor Rivera while Ibarra fell in love with Maria Clara, Rizal is really a Romantic person that’s why I idolized him. Rizal lifted the curtain to show the truth about the government before, and the novel of Rizal tried to correct the harmful accusations against the Filipinos, He brought out in the open the sad state of our country, all of the grievances and frustrations. That’s why Rizal made Crisostomo Ibarra, he set his eyes and his persona to him for the reason that they will see as one, Ibarra asked for reforms but he failed and because of unexpected circumstances, Rizal was forced to assume another identity and he is Simoun who with Elias help escaped from the pursuing soldiers at Laguna de Bay. When Rizal decided to go back here in the Philippines the friars hired an agent to plant banned pamphlets on his luggage because of that he was arrested and deported to far-off island in Dapitan between the mountains his only companions is the sea that it seems like an ink for a writer who had lost the spirit to write but on the other hand Rizal didn’t lost his hope because Dapitan became providential it’s because he met Josephine the girl that he loved when he was exile in Dapitan. Josephine got pregnant and unfortunately the baby boy died after giving birth and it made Rizal very sad. Before the movie ended it made me realize how Jose Rizal really love our country and how he value the Filipinos, Jose Rizal is a good son, a good brother, a good friend, a good adviser, a good lover, a good father and a good writer. He showed patriotism and heroism. He is one of a kind, a role model to all young men’s, and a hero to all the heroes. And the most sadness part of the movie is when Rizal said “It is done” and he fell in the ground facing the sky, having his last breath looking at a beautiful sunrise. He died by musketry in the hand of the Spaniards on December 30, 1896 on charges of sedition and rebellion against the Spaniards. This movie is really a great enlightenment of the Philippines tragic history .LONG LIVE JOSE RIZAL!

Recommendation

As I watch the movie Rizal it gives me more knowledge about the life of our national hero Jose Rizal and the dedication of Ceasar Montano to play the role as Jose Rizal and he portrays it very well and all the actors and actresses was fitted to their role, they are all great and fantastic, I applause the film director and the cast for their bravery in showing the evil tyranny of the catholic church during that time when a friar raped a Filipina and also abused the children even the elders that unsuitable to very young audiences.

Base from the movie I came up the following alternatives courses of action come to with:

1. When Rizal did not agreed to Dr. Valenzuela to escape at Dapitan and joined for an uprising against the Spaniards and it will erupt in several parts of the country.

2. Speaking Spanish which is hard to understand although there’s a subtitle.

3. The malicious and abusive doings of the friars before and it should be censored.

4. When Simoun succeeded with his plan to kill all the prominent people of the church and of the state by using explosive lamp.

5. Lots of flashback that made me and audience confuse and it should be lessen so that the viewer can follow well.

From the above I came out with two choices the 3 and 4 for the reason that the malicious and abusive doing of the friars before should be censored because this is not unsuitable for very young audiences and it should have parental guidance upon watching. And the other one, If Simoun succeeded with his plan to kill all the prominent people of the church and of the state by using explosive lamp, if ever he will succeed with his plan it is easy for them to put on end the long history of Spanish tyranny, and if necessary the innocent people will sacrificed to commit the freedom from the evil Spaniards.

Conclusion

When my teacher Mrs. Amahan assigned us to watch the movie and make an evaluation report I asked myself why we need to study the life of Jose Rizal. It’s enough to know that he is our national heroes that sacrifice his self to put an end to a long history of Spanish rule. But when I watch the movie and understand it, now I conclude that the learning that I acquired is not enough to know everything about Jose Rizal there’s a deeper reason why we need to study his life, the sacrifices that he did, the pain that he got from the Spaniards, the loneliness to his family when he is in jail and a father who lost his son after giving birth, I don’t know how or where did he got his strength to overcome it.

I felt guilt when Rizal had a conversation with Simoun and he said “all my life…you’ve done nothing but judge me…as well as my works. You took everything from me. You demanded so much of me. And still you don’t see who I truly am. I’ve given all I could… why take my life as well? for once leave me in peace so that I may see myself.” This is one of the dramatic and touching scenes in the movie.

The lesson that I’ve learned to the movie is that always listen to your parents because they know what’s good or bad for you, that’s what Teodora Alonzo the mother of Rizal want to understand by Rizal when his mother told a story about the moth that was drawn towards the flame because despite of his mothers warning not to get near to the flame, the young moth still flew towards it because he found the light was beautiful that he refuse to listen to his mother he flew nearer each time, encircling the flame approaching it’s light until his wings caught by the fire and he fell to his death. Teodora was afraid if Rizal will know everything he might in danger. And I remember the thought that Rizal said “Once I thought that the only thing important in life was education, but I realized that it really depends on what kind of education, one kind can blind us, but now I can see clearly” And because of that I was dedicated to make my report on my own and search for some information to sustain my report and I did it.