It's 6 am, the temperature 66° F...
and we are getting some very worrying cables...
from Southeast Asia...
Confirming that the Great Oriental Bank
has had to close It's doors today
following a crashing bankruptcy
which left behind a jumble of victims
among the savers who trusted this bank
reputedly so strong in the international scene
WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH
their life time savings
They've been mentioned savers also from our country, Argentina
apparently also envolved in this dramatic situation,
which has plunged the markets in Southest Asia
Into a state of great confusion
They'll work some days, and some days they'll be laid off
- How many will be jobless? - Well in this case...
I mean... we can't predict a number
The Tokio exchange... the domino effect
the Euro the Yen, all that shit just fucked us
Enthusiastic... honest...
What could you criticize about those close to you?
Nothing
- You know who I mean by those close to you? - Yes
Mother, father, friends, girlfriend...
What skills did you develop in previous job?
Skills... the will to work...
Your main defects?
I'm not good at sports...
Sometimes I'm a little arrogant...
and I have a slight difficulty to express my thoughts
It's as if... I got false starts
Significant events in your life. Your worries...
a color, your favourite season of the year
and your expectations on this job
Could you repeat the sequence?
Just tell me the color
Blue
Blue...
I also like blue. Doesn't score many points
Red is better
And the rest of the score? How did I do it?
It was In China, the domino effect. They gave me these bonds
They are worth nothing now, but are guaranteed by the...
Chinese state
It's over
I got fired
Business is not thriving. Dad lost it all
when the bank closed, but we pretend nothing's changed
Simon continues the cook, Ramón does the dishes...
and I wait
Dad... dad
Yes?
The savings certificate... was it a lot?
No... not much
But it was everything...
All we had
What are we going to do?
Not tell mother
That's all we can do
When the kidney doesn't work,
it is replaced by something like a filter
This is the arm, a tiny hole is punched here
and a nozzle brings out the dirty blood
This is the machine... here the filth is stopped
Another nozzle returns our cleansed blood
Just two tiny holes in the arm
Like making coffee
Exactly, but the other way round
Mum... is this temporary or for ever?
Sarah, this way
The doctors belive my mother is going to die. They don't get it
Obviously they never had a Jewish mother
She can't just go, with all the things she's got to do
Buy my clothes... the Tupperware meetings...
talk on the phone with her parents...
remembering everything... anyway... a lot of things
Mum can't go
- What happened, mum? - Don't Ariel
- Your purse! - Listen Ariel...
Listen, was dad inside that purse?
Was Estela inside that purse? - No. Poor Estela
Then there was nothing important in that purse
Besides, the money is safe. Come let's go shopping
Mum...
This is my neighborhood. It's called "Once"
A very active, noisy place where we the Jewish live...
surrounded by cloths and safety pylons
Bar Mitzba is a turning point In the life of a Jewish boy
It happens only once, in a lifetime
and it's the entry into the adult's world
Into the world of responsabilities
feeling part of this chain
Assume our role as a new link in the history of our people
It's a moment of celebration, joy, but when the party is over
and there are only the dirty dishes and the leftovers...
that's the time for reflecting and the understanding the reaches,
of the commitment
That's why the record we keep of that moment
will enable us to remember this pact in the future
I'ts the images of the people we love, those we don't...
wich will remain in here... for ever
This is not a Bar Mitzva. This is a wedding
Don't worry, Moshe. Basically it's the same system
Here I have other samples. This is Feldman-Dubcovsky
At the Ben Gurion club. It was a great party
Alright...
- Cotton, isn't it? - No, this is "Shmate"
Shmate: Original Yiddish
Typical adjective denoting bad quality in clothing
Congratulations
Please protect her in eternity under the wings of your deity
May her soul be an inseparable part of chain of life...
May God allow her to rest in peace.
May God bring peace to them...
and to all the bereaved of the Israeli congregation.
Hello?
No, the lady is not in
No, I don't know when she'll be back
Yes, call later, yes...
- Starting tomorrow? - Yes
Are you afraid?
What of?
Of starting something new
- No
- I am
And I am also afraid of being left alone
Hello?
No, she's not in
I see, well I have some id's of the lady wich I found
Where did you find them?
Across from the Israeli Hospital
I can bring them to you, or we can meet...
Whereabouts are you?
- In the downtown area
- Well... but, how do I know you are not the thief?
