José Rizal

Marilou Diaz-Abaya's 1998 Filipino film covers the last days of the writer and physician José Rizal. Accused of treason, he waits for trial. He prepares the defence with the lawyer appointed by the colonial government. The film gives his life in flashback; scenes from his novels enter the narrative too, and his distance from armed revolt is made a matter of argument. Cesar Montano leads. The production was expensive for its time and coincided with the centenary of independence. It runs long. Who it's for: viewers of Philippine history and period films. Who it's not for: viewers looking for something short; the film is long and dense with information.