José Rizal

Patriot and poet Jose Rizal (1861-1896) is celebrated in the Philippines as a national hero. Rizal was an astonishingly educated man, a kind of uomo universale. From early on, Rizal’s aim was to bring about political and social reform; he also wanted to increase his people’s political awareness. To this end, he wrote two novels, the first published in Berlin, the second in Ghent. After a fake trial he was executed, but this couldn’t stop the progress of national liberation. This film tells Jose Rizal’s story in flashbacks. Waiting for his execution he looks back on his life, seeing both real people of flesh and blood as well as some of the characters of his novels.