“On this battlefield, man has no better weapon than his intelligence, no other force but his heart.” -Dr. Jose Rizal

The movie served as a highlight of what the Filipinos experienced during the Spanish times. The torture, the inequality between the indios and mestizos, and the struggles of the Philippines in the hands of the Spaniards. It also showed the "patriotism" that was induced in every Filipino's mind.

Some scenes in the movie were from one of his novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) which also showed how the Filipino suffered from the hilaw invaders. Like the friar who rapes a woman and beats a little boy because he was accused of stealing.

I like the part where Paciano told Pepe that he should go to Europe to continue his studies there and to freely write about the Philippines' condition. And Rizal did what Paciano said so. He did what Paciano and his comrades wanted. 

My favorite scene in the movie was when Teodora told the story of the moth and the lamp to the young Pepe. Sadly, Rizal became the moth (gamu-gamo) who came near to the lamp's fire and burned himself. Like the moth, Rizal went near to the flame even if he knew it was dangerous. He wrote Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, novels depicting the cruelty and injustice of the Spanish government. His defiance then led him to his death. Also, when Luis Taviel, who has been appointed to defend Rizal on his trial, admitted that he is ashamed of being a Spaniard. 

The actors did well on portraying every role especially Cesar Montano as Jose Rizal. The movie was Marilou Abaya's obra maestra.