Chicago screening of award-winning ‘Jose Rizal’ Dec. 30

“Jose Rizal:” The multi-award winning movie was directed by acclaimed director Marilou Diaz Abaya.

CHICAGO–The much-acclaimed film, “Jose Rizal,” will be shown as the highlight of the 119th anniversary commemoration of the Philippine National Hero’s martyrdom, Wednesday, 6 p.m., December 30 at the Jose Rizal Heritage Center, 1332 W. Irving Park, Chicago.

Directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya in 1998, the film depicts the life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, from his childhood with his brother Paciano (Pen Medina), his school years in Ateneo, to his unjust execution in Bagumbayan.

Cesar Montano won best actor in various film festivals for his title role, together with a highly acclaimed cast thtat included Joel Torre who played the familiar role of Crisostomo Ibarra/Simoun (from Noli and Fili) and Gloria Diaz as the hero’s mother, Teodora Alonzo.

The film was dubbed as the most spectacular and “controversial” Philippine film epic because of its record-breaking 80-million (1998 figure) budget. It was also considered as one of the biggest, finest and most successful historical films ever made in the history of Philippine cinema. It won several prestigious awards and has also premiered at several well-known film festivals around the world including the Berlin International Film Festival.

The film depicts Rizal’s novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, serving as his weapons against the overlords of Spain in the Philippines. These novels became an inspiration for the Katipunan. Its founder,  Andres Bonifacio (Gardo Versoza) condemns the oppression of the friars and the Spanish colonizers. The only way for independence and freedom is through revolution.

The Jose Rizal Monument in Chicago’s Margate Park.

Rizal’s novels stimulated uprisings in the Philippines. Innocent people were imprisoned by the government by merely possessing the books of Rizal.

In November 1896, Rizal has been brought to Fort Santiago, and he refuses to admit that he knows anything about the revolution and he is accused as a traitor. After Christmas, Rizal is sent to the colonial court to face the charges against him. Soon after, the magistrates summarily condemn him to die by firing squad.

On the night before the execution, Rizal hallucinates, seeing his alter ego-protagonist Simoun of his novel El Filibusterismo tempting the author to change the climax of the story.

The film concludes with scenes of execution on the morning of December 30.  Rizal gives his sister a small alcohol stove  from his cell with his poem “Mi Ultimo Adios.” At 7 a.m.,  the firing squad points at his back, Rizal readily utters his final words: Consummatum est. (It is done.)

Meanwhile, at the Rizal commemoration in Chicago, consular officials will lead a floral offering at 9 a.m., December 30 at the Rizal Monument, along Lake Shore Drive and Marine Drive between Lawrence and Wilson Avenues in front of Weiss Memorial Hospital (Margate Park) in Chicago. Participation in this event is open to the public.

The film, “Jose Rizal,” is in color, in Tagalog with English subtitles and runs close to three hours. Brief discussion will follow. The Order of the Knights of Rizal, Ladies of Rizal and the Philippine Consulate General are co-sponsoring the event, which is open free to the public.

A pre-showing catered dinner is available for $15. Interested persons, please call Mariano A. Santos (847) 528-4991, Carmen Estacio (312) 793-7352 or Liezl Alcantara (312) 583-0621 x13.

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