- Don't worry I wouldn't be calling you,
No... this is my job
I can keep your stuff for a few days and call you back
Alright? So long
She left me, with this business of the bank,
she just threw me out
I tried to explain about China, time zones, globalized economy
But she doesn't understand about numbers
Do you have my id's?
- Want some water? - No, thanks
- How much do I owe you? - It's up to you
What for?
What do I want my mother's id's for if she's no longer around?
She's dead, she's gone, she doesn't breathe...
doesn't speak, doesn't vote
And there's no reason to despair,
- it's part of the package
- What package?
The package, the plan.
I mean, you get:
Mum goes, Simon is left alone, but here's Estela
So we take care of the business...
we wash the sidewalk, pay the taxes...
We plant a tree in the Sinai desert
And we have children... three, better four
In case one might be devious
The plan is perfect, it's wonderful
Friday night, the temple, the club...
Simon, the restaurant, God
It's a lot of things, Estela. Not fixing the Christmas tree
Why not fixing the Christmas tree?
Always living in this bubble
Don't you feel a bubble?
I don't know... I want to see what happens
- Where?
- Out there
What is it?
Never seen Estela naked?
- Going, already? - Yes
- Here
Today I start on a six month trial contract
Why trial?
It's a trial, Simon. If they like me, I go on
Estela offered to help here
I told her not to...
But you know Estela...
She's like your mother
Bye, Simon
"The State Sell"
The sign is already up, seen it?
The state sells... the trains...
the toilets... the toilet paper...
They sell everything
What are you going to do?
Nothing, people will still pee
Classy women like you will continue to visit me
What is it? You never cheated on your husband?
No, I'm waiting for his release
Elsa, I want to help you
Friends of mine need maids
And you don't know when the station is going to close
I'm staying. I can wait
They can't close the station for ever. This has to change
How will people go to their jobs? In bicycles, like the Chinese?
Bye, Elsa... remember what I said
The night shift has some advantages. It makes you think
You don't have a mate talking about impossible sexual battles
You work in peace
The thing is staying awake. Is that clear?
In the morning, when the janitors arrive...
and wet the floors, then you can leave
We use initials here, much faster that way
For example, tell me your name
Ariel Goldstein
- No, not Goldstein! The initials!
- A.G.
Anything wrong?
You look worried
No, it's only... I've never worked with these machines
Listen to me!
A.G. You were thoroughly screened. You got a good job
A good salary, a good shift, food tickets, what else?
Don't worry then
The only serious thing is death. The rest is a joke
Don't worry, lady. I'm just washing
- I'll dry everything - Who are you?
Santamaría. Bank employee
Please, get dressed. This is a lady's room
You are wetting everything!
Santamaría
Ramón, don't use the hot water. Simon is taking a shower
OK, Simon
Typical phrase of my mum: "What's the need?"
"A stranger, however reliable he might be, is still a stranger"
Everything's there
Almost everything. There was some money...
This is not Disneyland
- But the important stuff... - It's all here
- Leaving already? - I've got to go
I hope it comes handy
Bye...
Perichón!
"Christmas"
- Yes? - Strange business
- Gee! Such a pain! - Pain? Not at all
They say it's more hygienic
I guess so...
In some states in USA it was compulsory
As soon as you were born they would cut it without asking
There is a fantastic web page in the Internet
Interesting... I'll try and find it
It's www.world-circumsized.com
It's got a page in Spanish as well
Do the women say anything about it?
Women... haven't say much for a while. I'm waiting
Waiting is not a good idea
With women it's a question of technique, understand?
I'll explain some other night
- Hi - Hi
Good evening
- You... - Yes?
- Are you booked? - Yes, I am
At this time?
Yes, at this time
You just be... LB
LB, I'm AG
- The new one - Brand new
- Let's start - Yes
- Do you know this? - Yes
Rafael Torres. Renitentiary N° 4 Sierra Chica - Córdoba
I don't like pizza
It gives you a swollen belly and puts grease into the wine
Is the pizza alright?
Yes, Santamaría, very good, thanks
Thank you
I really look forward all to this fresh water
You didn 't like the pizza.
Now that I'm clean... what do you think?
A good harvest today, right?
Elsa, I'm talking about something else
Won't you listen?
What do you see, Santamaría?
A man and a woman
A lonely man and a lonely woman
I don't understand Laura's work
She goes after people with problems...
