José Rizal

José Rizal is a 1998 Philippine historical drama directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The film centres on the country's national hero, Dr. José Rizal, as he awaits trial on charges of treason before the colonial authorities. Confined and facing a court that has already decided against him, he meets Luis Taviel de Andrade, the lawyer assigned to his defence, and the two build the case together. As Rizal recounts the events that led to his imprisonment, his counsel comes to see the accused as a man of exceptional conviction. Outside the courtroom, the Spanish colonial government works to guarantee a guilty verdict, while unrest grows across the country.

Diaz-Abaya directed the film after Chain and before Reef Hunters. Cesar Montano plays Rizal, with Jaime Fabregas as Taviel de Andrade, Joel Torre as Ibarra and Simoun, Gloria Diaz as Teodora Alonso, Gardo Versoza as Andres Bonifacio and Monique Wilson as Maria Clara, among a credited cast of 52. The screenplay is by Ricky Lee, Jun Robles Lana and Peter Ong Lim. Made by GMA Pictures with a budget of 80 million USD, the film runs 178 minutes and was released on 25 December 1998. It holds a rating of 7.7 out of 10 on IMDb from 532 votes.