BALMES, RANIA MAE P.

March 18, 2020

ARC 152 HRIZALW

Reaction Paper: “Perfect Hero for an Imperfect Society” by Michael Xiao Chua”

I did not know that there was another film about Jose Rizal in 1990s, the National Centennial
Commission partnered with GMA films to create a film on Rizal with Aga Muhlach that directed by
De Leon and del Mundo. Because I only knew about the Jose Rizal the Movie that directed with
Marilou Diaz Abaya was with Cesar Montano in the lead role. After I read the article about the
Perfect Hero for an Imperfect Society by Xiao Chua I surprised the both films came out with different
perspectives.

The film is often characterized as "irreverent" as it deconstructs our normal assumptions

about Jose Rizal. Yet it is as irreverent as our assumptions about Rizal, both expressed and unsaid,
whether true or not: That he was a womanizer, that he was probably gay, that he was a coward
because he retracted his writings against the church (his writings were the very reason of his
heroism), that he was a traitor to the revolution, that he turned his back on the people, that he
shouldn’t be one of our heroes. I can say that it could just have to stick to the real history when it
come to the movie or film.

Yes, I agree that Rizal can be the perfect hero for an imperfect society for he transcended his
many issues to be able to contribute to nation building because he wanted to prove to the Spaniards
that we the Filipinos are also a great people deserving of freedom.