Irreverent Reverend: A Sociological Critique on Smaller and Smaller Circles
deskvalor
Mar 26
4 min read
By: Camille Cupalao
Introduction
Smaller and Smaller Circles is a 2017 film directed by Raya Martin. The movie addresses the cruel truth about the lack of justice, particularly for impoverished people.
The film gives insight into the disparities between social classes and how people are treated differently. By using a sociological approach to criticize the issues present in the media, the work’s themes are analyzed to evaluate how the film tackles prevalent affairs within the country, such as injustice and corruption, as well as how the topics are handled by the authorities. The sociological approach also allows for the analysis of the behaviors of people belonging to different social classes.
Body
The movie revolves around Father Gus Saenz and Father Jerome Ponce, both of which are priests who are called in to investigate the serial murder of boys in the slums of Patayan. The two face hurdles along the way, with attorneys and other members of the Church disregarding evidence and whitewashing reports. A visit to the dentist, Dr. Alex Carlos, provides a clearer insight into the killer. The two priests unearth the crucial information that leads to discovering the killer’s identity. The situation escalates, killing the serial murderer and ending the string of deaths of young boys.
Relatives of the victims of the serial murder display realistic states of impoverished people. The parents of John David Mendoza, one of the boys murdered, expressed that the boy was their hope, relying on him bringing food from the dumpsite to feed the family. Lolita Bansuy, another victim’s grandmother, is shown to be unable to afford more than fried bananas as a way of thanking Father Gus Saenz. The scenes portray the theme of poverty, a prevailing issue in the Philippines.
Despite the two priests being members of the Church, they remain helpless to the Church’s machinations, emphasized further by the grim background music, building tension. The characters are shown to be frustrated by the Church’s decisions, claiming that the higher-ups’ actions are not motivated by finding the truth but rather by fame. The film therefore draws attention to other persisting issues alongside poverty, such as corruption, abuse of authority, and injustice.
Critical Analysis
By using a sociological perspective, the film Smaller and Smaller Circles discusses corruption in the Church and the government and how reputation precedes justice in dire situations. The media criticizes how people with higher authority are allowed to get away with their misdeeds to protect the reputation of the Church or the government while people who live in poverty and their cries for justice are often brushed off.
The portrayals of the characters significantly enhance the immersion a viewer may experience. The varied facial expressions or gestures draw attention to the unspoken thoughts, evident despite the lack of explicit confirmation of how characters feel. The dialogues, clothing, setting, and actions of the impoverished people realistically portray the harsh living conditions of people in poverty. The clever use of background music or noise successfully built tension and foreshadowed potential scenarios.
The realistic portrayal allows the viewers to connect with the film, however, certain inaccuracies can disturb the experience. During the scene where the characters observe a body, they are shown to be drinking in the room. According to the Centre for Health Protection (2014), consuming food, smoking, and drinking are forbidden while handling dead bodies or being in the same vicinity as one. The characters wore less than the necessary outfits, such as gloves, filter masks, and hoods (Hoffman, 2022). Further research may improve accuracy and amplify immersion.
The film’s critique of the different themes accurately reflects the prevalent socio-economic issues in the Philippines. Poor people often face injustice as they lack money and the necessary social standing (Lopez, n.d.), both seen in the film and real life. The movie presented a case of sexual abuse where the perpetrator was a priest, yet it was covered up. Multiple sexual abuse cases related to the Catholic Church are also filed in real life, however, not a single priest has been convicted of sexual abuse (Elemia, 2025). Corruption, another significant issue in the film, is rampant in the Philippines. According to Abrea (2023), the Philippines is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. As the main characters go against the corrupt group they belong to, the perverse actions of the Church are displayed, highlighting the effects on the victims.
Conclusion
Smaller and Smaller Circles portrays multiple pressing issues in the Philippines. Poverty, injustice, and corruption within the Church and the government are vividly represented throughout the film. The movie’s depiction of the themes reflects the harsh reality of impoverished people.
The presentation of the film, such as the setting and the dialogue, is efficient and effective in portraying the obstacles induced by social disparity and greed. While the movie remains lacking in accuracy, the media is successful in conveying the socio-economic issues prevalent in the country. Smaller and Smaller Circles provokes critical thinking regarding issues in the Philippines, depicting the necessity to change and discuss the disparities caused by social standings, as well as the prevailing corruption in the country.
Reference List
Abrea, R. A. (2023, March 13). A look at how corruption works in the Philippines.
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