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    Rizal Film Reaction Paper

    Uploaded by

    Juli Ann
    The document provides a reaction paper to the 1998 film about Jose Rizal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The paper summarizes that the film portrayed Rizal as both a heroic figure who inspired Filipinos, but also showed his humanity by depicting him as short-tempered and insisting on getting his way. It highlights how the film explored Rizal's consideration of vengeance and violence, which teachers often gloss over. The paper praises how the film presented a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of Rizal compared to other historical films, by showing both his anger and weakness as well as his strength and courage during his trial and execution.

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    Rizal Film Reaction Paper

    Uploaded by

    Juli Ann
    2K views2 pages
    The document provides a reaction paper to the 1998 film about Jose Rizal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The paper summarizes that the film portrayed Rizal as both a heroic figure who inspired Filipinos, but also showed his humanity by depicting him as short-tempered and insisting on getting his way. It highlights how the film explored Rizal's consideration of vengeance and violence, which teachers often gloss over. The paper praises how the film presented a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of Rizal compared to other historical films, by showing both his anger and weakness as well as his strength and courage during his trial and execution.

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    Rizal Film Reaction Paper

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    The document provides a reaction paper to the 1998 film about Jose Rizal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The paper summarizes that the film portrayed Rizal as both a heroic figure who inspired Filipinos, but also showed his humanity by depicting him as short-tempered and insisting on getting his way. It highlights how the film explored Rizal's consideration of vengeance and violence, which teachers often gloss over. The paper praises how the film presented a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of Rizal compared to other historical films, by showing both his anger and weakness as well as his strength and courage during his trial and execution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views2 pages

    Rizal Film Reaction Paper

    Uploaded by

    Juli Ann
    The document provides a reaction paper to the 1998 film about Jose Rizal directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The paper summarizes that the film portrayed Rizal as both a heroic figure who inspired Filipinos, but also showed his humanity by depicting him as short-tempered and insisting on getting his way. It highlights how the film explored Rizal's consideration of vengeance and violence, which teachers often gloss over. The paper praises how the film presented a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of Rizal compared to other historical films, by showing both his anger and weakness as well as his strength and courage during his trial and execution.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    SIBI,

    Juli Ann Rosette M.


    BAMC IV

    PI 100

    Jose Rizal (Film) Reaction Paper


    Heroes are often portrayed as one-dimensional characters in many platforms of
    entertainmenthumans who appear so selfless and invincible, to the point that they are
    mystified. We enjoy these versions of heroes and view them as ideals. But when heroes are
    painted as normal humans with flaws and sharp edges, they are immediately seen for only that.
    Instead of being humanized, they are antagonized.

    Acclaimed director Marilou Diaz-Abayas three-hour film on Jose Rizal tries to strike a balance.
    The film, back in 1998 when it was released, was then viewed as revolutionary for Philippine
    cinema, as Diaz-Abaya tries to present a more realistic view of Rizal, and was said to have set an
    example for many historical films.

    Rizal is portrayed as the hero we know him to be, with his literary works inspired by the
    burgeoning liberalism in Europe. Rizals work ignited spirits of Filipinos who are stuck under
    leaders in a conservative (and abusive) frame of mind. At the same time, Abayas
    characterization of Rizal manages to include many distinct details that highlight his humanity
    his being short-tempered and even his insistence of getting his way almost all the time.

    What I would like to highlight is how the film allows Rizals character to explore the ideas of
    vengeance and violence, which many teachers who discuss Rizal prefer to gloss over. The very
    presence of Simoun in the film, and the selection of certain scenes from El Filibusterismo and
    Noli Me Tangere shows that Diaz-Abaya wants to show that Rizal did have extremist points of
    view, and had every reason to feel that way.

    Although it was really cheesy and clichd, Rizals hallucination scene in which Simoun tries to
    gaud Rizal into changing the climax of El Filibusterismo, showed that Rizal also experienced
    conflict and doesnt just play the annoyingly peaceful advocate that remains collected in the face
    of violence, in contrast to Bonifacios strong personality that appears to be agitated in many of
    his portrayals.

    In my experience, majority of my high school Filipino teachers preferred to paint Rizal as the
    immaculate hero while Bonifacio was his complete opposite. Three out of four of the Filipino

    teachers I had in high school always began discussing Rizal with the quote he never even said
    The pen is mightier than the sword. And from there, they start discussing the importance of
    pacifist methods with bold implications that we should be subservient to our administration of
    nuns in school, saying we should emulate Rizal, and view Bonifacio as a lesson learned
    Violence is never the answer. Not that highlighting peace in progress is wrong, but what is
    wrong is presenting only one side of a situation and claiming that that is all there is to it.

    Rizal was angry, hurt, and conflicted in many parts of the film, just as much as Bonifacio, or any
    average human being can be. And such is a side of Rizal we hardly get to see in many
    interpretations of him in past films. Diaz-Abaya later redeemed Rizals aggrieved side by
    presenting a calm and collected Rizal from trial to his execution, but stayed true to Rizals
    humanity through certain nuances of nervousness, doubt, and fear. Diaz-Abaya presented a
    deeper image of the national hero, for in the film, we also got to see how Rizal swallows his own
    weaknesses to be strong for his mother and siblings who feared the day of his death.

    The film is powerful, compared to other historical films made in that time. It managed to retell a
    story that has been told over and over again, with fair enough acting and visuals. Yet, there is
    still a need for modern retellings of Rizals story.

    First, Diaz-Abayas film did not succeed in tying Rizals fight for democracy to the modern-day
    fight against corruption and violence that act as shackles of modern democracy. The 18-year-old
    film is what it is, a historical film, but hardly as inspiring as it should have been.
    Also, the younger generations demand for change and revolution can only be evoked through
    brutal and gritty visualizations, which was the case of Heneral Luna with its chopped heads,
    bloody wars and Antonio Lunas crass yet genuine form of leadership.

    In order for Rizals story to rouse a generation born into peacefulness and democracy, it must be
    more powerful than Diaz-Abayas version. The challenge here is how to balance the need for
    stronger and more impactful visuals that can stir and shock a sleeping generation, deliver a
    message, and retell Jose Rizals story that doesnt paint him as the hero without a single flaw
    but as a human being, that through a series of mistakes, sacrifices, managed to begin a revolution
    that ended a 333-year regime.

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