... asks them questions and then shows them on TV
Laura, that's not very nice... but you are...
Zero six...
Zero six... zero six... here, twelve
You get it?
- Post-production, good evening - Ariel? It's me, dad
- Where are you, Simon? - At the store
- What is that noise? - We bought a Karaoke
- We are trying it - What's that?
It's Estela's idea
A Karaoke, to get the kids singing
Everybody wants to be an artist nowadays, like you
Listen, listen Estela
Dad... dad!
What do you think?
It's fine dad, but I'm working
I got to go. You can tell me tomorrow
Yes..."met zein darnoj"
- "Met" what? - "Met zein darnoj"
It's like "see you later" or "so long"
The only way to end a phone conversation with dad
- And what is it? - Yiddish
A language spoken by Jews all over the world
Ah, Yiddish
- You are also Jewish? - No...
...but I'm gay
We have a lot in common
Did she say "gay" or "goy"?
Anyway we got nothing in common
That's a myth
People think they cut a whole chunk off
But it's just a piece of skin...
...good for nothing, just like the appendix
- And what do they do to women? - Nothing
They got nothing surplus
The foreskin is a good subject. It never falls
Thanks See you tomorrow
Now she leaves, walks, goes away
She takes her scarf off, her clothes and she goes to sleep
Plug it in!
- Like it? - It's very bright
Higher, Ramón, higher
One, two, three, testing. Do you hear me, Ramón?
Ramón, can you hear?
It's like the Wailing Wall. But right here, close by
When we reopen each bring his wish
I've already asked something
If you wish, I'll keep a space for you
I've seen naked women
I've seen Estela, and my cousin
But, together... I mean, they can't get too far, right?
I've tried to imaglne
how could it be
It's technically Impossible. Absurd... How?
It'd be easier with a dick
Are you sure?
Practical, simple,
everything's ready
I remember when I first went to bed with a boy
I saw him naked with a silly thing hanging and I thought:
"It will never work"
However, it did
So?
So what?
Did you enjoy it? You never told me
Yes... it was wonderful
I was worried about not getting pregnant...
about not making noise because mum was sleeping next door...
and about catching any disease
I was all the time thinkin where had I left my underwear
In the end it was like a gym lesson
Don't worry
Your dad
Now what?
He's coming for Christmas
He's promised that for 10 years. Why would you believe him now?
Because I miss him
Let him come then
Don't worry, he won't flinch at having a gay daughter
Yes, but I'm not gay
I'm just with the person I love
who happens to be a woman like me
And it makes no difference?
Today you can be with me...
tomorrow with a blender, then with a Pekingese, or...
Yes, with a man...
...with a dick this size
What the fuck do you want, Annie?
I'm not "whoever I go to bed with", the person I love...
or what I chose to do with my pussy
I will not turn into a militant of my clitoris
I don't know what you're looking for
It looks as if my love is not enough
It's not easy to sleep during the day
Will you give me a hand?
I'll get some coffee
No, coffee will make you impotent
Impotence, heartburn, lots of ailments
- Let's go to eat? - To eat?
It's not a stain
It's a tear that never could come out
- And you? - I have no restrained tears
- That... - That's my third eye
It can't see well. It's crooked
- And your dad? - He died, when I was five
That is not true, he's very much alive
He'll come to see me for Christmas, as usual
- You look alike - We look alike
My mother died, really died
After the funeral we got together at the restaurant...
eating eggs, crying...
the telephone rang, and someone named Santamaría called
He asked for Sarah, my mother...
and I said: "The lady is not in"
Luckily he did call back and we got together
Santamaría... it would be interesting to know him
I'd like to tell his story
A man with a very special job... return identities
I don't think it's so poetic for him
Sticking his hands in trash cans...
...can't be too nice
Wouldn't you like to work with me?
Obviously she's in love. Why would she choose me?
What do I have to do with the world she like so much?
A TV star... "The Streets of Santamaría"
I prefer "The Identities of Santamaría"
- I like the other one better - The streets?
Yes... it's more urban
- What's her name? - Laura
Don't feel ashamed
How is it going?
Sometimes I think it's my imagination
Sometimes I think she's waiting for me
I mean, gestures, provocation. The moment to leap
But I think I wouldn't dare
You have to make them laugh. That's all
I'm courting a beauty now. A woman my age
You met her in the street?
