1998 MMFF Best Picture 'Jose Rizal' movie now available for streaming

December 31 2024

By AARON EUSEBIO

The digitally restored and remastered version of the 1998 movie Jose Rizal, directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano, is now available for streaming on Netflix.

GMA Pictures, together with Central Digital Lab and GMA Post Production, restored the classic movie in 2024 as part of the film outlet's tribute to Philippine cinema.

 

 

 

 

Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isang post na ibinahagi ni GMA Pictures (@gmapictures)

Since its released on Rizal Day on December 30, the movie once again received praises from watchers, 26 years after it was first screened on theaters.

"Una kong napanood ito Grade 3 pa ako. I was too young to appreciate how wonderful and intricate the storytelling was, lalo na 'yung parallelism ng story ni Crisostomo/Simoun at Rizal," a viewer wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Finished watching José Rizal on Netflix. Una kong napanood ito Grade 3 pa ako. I was too young to appreciate how wonderful and intricate the storytelling was, lalo na yung parallelism ng story ni Crisostomo/Simoun at Rizal. Sobrang galing rin nina Jaime Fábregas at Joel Torre. pic.twitter.com/0EeZpIX5Iw

-- E ? (@into_esbiwanayn) December 30, 2024

Jose Rizal won 17 out of the 18 awards at the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival. When the digitally restored and remastered version returned to cinemas as part of Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta in October 2024, Cesar expressed his happiness that new generation of Filipinos can now enjoy the film he calls his "legacy."

He said to GMANetwork.com back then, "I'm so happy it's being released again. Nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga young people sa panahon ngayon, sa henerasyon ngayon para mapanood pa 'tong isang kakaiba, sa tingin ko, at, I'll be biased na, pinakamagandang bersyon ng Rizal na pelikula."

Written by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, Jun Lana, and Peter Ong Lim, Jose Rizal tells the story of the Filipino hero from his imprisonment at Fort Bonifacio until the day of his execution.

Cesar portrayed the titular hero with Chin Chin Gutierrez as Josephine Bracken and Mickey Ferriols as Leonor Rivera.

Also part of the cast are Ronnie Lazaro as Francisco Mercado, Gloria Diaz as Teodora Alonso, Pen Medina as Paciano Mercado, and Gina Alajar as Saturnina Rizal.

Jose Rizal now streams on Netflix Philippines.