Bayaning 3rd World

Bayaning 3rd World

Directed by Mike de Leon

Written by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. and Mike de Leon

Starring Ricky Davao, Cris Villanueva, Joel Torre, Lara Fabregas, Cherry Pie Picache, Rio Locsin, Daria Ramirez, Joonee Gamboa, Ed Rocha

Originally released in 2000 by Cinema Artists

Released on DVD by Viva Home Video

Found on our shelves at Astroplus Megamall

250 Pesos (buy one take one)

Jose Rizal, being our national hero and an all-around interesting fellow, is a naturally attractive subject for a film. And indeed, his life and works have spawned several films. Gerry de Leon adapted his novels back in the sixties, but not before making Sisa with Anita Linda. Tikoy Aguiluz took a magnifying to Rizal’s life in exile in Rizal sa Dapitan. Mario O’Hara explores Rizal’s psyche through a love affair with one of creations in Sisa. Most recently, CJ Andaluz and Frank Rivera created a third movie called Sisa, which expanded on the character’s tale in the novel. And of course, there’s Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s sprawling three-hour biopic Jose Rizal.

And then there’s Mike de Leon’s Bayaning Third World, a film about how difficult it is to make a film about Rizal, a deconstruction of our country’s attitudes towards our national hero. Interestingly enough, Bayaning Third World wasn’t Mike de Leon’s first crack at a Rizal film. He was originally supposed to be the director of GMA films’ Jose Rizal, and had visions of casting Aga Muhlach in the titular role. Things didn’t work out, obviously, and he walked out of the film after millions were already spent in development. Bayaning Third World emerges as a film where de Leon exorcises his Rizal demons, where he fully explores the difficulties he encountered in trying to dramatize the life of a man whose glorification has overshadowed his humanity.

In the movie we follow two unnamed filmmakers played by Ricky Davao and Cris Villanueva who have set out to make a film about the national hero. Throughout the film, the two...