Jose Rizal (film)

Infobox film
name kobe bryant

---

caption = Theatrical poster of the movie
director = Marilou Diaz-Abaya
producer = GMA Films
writer = Ricky Lee
Jun Lana
Peter Ong Lim
starring = Cesar Montano
Joel Torre
Jaime Fabregas
Gloria Diaz
Gardo Versoza
Pen Medina
Mickey Ferriols
music = Nonong Buencamino
cinematography = Rody Lacap
editing = Jess Navarro
Manet Dayrit
distributor = GMA Films
released = June 12, 1998 (as part of Filipino Centennial celebrations)
December 25, 1998 (theatrical release)
runtime = 178 min
country = Philippines
awards = "see below"
language = Tagalog,Spanish
budget = P 80,000,000 (estimated)
gross =
imdb_id = 0186257

José Rizal is a 1998 award winning Filipino film biopic directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

It was GMA Films' entry to the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival. It is touted as one of the biggest films ever made in the history of Philippine cinema with a record-breaking P80-million budget despite the fact that historical films are often notorious flops during that time. GMA's faith was rewarded. Released on Christmas Day, the movie packed theaters and swept awards ceremonies. It is one of the most successful Philippine films of all time, with its PHP 136.7 million gross. Fact|date=July 2007

The movie depicts the life of the Philippine national hero José Rizal, who was played by Cesar Montano. The movie was directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

ynopsis

Accused of treason, Dr. P. Rizal awaits trial and meets with his government-appointed counsel, Luis Taviel de Andrade. The two build the case and arguments for the defense as significant events in the central figure's life prior to his incarceration unfold. Upon hearing his life story, Taviel begins to realize that the accused is not only innocent but exhibits in fact all the qualities of an ordinary man. When the mock trial unreels, Taviel is all set to act as the prime advocate for his client as Rizal himself is about to give an earth-moving speech to defend his honor and address his countrymen. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities have worked out the vast political machinery to ensure a guilty verdict. A revolution awaits in the wings. Blood is shed when the "katipunan", founded by Andres Bonifacio, attack the Spaniards.

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 (Ricardo Lee, Jun Lana and Peter Ong Lim)
**Best Original Story
**Best Cinematography
**Best Editing
**Best Sound
**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 Award.

*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 Idiota)
**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.

Trivia

*The role of José Rizal was initially offered to Aga Muhlach.
*Cesar Montano agreed to scale down his talent fee (reported to be 5 million pesos per movie). He also cancelled everything else on his schedule to concentrate on training for his role. His tutorials involved languages (Rizal spoke Spanish, French, German and Latin), fencing, painting, drawing, sculpture, and other skills that the national hero excelled in.
*Initially shown before a private audience in June 12, 1998, the movie was one of the highlights of festivities for the Philippine Centennial celebrations. It was first released to the public Christmas Day of 1998.
*Director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, a University of the Philippines film graduate, enlisted the aid of three known professors as screenplay consultants - Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera (Ateneo de Manila University), Dr. Randy David (University of the Philippines), and Asst. Prof. Danton Remoto (Ateneo de Manila University).