GenreBiography, Drama, History Music directorNonong Buencamino WriterRicky Lee, Jun Lana
LanguageTagalog, English, Spanish Release dateJune 12, 1998 (as part of the Philippine Centennial celebrations)
December 25, 1998 (theatrical release) Initial releaseJanuary 16, 1999 (Philippines) CastCesar Montano (José Rizal), Joel Torre (Ibarra / Simoun), Jaime Fabregas (Luis Taviel de Andrade), Gloria Diaz (Teodora Alonso), Gardo Versoza (Andres Bonifacio), Monique Wilson (Maria Clara) Similar moviesManila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story, The Bourne Legacy, Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig, A Second Chance, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, Kid Kulafu TaglineWhat matters death if one dies for what one loves, for native land and cherished ones?
José Rizal is a 1998 Filipino biographical film of the Filipino national hero José Rizal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano as José Rizal.
At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film in the history of Filipino cinema with a budget of over ₱ 80 million. The film was an official entry to the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival. Upon release, the film met universal critical acclaim.
Plot
José Rizal is imprisoned in Fort Santiago under the abusive Spanish colonization. Meanwhile, in Balintawak, Andrés Bonifacio and his fellow secret organization, the Katipunan, commences the uprising against the tyranny created by the Spaniards by tearing their cedulas as a sign of Spanish slavery.
Soon, a first lieutenant of the Artillery, Luis Taviel de Andrade, visits Rizal. Taviel de Andrade did not waste time to study carefully Rizal's case. In just a short period of time, Rizal and Taviel captured each other's sympathy and eventually became friends as they had usual meetings in Rizal's cell in Fort Santiago. Taviel was even able to celebrate Christmas with Rizal in the cell where they drank pan get and sang together.
After Christmas, Rizal was sent to the Royal Audiencia, the colonial court of appeal, to hear the trial against him. Soon after, the magistrates decided to condemn him under firing squad on the 30th of the morning in Luneta.
At the night before the execution, Rizal hallucinates, seeing his alter ego—protagonist, Crisostomo "Simoun" Ibarra, from his second book, El Filibusterismo, tempting him to change the climax of the novel.
On the morning of his execution, his kin receives a small alcohol stove (not a gas lamp as commonly portrayed) from his cell containing the last poem "Mi Ultimo Adios". Stopping at the place of execution facing the rising sun, Rizal requested the authorities for him to face the firing squad, but the request was denied. Calm and without haste, he requested to have his head spared instead and the captain agrees. At the moment the shooting squad points at his back, he readily uttered his final words: Consummatum est ("It is done").
In the events following Rizal's execution, members of the Katipunan begin their armed uprising, completely catching the Spanish forces off guard, seizing their mounts, munitions and their rifles. After that, the organization captures a church and the members executes the friars in an act of vengeance. Later that night, Bonifacio and his top generals meet in their headquarters to plan a new offensive seeking to capture ten towns in a duration of one week from the Spaniards. As Bonifacio continues speaking, the film ends as the camera pans to Rizal's picture at the wall of his headquarters.
Awards and nominations
1998 Metro Manila Film Festival
Best Picture
Best Actor (Cesar Montano)
Best Director (Marilou Diaz-Abaya)
Best Supporting Actor (Jaime Fabregas)
Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Diaz)
Best Screenplay (Ricky Lee, Jun Lana and Peter Ong Lim)
Best Original Story (Ricky Lee, Jun Lana and Peter Ong Lim)
Best Cinematography (Rody Lacap)
Best Editing (Jess Navarro and Manet Dayrit)
Best Sound Production (Mike Idioma)
Best Production Design (Leo Abaya)
Best Special Effects (Mark Ambat of Optima Digital)
Best Makeup (Denni Yrastorza Tan)
Best Musical Score (Nonong Buencamino)
Best Movie Theme Song (Nonong Buencamino for "Awit ni Maria Clara")
Best Festival Float
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards
1999 FAMAS Awards
Best Picture
Best Actor (Cesar Montano)
Best Director (Marilou Diaz-Abaya)
Best Supporting Actor (Jaime Fabregas)
Best Cinematography (Rody Lacap)
Best Editing (Jess Navarro and Manet A. Dayrit)
Best Movie Theme Song (Nonong Buencamino for "Awit ni Maria Clara")
Best Musical Direction (Nonong Buencamino)
Best Production Design (Leo Abaya)
Best Screenplay (Ricardo Lee, Jun Lana and Peter Ong Lim)
Best Special Effects (Rolando Santo Domingo)
1999 Gawad Urian Awards
Best Direction (Marilou Diaz-Abaya)
Best Cinematography (Rody Lacap)
Best Music (Nonong Buencamino)
Best Production Design (Leo Abaya)
Best Sound (Albert Michael Idioma)
Best actress (Gorgonia Del Rivaera)
Best Supporting Actor (Jaime Fabregas)
1999 Star Awards for Movies
Movie of the Year
Actor of the Year (Cesar Montano)
Director of the Year (Marilou Diaz-Abaya)
Supporting Actor of the Year (Jaime Fabregas)
Adapted Screenplay of the Year (Ricardo Lee, Jun Lana and Peter Ong Lim)
Editor of the Year (Jess Navarro and Manet A. Dayrit)
Musical Scorer of the Year (Nonong Buencamino)
Production Designer of the Year (Leo Abaya)
Sound Engineering of the Year (Albert Michael Idioma)
The film has been screened and ran in competition in different film festivals worldwide and included in the Official Selection for Panorama in the Berlin International Film Festival (1998). It also won 2nd runner-up in the Audience Award of the Toronto Filmfest and the Chicago International Film Festival.
Release
The series was released onto DVD-format and VCD-format by GMA Records.