Ultimo: Different Ways of Killing a National Hero (2008)

Khavn's "Ultimo: Different Ways of Killing a National Hero" is a film that reinterprets Jose Rizal's poem "Mi Ultimo Adios," examining identity and what it means to be a national hero from a modern, post-colonial perspective. The 90-minute black-and-white silent film blends scenes of the director in La Palma, Spain, with lines from Rizal's poem, written before his execution in 1896. It explores themes of waiting, uncertainty, and remembering through striking imagery, elevating everyday moments to emotional resonance with a uniquely artistic approach. The film features a score of guitar and banduria, presented as a modern take on Kundiman music.