INTRODUCTION

A complex film within a film that attempts to explore the myth of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal, directed Mike De Leon. It is a study that attempts to explore the life of Rizal while simultaneously investigating his influence on modern Philippine society. It seems that the culture has embraced the idea of a nation icon rather than the physical reality of the man behind the myth. In addition, director De Leon begins to study the historical accounts of Rizal's life attempting to contact the family and friends that were closest to him. Confounded by the controversial letter of retraction that Rizal signed in his later days, the filmmakers attempt to uncover the motivation of the legend in renouncing all he stood for and opting for and embracing the society that he so vehemently denounced. Another, is his mysterious marriage to Josephine Bracken that until now is not proven. Soon coming to the end of their search for facts and unable to solve the mystery of the letter and their questions regarding the life of Jose Rizal, the filmmakers, at odds with their belief of recorded history, find that discovering the ultimate truth to the legend may be an unattainable goal.

TITLE

" Bayaning 3rd World"

The title suggest that Jose Rizal who came from a Malayan race became a hero of a 3rd world country, Philippines. Not only that, but, a national hero. It tells us that even if he came from a poor country his ideals and thoughts greatly affect a vast of people not only in Asia but the whole world also. In any case it is to imply or to point out that a man like him or a hero like him is from a 3rd world country and as a common connotation a 3rd world country is poor and not developing economically. Gradually, it simply states that Philippines until now is a 3rd world country. Hence, it only tells us the significance of Rizal as a representation of Philippines.

CONTENTS

CHARACTER

• Ricky Davao as filmmaker 1 - He is the master head of making a movie about Rizal's lfe but is left undecided because of a lot of mysteriousness in Rizal's life. He represents the modern or present of today. However, he cannot seek the answers to Rizal's mystery because of a lot of unanswered questions as he and his co-filmmaker travel from the past to find answers. His protrayal is natural as that of a true filmmaker but having received unclear answers he became furious about Rizal's life.
• Lara Fabregas as Josephine Bracken - She represents the lover of Rizal from the past. and the so-called Mrs. Rizal. Although, she did not clearly tells if the marriage is true or not but since their is no marriage contract, a lot of historians claimed that it is not true. Her protrayal of Josephine cleverly manifest the kind of Josephine as a woman. Her being direct in answering questions tells her being an Irish or a European woman. Her culture is different from the Filipinos in the way she addressed Rizal, in her way of talking, in her attire and a lot more that is attributed only by Europeans.
• Joone Gamboa as Paciano - He played Rizal's older brother and from the film, he is only Rizal's inspiration in writing and he tells his support to Rizal. However, there are still unclear ideas of Rizal that is not explained well. To add to this, Rizal's involvement to the revolution remain unanswered.
• Rio Locsin as Trining - She is the eldest of the Mercado family. She is harsh to Josephine but nice to his brother Pepe. Her dislike to Josephine can be seen in the way she says vulgar or bad words to the Irish woman in Tagalog due to the understandung that she was nor comprehended. In so doing, like the other characthers who who represent the past did not give direct answers. In addition, from one of her interviews, where she so old, she did not give any clear or evident answers.
• Cherry Pie Picache as Narcisa - She doesn't have a lot of exposure in the film but she is the one who treated Josephine fairly unlike Trining. In the movie, she is a very emotional sister of Pepe.
• Daria Ramirez as Donya Lolay - The mother of Jose Rizal. She portrayed a characther of a very religious mother and at the same time shows stict acts to the interviewers. As can be viewed from the film, Donya Lolay is harsh when it comes to the death of her son.
• Ed Rocha as Padre Balaguer - He has the so-called retraction letter of Rizal although it is not proven. He has in hands all the events that happened on the night before the execution.However, there is no clear evidence since all of his statements are base from his point of view as s friar. The actor give credit of playing a Spanish friar by the way he delivered his lines and his expression.
• Joel Torre as Jose Rizal - As a Jose Rizal, he is often seen in the movie in his desk writing. A coomon manifestation of our national hero as a writer. He, however, did not answer his mysterious chapters of life directly. He also give a lot of unclear thoughts and answer.

CONFLICTS

The movie presents two main conflicts about Rizal. First, in the present day view, the quest of the two filmmakers of the mysteries of Rizal's life. Next, from the past viewpoint are the mystery of Rizal himself; his marriage to Josephine Bracken and the retraction letter.

The conflict can be seen or inferred from the start of the movie and the two lead characters travel from the past to interview or ask the family or persons with direct access to Rizal at that time. Both of them tries to get evidence from the statements of the persons involve in Rizal and at the same time from Rizal himself. Although, the conflict is not resolve especially the retraction letter since their is no prior evidence. In addition, not all of his writings are recovered, one of it is the letter he hid in his shoes before he died, which is on this day already worn out.

CLIMAX

The climax of the story happened in one of the scenes where the two filmmaker travel from the past to interview Rizal. From there, the two characters find it hard to talk to or get information on Rizal. There is still a moment when they lose their patience on Rizal and eventually try to stop inaking the film since their is no supported facts.

LESSON

It tells us that there are a lot of mystery in the past that remains a mystery forever. One example of these is the retraction letter that is not proven and the only answer depends on Rizal himself and apparently he is already dead. Another, is do not judge the intentions of people towards others. It is in the case of Josephine who thought to be a spy but also, it is not proven true. Also, do not judge the greatness of a person of becoming a hero since it is not his own accord. Like Rizal he just want to free the Filipinos from oppression.

CRITICS

THE FILM

The film lacks commercial substance for a blockbuster hit or something although the theme is presented well enough to the best reach of the viewers. The film if witty and comical which makes it fun to watch and at the same time gives a live spirit. It is not boring. The film cites Rizal's different point of view and possible characters, and as well as portraying different characters.

The use of flashbacks makes it easy for the recognition of the conflict and the real essence of the film which in fact about the unresolved phase of Rizal's life. There are also some sort of possible answers but is far more appreciated or not really possible for him to do. Hence, the film makes us knowledgeable about certain controversies or issues regarding our national hero.

The characters on the film also used a lot of exaggeration in their part and a lot of voice projection to highten their emotion which is one of the strong points of the movie. It also gives a comical style for comedic presentation not losing its real essence.

I personally like the movie because it keeps me awake all the time unlike other movies who seems that portraying a hero as the content is so gloomy and serious. The presentation is good with the use of some language which is actually not really good and vulgar but it gives the effect of making he film realistic in nature.

If I will do a movie about Rizal, I think I will focus on his life as a student from his hometown in Calamba to UST. In here, Rizal is but an ordinary student onlt, such his life is more likely to be like us. Moreover, I will also add his in between love affairs as a student because that would make it more interesting to the viewers. I will also present a Rizal as a student who is not so serious but also witty and had friends. I wonder if he also had time to relaxed or do somethings witty? For the movie, I will make sure that Rizal would not be a very serious student but a student who has the characteristic very much like us. A Rizal who had a time for himself and thinking of himself alone. I will add as a highlight the time when his mother went to jail. It is so interesting that at this time maybe Rizal would really hate the Spaniards and also think a revenge for his mother.