Dr. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere portrayed in a so clear and sympathetic way the lives of Filipino people and has produced a real piece of literature. Enter Gerardo de Leon, film director-writer. Aside from technical expertise, ambiguity has been his most manifest trait. But never has this been more pronounced than in his film version of Noli Me Tangere (Bayanihan / Arriva Productions). What sets Noli apart is its quasi-official nature. Intended as the story of a Filipino's belief about great injustice, it normally would have, in these polarized times, two orientations to choose from, conservatism or radicalism. Gerardo de Leon, however, steers Noli away clear of any such commitment, his achievement in this regard is the movie's prime virtue. De Leon's earlier efforts were better than the average Filipino director's output. Here, the apparent attempt is to state that politics is never a matter of dichotomy, that social contradiction may demonstrate dialectical modes of behavior, but not necessarily according to the expectations dictated by academic idealism. Noli tells the story of Crisostomo Ibarra (Eddie del Mar), a Filipino who returns to his motherland after having completed his studies in Europe. In his honor, Don Tiago (Engracio Ibarra) throws him a welcome party attended by Padre Damaso (Oscar Keesee), Dona Victorina (Lilian Laing) and the town's most prominent figures. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Guevarra (Manuel Ojeda) reveals the incidents preceding the death of his father Don Rafael. The following day, Crisostomo visits Maria Clara (Edita Vidal), their long-standing love clearly manifested in this meeting. He carries out his father's plans of building a school believing that education would pave the way to his country's liberation. Crisostomo becomes the hunted as he gets implicated in a staged revolution. Together with Elias (Leopoldo Salcedo), he flees town but as luck would have it, they were shot by the civil guards eventually killing Elias. Maria Clara, hopeless and disillusioned begs Padre Damaso to confine her into a nunnery unaware that Crisostomo had survived and was able to escape. Before the film's end, Crisostomo finds Basilio (Eddie Ilagan) in the forest and helps him bury his lifeless mother Sisa (Lina Carino).
Although the film is weakened by the incompetence to weave an alternative historiography to which reality must be indebted, Noli infuses the Rizal question with subtle but sparkling imagination. Occasional heavy-handedness sets in when the film makes didactic attempts at value reorientation. Production design, cinematography and editing are above par compared with standard industry outputs, acting is low key and works well in most cases. De Leon's straightforward style somewhat falters after more than three hours of utility though, not withstanding the presence of big-time performers. Instead, he opts for a measure of sad success by playing his politics both ways. De Leon in Noli manages to flesh out political and class tension in the act of depicting social change . On the basis of his humanistic emphases, here and in his earlier films, one may allow him the benefit of the doubt. Like it or not, Noli Me Tangere is a major Filipino movie, the industry's significant output for an uncertain decade. As for De Leon, one can at least admire the daring by which he tackles complex political ramifications, infusing the attempts with a serene diplomacy surprising for its rarity hereabouts. His ability to control a material so complicated in its details and so earnest in its yearning to effectively disseminate the action of society. Noli's novelistic narrative may fumble in its attempt to explore character and weave milieu into dramaturgy, but the film emerges from the thickets with engaging moments and stirring energies. Noli Me Tangere's strength lies not so much in its technique as in its affecting vision of sacrifice.
Directed By: Gerardo de Leon
Screenplay By: Dr. Gerardo de Leon And Jose Flores Sibal
Directors Of Photography: Emmanuel Rojas & Arsenio Banu
Music Composed & Directed By: Tito Arevalo
Editors: Victoriano Calub And Joven Calub
Production Design: Carlos V. Franciso
Produced By: Bayanihan And Arriva Productions
Release Date: June 17, 1961
The author is eternally grateful to Alexis Tioseco for entrusting me with the only existing videotape copy of Gerry de Leon's Noli Me Tangere. You'll forever live in our hearts.
8:14 AM
Sad to hear about Alexis. That was a nice tribute, Jojo.
8:26 AM
Thanks a lot Jason... I'm deeply saddened by Alexis and Nika's untimely demise.
