1. Historical inaccuracies: Some critics argue that the movie takes certain historical liberties that deviate from the actual events of Rizal's life. For instance, the film depicts Rizal engaging in a romantic relationship with a local woman named Josephine Bracken, while some historians claim that there is no concrete evidence to support this relationship.
2. Lack of depth in characterization: Critics also point out that the movie fails to fully explore the depth and complexity of Rizal's character. The film often portrays him as a one-dimensional hero without delving into his inner struggles, motivations, and growth.
3. Oversimplification of Rizal's ideology: The movie presents Rizal's ideas and beliefs in a somewhat simplistic manner, reducing them to a few broad messages about patriotism, education, and social reform. Critics argue that this approach lacks nuance and fails to capture the full range of Rizal's intellectual contributions.
4. Insufficient attention to Rizal's literary works: Given Rizal's significant literary output, some critics feel that the movie does not give enough emphasis or analysis of his writings, such as the novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo." These works, which played a crucial role in the Philippine independence movement, are not thoroughly explored in the film.
5. Lack of contextualization: The movie primarily focuses on Rizal's personal experiences in Dapitan without providing a broader context of the political and social climate of the Philippines during that period. Critics argue that a deeper exploration of the historical context would have enhanced the significance and impact of Rizal's actions.
6. Limited cinematic techniques: Some critics find the filmmaking techniques in "Rizal In Dapitan" to be uninspired and lacking in creativity. They argue that the movie relies heavily on conventional storytelling methods and fails to utilize more innovative or visually engaging cinematic elements.
Despite these criticisms, many viewers appreciate the movie for its dramatization of Rizal's life and its attempt to bring his story to a wider audience. However, the aforementioned points highlight areas where the film could have potentially improved its historical accuracy, character development, thematic exploration, and cinematic execution.