Cesar puts finishing touches to Lim movie

MANILA, Philippines - Cesar Montano had just finished shooting the big-budgeted biopic The Turning Cradle: The Untold Story Of Alfredo Lim.

The movie took several months to finish due to the extensive research it required and the careful planning and execution of the scenes. Since Nov. 26 when cameras started grinding for the movie, the cast and crew had been working non-stop, shooting almost everyday. There was also the search for the perfect leading lady who ended up to be Alessandra de Rossi.  

These demands would have been too much for a so-so actor but being quite the “veteran” in the industry, Cesar simply soared above all these as he had done in past productions. The actor, who is also directing the opus under CM Films, was in constant communication with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim since they both want the outcome to be truthful and authentic, as well as to tell the more human side of the esteemed public servant. Lim is very vocal about his respect for the actor’s talent and vision that the former had full liberty in deciding how the movie will ultimately unfold. “Although the people would see that Lim can be considered as modern-day hero for all his achievements and service to the people, what will strike viewers more is that like everyone else, he is just a guy with a back story but a very colorful one at that, definitely worth filming,” Cesar said of the storyline.

The Turning Cradle: The Untold Story Of Alfredo Lim begins when Lim was still a baby, given up for adoption by his mother at the Hospicio de San Jose. Lim’s father died when he was still a few months old and her mother was going to get married again and relocate to Baguio. Not willing to bring the child with her, she gave him up for adoption, hence, “turning cradle” in the title. The term refers to a unique device used in those days as a “face-saving machine” for mothers of unwanted babies.  

The Turning Cradle will open Feb. 27 in theaters nationwide.