No, this is a fine lady
She has a home, a job. A fine woman
And this woman... Elsa, is she alone?
No, but we're still in business
What is it, Estela?
I never see Ariel
He must be very busy
He's working a lot...
...and he's not working alone
Ramón! Turn the Karaoke on. Simon wants to dance
Santamaría, I can't let you in
I live alone and I don't trust people
And even though he's far and locked away,
I have a husband
Well... I love him and I miss him
You'll leave me out in the street?
Leave everything tidy
And don't take any chicks
The only chick I want to take
doesn't want to come
I'll call you in a minute
Don't worry, I'll call you back. Catch you later
Elsa!
I forgot how to do it
Let's try and remember
- 4, 8, 1, 2, 0... - 8, 5, 7, 1...
- I'm not home - Yes, we are
- Leave your message after the beep - We'll answer later
- You ruined my recording - Because we're playing games
Don't tell me a guy like you, young, with a job, is alone
Working in TV attracts women
That's the problem with the young
You've got everything but you don't have the technique, got it?
- Shall I explain? - Yes
Twenty five minutes?
25 minutes, but don't rush it. You'll get tense
This is not a competition
This, Goldstein, takes time, like good wine
Yes... and then what?
Then what? Then you fly. You fly to the sky
25 minutes, no more
- Do you feel at ease? - Yes, I do
Do you want to sleep here?
In your bed?
Are you afraid?
Yes, a bit
Besides, I didn't bring a toothbrush
It's important
Don't worry.
I have two
Roem: Laura's gone... to the world of dreams...
of sleeping women, women who dream...
about other sleeping women
Ariel... I want to meet Santamaría
The safety booth
This is where poor Valerga was
He died in a shootout
Those were the tellers...
and this is where I was
Here was Echebarne, the accountant
He had problems with everything...
papers, his wife, the manager...
This is the kitchen, we got together to have mate,
and rolls on Fridays
It wasn't very big... Monday to Friday...
9 to 5, half an hour lunch break...
Usually I have a table over there
But today we are here
It's fine with me if women dance it
Very nice. I don't get it when men start to dance
hey perspire, naked...
A guy picks you up by the waist
He moves you around... I don't like it
Do you want to talk?
- Leaving? - It's getting late
No, Sarita, I'm fine
Estela helps with the restaurant
Ariel got a job and met new people
He misses you a lot of course
Yes, my love, Ramón is also close to us
We are all fine, Sarita
Don't worry about a thing... Simon is not alone
My love, we'll be released for Christmas
They can't afford the cider here
So get the tree, the mate and the bed ready
And send me some cash for the ticket and some clean clothes
I'm coming back to stay. Missing you...
your jail lovebird
- What is it? - Nothing
- Sure? - Sure, what could happen?
- He's being released - Who?
Your husband, your jailed lovebird
How do you know?
Thieves are always released for Christmas
- Where is he? - Sierra Chica
- That's far away - Not that far
50 pesos for the train fare and something for clean clothes
But now, I'm broke
Talking about money... how much?
- Three hundred - Let's call it 350
Hanukah: A feast day, like Christmas...
... but without tree or Jesus
The fight of the Macabees is remembered...
a group of Jewish warriors
who recaptured the Temple at Jerusalem destroyed by the Greek
The story tells that these warriors, the Macabees,
entered the temple in darkness,
found a little vase with oil for lighting candles
The flame from this oil miraculously Illuminated them
for eight nights. The temple was reopened and purified
That's why today, and during eight nights we'll light them
Hanukah is the feast of lights, of the victory of spirit...
... of Identity over force
Santamaría
For the ticket, a new shirt, and the cider
Why do you do this?
Some nights I dream about your warm bottom
against my tummy. It's wonderful
Then I wake up and your bottom is not there
Of course not, I have it in my bed
Do you really dream about me?
Every night, Elsa, I swear
To be recognized by someone
Someone from my previous life
My other life at the bank. The club, the credit cards
Some friend, a mate. Someone who will tell me:
Santa, how are you?
I don't know, someone who'll bring me back to the world
It's lacking a love story
Without a love story it's no good
She works at the restroom of a train station
Her name is Elsa
We could talk to her
It's what we need for the program
Laura, I want to come up with you
- What for? - What for?
To caress your back
To look at you naked, wash your clothes
Want me to wash your clothes? Whatever
No, I'm not alone
Of course you're not alone. You are with me
The door!