5:55 PM
Its a pity that I only saw a few Gerry de Leon flicks. Most of his works are now lost in oblivion. Sigh.....Alexis will surely be missed by many people. Excellent review again, Jojo.
6:10 PM
I've seen most of his films before on TV with the exception of Daigdig Ng Mga Api. Thanks to Alexis for providing a copy of Noli Me Tangere although I saw the movie on the big screen during the Filipino Film Festival here in NY during the Philippine Centennial Celebration. Maraming salamat for always shwing your appreciation.
7:42 PM
I'm dying to see also DAIGDIG NG MGA API and the sequel to Noli, EL FILIBUSTERISMO.
7:44 PM
I saw El Filibusterismo on channel 13 with Pancho Magalona playing Simon. It was a good movie although not as polished as Noli.
6:57 PM
I wonder if this film can be shown online, i.e. YouTube.
2:30 AM
Unfortunately, I can't upload it out of respect for Alexis. Thanks for understanding.
9:49 AM
Hi Jojo,
Great review and a fitting tribute to your friend Alexis and his girlfriend Nika.
Regards,
RSE
11:27 AM
Thanks so much Ron! Most of the tributes were about their personal experiences with Alexis, since I don't have much to share, I decided to review Noli Me Tangere instead, the copy of which Alexis gave to me.
4:59 PM
I understand why were you not able to upload the Noli Me Tangere film adaptation. Anyway, have you recognized all the actors and their corresponding characters in the movie?
5:08 PM
Yes I have... if you noticed in my post I actually wrote down the characters names and the actors who played them.
7:08 PM
I have a few characters that can identify in the film:
1. Jose Garcia as the Governor-General
2. Ruben Rustia as the teacher that Ibarra met on his return to San Diego
3. Johnny Monteiro as Padre Salvi
4. Andres Centenera as the Alcalde
5. Jerry Pons as Linares
Source: Video 48's article on the 1961 Noli Me tangere film adaptation, complete with two Literary Song-Movie Magazine pages about it
Let's identify more minor characters such as the alferez and his wife, the philosopher Anastacio, and even Maria Clara's friends in San Diego.
7:13 PM
I never mentioned those characters sind they weren't mentioned in my post. I concentrated on the maun characters instead.
7:26 PM
Understood. The movie was first released in August '61.
Source: Pelikula, Atbp. article on Gerry de Leon, complete with scans of a booklet by Experimental Cinema of the Philippines about a tribute to GDL.
7:33 PM
I saw you plans of doing a film based on the characters of Noli Me Tangere... I'm impressed! I hope plans will push through.
7:38 PM
It all started way back in March 2006, when we had a Noli Me Tangere high school play as a project in Filipino III (presented per section). I portrayed Crispin there, with my best friend portraying Maria Clara (she later graduated as a valedictorian).
Then, I later decided to work on my 1st film project even an the age of 14 (I'm 17 years old as of the date I posted this comment)
Here's the link to my project: http://mkdlstudios.wikia.com/wiki/Cosme:_Ang_Ibarra_sa_Globalisadong_Mundo
2:54 AM
I actually read the post you wrote on your blog about the Noli project. I truly admire your creativity. I'm hoping that you'll get to shoot it very soon. Goodluck!
4:39 PM
i read in an article in inquirer that fukuoka have an archived copy of noli me tangere.
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20091007-228900/Japan-rediscovers-Philippine-cinema
6:43 AM
There is a 35mm print of Noli Me Tangere archived at the Philippine Information Agency. What Alexis entrusted me was the only videotape copy of the Gerry de Leon classic.
11:41 PM
Did this film receive any commendation from the Philippine government aside from being the Best Picture in the 10th FAMAS Awards?
3:34 AM
Commendation? Not really. Noli was hailed by the critics not only in the Philippines but in festivals abroad where it was screened.
3:19 AM
Does this film adaptation of Noli include Don Rafael's tragedy and the history of the town of San Diego? What are the international film festivals that that Noli participated in?