NAME:

Assignment 1
GERPHIS

1. Summarize briefly the film “Smaller and Smaller Circles.”

Smaller and smaller circles feature a priest and forensic anthropologist named Father Guz Saenz, a
seeker of justice, he is determined to bring down another priest that was charged of child
molestation, he seemed to be always failing since the priest was known for his powerful
connections. He was talking to his friend Father Lucero, another priest as well as a clinical
psychologist, when they were called by Director Lastimosa regarding a spree of murders that
happened over the last six months in a poverty stricken area, Payatas. Throughout the movie, little
by little they discovered clues that would eventually lead them to the killer : the meaning of the
killer's obsession of removing the missing parts, Saturday as the deemed “murder day”, the fact that
the victims were always teenage boys and the way the killer killed its victims. Through ups and
downs and as well as additional help from friends they eventually cornered the killer - a dentist
named Dr. Alex Carlos. Saenz was determined to help Alex due to the latters dark past, although the
man proved to be unswayable and stabbed Saez multiple times when he confronted him. After
recovery Saez finds out that Alex kills himself and is deeply bothered. Alex’s past was covered more
as it is revealed he was a sexual assault victim by his friends and family. The end showcases us the
disapproving and exhausting state Saenz is in with the Philippine justice system.

2. Distinguish between the kinds of “sources” used to gather facts:

PRIMARY SECONDARY

Dead Bodies Case Reports

Killer’s Statements Video Footage

Medical Records / Clinic Records

Community

Journalist

Family / Parents of the Victims

3. Explain briefly the significance of the facts of the case:

FACTS SIGNIFICANCE

Dead Children (Early teens) Indicates that the killer thinks he is weak, thus
 choosing victims smaller and weaker than him,
victims that cannot fight or run away. This can
also be connected to his traumatic experience
when he was in his early teens. This is a clue to
reveal who the killer was.

Time, day and place of death
The time, day and place of death, took place on
Saturdays and at the mobile clinic (although this
was later revealed in the movie), this points out a
clue to identifying who the killer was for the leads
in the movie - this gave away that the killer works
on the mobile clinic during saturdays.

Place found Payatas, specifically in the dumpsite was where

the bodies were always found - this indicates that
the killer knows the way around the area. This is
a clue to reveal who the killer was.

Missing body parts The missing body part indicates that the killer
was trying to dehumanize himself using his
victims. The peeled skin of the face tells us that
the killer was trying to depersonalize himself, the
carved out organs and hearts tells us that he
wants to be less human and the the cutting of
genitals as well, although this is also because the
killer may have sexual conflict, this is possible due
to his past.his is a clue to reveal who the killer
was.

Way of cutting off the parts
The killer presumably used a dental elevator - the
5 mm marks of the dental elevator matched the
marks of the victims’ chin bones, making this
theory possible. This tells us that the killer is
someone who works in a dental facility. His clean
cuts also tell us that the killer is a medical
professional.

4. Identify the different “narratives” and their significance to the character pushing for it:

Character Narrative
Forensic Investigator Father Augustuso Saenz is a priest as well as a
forensic anthropologist. He presents himself as a
justice seeker, and a man who wants nothing but
to set things right. This can be seen from the start
as he is persistent to bring Father Ramirez (a
pedophile ) down, throughout the movie he also
seemed to be dedicated to seeking the killer.
Although by the end when the killer died, for him
nothing changed, the cruel and dirty things were
still there, it seemed to be that he was tired of
the justice system.

Psychologist Father Lucero was the other main character and

the friend of Father Gus Saenz. From the start till
the end he was a brash and straight forward man
- yet a good teacher and a clinical psychologist. At
the beginning of the movie he questioned the
reason why they were solving the serial killings,
he made it clear that he was content and fine
with his “exciting” life, yet he stayed to finish the
investigation till the end. At the end of the movie
he was seen crying at the killer’s grave , for
someone who claimed that the case was just an
“additional work” he fully felt sorry for the killer.

Journalist Joanna Bonifacio was the female journalist

introduced. She was persistent, a truth seeker,
passionate, curious and helpful. From the start till
the end she proved to be wise and helpful in the
case - giving the two leads info that helped them
on the case. She does her job right - benefiting
her and helping the people.

NBI Lawyer (Attorney)

Raffy Tejada was an arrogant, selfish and fame

hog attorney in the movie. He seemed to believe
that the serial killer was not real and it was an
ordinary murder case. Halfway through the
movie, with his selfishness he wrongly
imprisoned a person for fame - although he was
 ordered to do it. He also mocked the case and the
two leads as well , as well as not providing help
despite a related person in the case. By the end
of the movie he seemed gentler and even helped
out at the killer's place , although this happened
after he was reprimanded.

Dentist

Dr Alex Carlos was a part time dentist and the

serial killer in the movie. He had a rough
childhood from being sexually assaulted by his PE
teacher repeatedly. His way of killings was a way
to dehumanize and depersonalize himself, he
does this to others because of his trauma. Due to
his backstory he is shown as very rough, stoic and
cold. He died after he stabbed himself in the
same place he left his victims.

5. What significance does the movie give us in the writing of history?

The movie tells us a portion of the Philippines disgusting history, although it can also be considered
as a condition till today. Poverty, social injustice, police and church corruption, inequality, child
abuse and cruel fake media are things that makes up Phillipines’ history - these vile things are
sadly common before and today as well. This tells us the problem that is shaping our country,
affecting and endangering our people’s safety and future. The events that happened in the movie,
although marked fiction, gave us eyes on what is happening in our country that is a part of its
history - the reality of the cruel environment the Philippines has before and probably in the
present as well.