- Hi - Your dad called
It's there if you want to listen
- He's not coming... - No
I knew it
I feel embarassed
Don't worry. Imagine when you see yourself on TV
My TV is very small. I'll probably won't fit in
- I'm not alone - You're married
That box is my husband
How are you, Rafael? How often so you write?
"Yerba mate", sugar and a radio to listen to the game
I think you don't want to get out
Here, your sweetheart is waiting
Tell me about Santamaría
One night, a naked man shows up in my bathroom
and he comes every day...
and wants me to believe he loves me
That's it, what can I say...
there's no more to it
A good man, good company
You are Ariel's girlfriend
Who told you?
Who told you I'm Ariel's girlfriend?
Santamaría
A man's version told by another man, about a woman
You're complicated. You'll scare the men away
Do you have a mate?
Sort of
Look after him, when you least expect it
all the men circling around you...
dying to kiss you and have children with you, disappear
And you have to make do with whatever you can get
Better don't play it close
When you are old it's nice to have someone to talk to
Santamaría...
you are overdoing it!
I mean it, someone must have forgotten him
You just don't forget a baby in a trash can
I know about this
We can take him to the police
There's no way
we'll take a baby to the police on Christmas Eve
They'll eat him like a turkey
Go buy diapers for the kid
And don't you stay behind with your id's
What is it?
I'm going to Uruguay
I want to spend Christmas with my mother
I've been wanting to tell you for a week
But you were too busy, with your dad, your program...
Come here
I'm not a dog
I don't want you to scratch my back every now and then
I need to be with my mother...
to walk barefoot down the beach and let her cook for me...
and spoil me, and tell me how pretty her daughter is
That's all
It's closed
- Mr. Simon? - Yes?
I am Laura, a friend of your son's
Yes, my son always talks about you
Does he?
What are you looking for?
Ariel, he's not in?
No, he's working, at a wedding
I'm going there now I can take you
Yes, please. Thanks
Long live the newlyweds!
No, I don't miss her
The thing is, I'm still obsessed by some memories
They are always the same
Her feet on the pillow...
My hands holding her head when I helped her dye her hair
A wrinkle behind her ear
which she would scratch when nervous
When you speak like that you look like your son
- Who do you miss? - My father
Since we can't love each other,
we miss each other
That's why we keep well apart
Shalom!
You go with the men
Sure? Look after it
Where are you going?
To look for another man
Who?
My father
- He's not coming... - No, he's not coming
"Me-metendernoj"... So long
No. "Met zein darnoj". Catch you later
- How are you? - Fine
And the Karaoke?
It works
Your life?
It also works
Why did you escape?
Because... you were part of the plan
What plan?
You know it well, Estela
My only plan is to love you. That's all
Today is the last Hanukah night,
we'll reopen the restaurant and Estela is going to sing
We call ourselves Lonely People and we met through the Internet
We don't like the holiday season, Christmas and so on...
so we get together to discuss this
Today we are going to meet for the first time
The girls take the drinks, and we take something to eat
If you feel like it... you know
www.we're-not-alone - in-the-world.com
Just bring something to eat. Cheer up
Come Elsa, this is the last one. It's really something
Make a wish, Santamaría...
make a wish
I've already made mine
"A Year Later"
It seems like yesterday...
Living alone is strange, you lose a lot of time
Paying taxes, defrosting the refrigerator,
having breakfast, changing the toilet paper...
...putting it into...
Ironing my shirts...
Today I ironed it for you but lately I don't...
I went to see a phonetician
and he tells me it's psychological
Listen: Isn't my speech more fluent now?
I got a new contract, for another six months,
on a trial basis
It's on trial, for ever
At the beginning I had trouble with my bowel movements
Working at night and sleeping during the day...
Now I got used,
you get adapted
I'm no longer waiting for anyone
The Savior, the Messiah
It's not a guy with a beard who descends from the sky
with an impeccable tunic
I no longer wait for anyone
Why did you call?
I don't know. I wanted to know about your life
It works
- Simon works, the Karaoke... - Does it work?
The rich cousins, the bubble works
Today is Hanukah. This business about the candles...
Like last year
Like every other year
Today we light the last candle. Simon cooks, Estela sings
- What does Simon cook? - The usual
And what does Estela sing?
New stuff. Do you want to listen?