The movie tells the life story of Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, from his childhood through his execution by Spanish forces in the late 19th century. It depicts Rizal as a genius, writer, doctor, artist, lover, brother, son and introduces viewers to the oppression of Filipinos under harsh Spanish colonial rule and the Catholic Church. The film is praised for its unflinching portrayal of the suffering of Filipinos during that time and for ending on a metaphor of Rizal's death igniting the revolution for Philippine independence.