Sid Lucero tries to find killer
Award-winning actor Sid Lucero has his share of good and bad guy roles in tinseltown.
He won his first Gawad Urian best actor award in the movie “Selda.”
He earned critical acclaim in his performances in Adolf Alix’ “Donsol,” “Muli” and “Tambolista,” Lav Diaz’ “Heremias” and “Norte, The End of History,” Raya Martin’s “Independencia” and Mario Cornejo’s “Apocalypse Child” to name a few.
He’s also quite effective as a villain in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” “Alyas Robin Hood” and a lot more.
Now, he’s happy to be back in the lead in the movie “Smaller and Smaller Circles.”
“I’m playing a Jesuit priest na may killer na hinahabol. Kasama ko si Nonie Buencamino. Kami iyong magkasama rito. Actually, iyong movie, wala naman siyang kontrabida, kasi everybody has a reason the way he does things,” he said.
“Iyong role ko is basically like a criminal psychologist. As Jerome Lucero, he performs forensic work and will get himself involved in a mystery that revolves around the murders of young boys in Payatas but we did not shoot in Payatas, kasi iba na iyong Payatas ngayon,” he added.
Although he did some research for his role, he said that he tried to stick to the book to remain faithful in his character.
“When we did the movie, the script was based on the book. It was based on Palanca award winning mystery novel by F. H. Batacan. But in real life, I don’t know if priests get involved in investigations and are allowed to help investigate on criminal matters,” he explained.
“Actually, we have Jesuit priests here helping in the investigation of murders. In Ateneo where I studied, Jesuit priests are originally good math teachers, headmasters and some have their own business.
“Kaya nga, Jesuit priests kasi sila iyong priests na hindi naka-box. Actually, they are philosophers. A lot of them could do other jobs. Some can even do exorcism and other things and they’re very open minded,” he added.
It is also his first time to do a movie adapted from a bestselling local crime thriller novel.
“The movie talks about us people, whether as priests or cops or even killers and why they do things that are not necessarily good because these are things presented to them,” he pointed out.
He also said that some of the sensitive issues tackled in the film are very relevant but not aimed at offending the sensibility of anyone, including that of the Catholic church.
“It’s happening around us. There’s violence but it’s not connected to drugs. May mga issues na hindi lang siya sundot, but actually blatant. It’s in the book. Originally nga, may inimbestigahan dito na priest na involved sa sexual molestation and how the church tries to covers it up. So, hindi lang siya nangyayari sa atin, nangyayari rin siya sa other parts of the globe,” he said.
“Even in the book that I’ve read na “Deliver Us from Evil” may priest na na-involved sa sexual molestation. Nakarating iyong kaso sa Vatican pero hindi siya pinansin.
“Minsan pa nga, kapag may mga ganyang kaso, ang ginagawa, kinukuha iyong priest at inililipat ng ibang lugar.
“Even sa case noong priest offender na nabasa ko, noong inamin niya at nag-confess siya, even with his own testimony, the church did nothing about it, which is nothing new dahil na-tackle na siya sa movies like “Spotlight” and I believe, people will see it with an open mind,” he added.
Between doing a lead and a “kontrabida” role, he finds more challenge in doing the former.
“Doing kontrabida roles is a challenge, but doing also good guy roles could be more challenging kasi you’re expected to act in a way for people to be able to fall in love with you, especially when you’re doing a real-life character. It’s also a challenge rin dito sa “Smaller and Smaller Circles” kasi you have to stick to your character and be loyal to the book,” he quipped.
Sid also said that his relationship with girlfriend Annika Dolonius, his costar in “Apocalypse Child” is getting stronger each day.
“Everything is good with us. We’re still together. Naka-two years na kami. One thing good about our relationship is that we are open in understanding one another. She keeps me grounded. Hindi lang ako ang mahal niya kundi pati na ang anak ko na si Halo Eve (Sid’s son).”
Asked if he’s willing to work with estranged girlfriend Alessandra de Rossi, this is what he had to say,
“Wala namang problema sa akin kasi professional naman kami ni Alex. Nagkasama na rin kami sa “Hele” and during that time, break na kami. So, I think that would pose a problem,” he concluded.
Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, Raya Martin’s “Smaller and Smaller Circles” hits cinemas starting December 6.
It stars Christopher de Leon, Ricky Davao, TJ Trinidad, Gladys Reyes, Junjun Quintana, Carla Humphries, Alex Medina, Cholo Baretto, Tessie Tomas, Raffy Tejada, Roselyn Perez, Jess Mendoza, Bong Canrera, Madeleine Nicolas, Ross Pesigan, Mae Paner, Angelina Kanapi, Dexter Doria, and many more.
