Noli Me Tángere (film)

Noli Me Tángere is a 1961 Philippine period drama film co-written and directed by Gerardo de León. Based on the 1887 novel of the same name by José Rizal, it stars Eduardo del Mar, Edita Vital, Johnny Monteiro, Oscar Keesee, Teody Belarmino, and Leopoldo Salcedo. The film was released on June 16, 1961, timed with the centenary of Rizal's birth.

Noli Me Tángere
Directed byGerardo de León
Screenplay by
  • Gerardo de León
  • Jose Flores Sibal
Based onNoli Me Tángere
by José Rizal
Produced byAntonio R. Riva
Starring
Cinematography
  • Emmanuel Rojas
  • Arsenio Bañu
Edited by
  • Victoriano Calub
  • Joven Calub
Music byTito Arevalo
Production
company
Arriva-Bayanihan Productions
Release date
  • June 16, 1961 (1961-06-16)
CountryPhilippines
LanguageTagalog

Noli Me Tángere won five FAMAS Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film is now considered a classic in Philippine cinema.[1][2]

Cast

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Production

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Filipino painter Carlos V. Francisco served as the production designer for Noli Me Tángere.[3]

Filmmaker Eddie Romero, who had intended to write his own film adaptation of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere prior to the production of Gerardo de León's film, stated that de León had only a limited amount of time to create the film, and as a result, Romero found the film unable to fully adapt the novel as he would wish. Romero would eventually receive the opportunity to direct his television adaptation of the novel in 1992.[4]

Restoration

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In 1989, the only surviving film print of Noli Me Tángere was discovered to be in poor condition, upon which the German Embassy of the Philippines and Goethe-Institut requested the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to retrieve and rescue the film. In Koblenz, Germany, the film was successfully restored by Fruitzer Black Archive and the Federal Film Archive, and within the same year was sent back to the Philippines.[5][1] The Philippine Information Agency later made a copy of the restored negative, with the duplicate print used for the June 19, 1990 premiere of the remastered version at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.[5][6] Manila Standard columnist Ariel Bocobo claimed that numerous audience members at the premiere were unable to fully appreciate the film due to "the swarm of giant mosquitoes which hungrily feasted on the moviegoers."[6]

Re-release

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As part of the 150th anniversary celebration of José Rizal's birth, Noli Me Tángere was given a re-release in select SM Cinemas throughout the Philippines in June 2011.[5]

Accolades

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Group Category Name Result
FAMAS Awards Best Picture Noli Me Tángere[7] Won
Best Director Gerardo de León[7] Won
Best Supporting Actress Lina Cariño[7] Won
Best Supporting Actor Oscar Keesee[7] Won
Best Story José Rizal Won

References

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  1. ^ a b Arevalo, Rica (July 23, 2011). "Restored 'Noli' is a rare treat". Inquirer News. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  2. ^ Vera, Noel (2005). Critic After Dark: A Review of Philippine Cinema. BigO Books. p. 234. ISBN 981-05-3185-0. Retrieved April 8, 2021. ... Noli Me Tangere (1961) and "El Filibusterismo" (The Filibuster, 1962) are definitive adaptations of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal's novels.
  3. ^ "Cultural Aim Behind New Arriva-Bayanihan Film Organization". Kislap Movies. June 1961. pp. 124–25.
  4. ^ Estacio, Athle Wijangco (June 28, 1992). "Noli with the Romero touch". Sunday Standard Magazine. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 11. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Noli at SM Cinemas". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Bocobo, Ariel (June 22, 1990). "CCP complex neglected". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Yeatter, Bryan (2007). Cinema of the Philippines: A History and Filmography, 1897–2005. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7864-3047-5. Retrieved April 8, 2021.