The Wind Journeys
Where are you going?
Off to play the accordion?
ls it me you're after?
Where are you going?
To play in some village?
ls that really the Devil's accordion?
Good morning.
Are you Ignacio Carrillo?
l work for the Mayor's office in Chimichagua.
The Mayor is holding a party.
He'd like you to entertain his guests.
l don't play.
But it's for the Mayor.
lt pays well.
l said l don't play. So don't insist.
l've come all this way for nothing?
Go back where you came from.
You don't know what you're missing.
Who are you?
Fermin.
Fermin Morales.
The son of Luchito Morales?
Yes.
What do you want?
To go with you.
lf you don't mind.
To come with me?
What for?
Who lived here?
The accordion's owner.
Where is he?
He's gone.
To Taroa, in the region of La Guajira.
Why are you looking for him?
To return the accordion.
You'll go all the way to Taroa?
l don't have enough money.
l could haul sacks in the market.
To earn enough for the trip...
if you let me come with you.
You, work?
Hauling sacks?
You wouldn't earn your lunch.
The only way to make money
is this.
You really want to come to Taroa?
Any idea how far it is?
You don't want me to come?
Can you hunt?
- Yes. - And cook?
Sure.
Then go hunt a rabbit. l'm hungry.
Still feeling peckish. Aren't you?
Those rabbits sure looked tasty.
A pity they can't be caught by day, by chasing them.
But as a good hunter, you know that.
l can learn...
if l'm taught.
lt's simple.
Simple as lying.
You want me to teach you, eh?
Let's see what you can do.
Well?
Give me that!
lt's not for you.
What is it?
Listen.
# To have is to lose #
# My grandpa used to say #
# His only cow was eaten #
# By a vulture one day... #
Good day.
And to you, my friend.
Where are you headed?
We're driving cattle from Chiriguana to El Paso.
And you?
To Guajira.
Guajira? On that donkey?
What for?
To keep a promise.
A promise?
A promise is a promise.
Got any food to spare?
We don't have much, but...
What's your name?
lgnacio.
lgnacio Carrillo?
Boys! It's the troubadour.
Stay with us a while.
We'd be only too happy.
Sure we've got food for you. Join us tonight.
How about it?
To play us a little tune.
l don't play anymore.
What? Aren't you the troubadour?
Yes, but l play no more.
Treat us to a little tune
and we'll feed you.
ln other words, no music, no food.
Well then, no food.
What an old grouch!
Who does he think he is?
He'd let the kid die of hunger.
Sirs, forgive him.
He's in mourning.
For who?
His wife just died.
You were sure hungry, kid.
Yeah, he was starving.
You guys play well.
We play to keep the cows happy!
Ever play in contests?
No, we're just cowhands.
But some around here really get off on it.
l too would rather be a musician than a cowhand.
Speaking of music,
there's a duel soon in Becerril.
For the feast of Our Lady.
An accordion duel in Becerril?
Yes, for the Candlemas feast.
The winner gets 50 pesos.
You look on form.
We're going to Becerril, right?
To take part in the duel?
Just to see who's there.
My father was from there.
Luchito Morales?
No, my real father.
He was a troubadour, like you.
He came to the village for a fiesta.
Got my mother pregnant and left.
Then Luchito married my mom and gave me his name.
My real father is another.
And you want to be like him?
No.
l want to be like you.
l was just like him--
going from party to party,
from woman to woman.
l have children l don't even know about.
ls that the life you want?
You can't even play the accordion.
So why don't you teach me?
Teach me. l can learn.
lt can't be taught.
You have it, or you don't.
And you don't.
Anyway, who said l have something to teach you?
My mother.
When she saw you leaving, she told me to follow you,
that you could teach me.
l told everyone l'd return
as a great accordionist.
l don't care if l have it or not.
l can't go back like this.
# You tell me yes #
# You shun fate #
# You tell me no #
# Death is undone #
# To soothe my pain #
# To change my lot #
# To soothe my pain #
# To avoid death #
# To soothe my pain #
# To avoid death... #
# You tell me yes #
# You shun fate #
# You tell me no #
# Death is undone #
# To soothe my pain #
# To change my lot #
# To soothe my pain #
# To avoid death #
# To soothe my pain #
# To avoid death... #
# Tell me yes #
# Tell me no... #
Okay, right. Let's clear the decks.
The moment we've been waiting for.
Ladies and gents,
tonight, as every year,
for the Candlemas feast of Our Lady,
we bring you the Becerril accordion duel!
Please!
lt's my pleasure to present Iast year's winner,
the young Meyo Castro from Villanueva.
''Amor Amor.''
Playing ''Amor Amor''!
Okay, take it easy.
You all know the score.
Young Meyo here will play ''Amor Amor.''
Whoever thinks he can better him
must step forward and prove it.
And win the 50 pesos courtesy of the Mayor!
Go for it, Meyo!
# The motto of Meyo Castro #
# Is if you want you can #
# So l play to please you #
# Ladies, l'm your man #
# It's the Amor Amor #
# The love of fun and laughter #
# When l'm celebrating #
# Death can wait till after #
# To the sound of my accordion #
# A rhyme rises from within #
# And now l need a contender #
# To show him who will win #
# It's the Amor Amor #
# The love of fun and laughter #
# When l'm celebrating #
# Death can wait till after #
# So then, let's hear you #
# If you say you're number one #
# Before l send you clucking #
# Back to the chicken run! #
# It's the Amor Amor #
# The love of fun and laughter #
# When l'm celebrating #
# Death can wait till after #
# l'm a fighting rooster #
# l'm no wooden head #
# Whoever wants to try me #
# l swear l'll knock him dead #
# Your tongue, it likes to wag #
# But that... #
# My name's Efrain Hernandez #
# And, sonny, l can jive #
# You think you're Mr. Big #
# But your daddy has arrived #
# My only father was Hector #
# He too played accordion #
# But even in his footsteps #
# l'm the new generation #
# My verses are so prem #
# Back and forth they sound #
# My heel makes its mark #
# Before it hits the ground #
# It's the Amor Amor, the love of fun and laughter #
# When l'm celebrating #
# Death can wait till after #
# My playing, it is powerful #
# My songs are never fleeting #
# So if you mess with me #
# Get ready for a beating #
# And so he turns to threats #
# He's spoiling for a fight #
# Little Meyo, what a laugh #
# He couldn't hurt a mite #
# Listen to what l tell you #
# Listen good and choose #
# The One who watches over me #
# Never lets me lose... #
Sorcery.
See that claw on his necklace?
lt's a talisman.
He's using sorcery.
# l am a man of courage #
# And l make it very clear #
# l'm left with no contender #
# Just like last year... #
Why don't you challenge him?
You can beat him.
# Here, l call the shots #
# Morning, noon and night #
# No one can defeat me #
# l'm king, it's only right... #
Go on.
# l don't need excuses #
# My skill sets the pace #
# If another wants to face me #
# l'll put him in his place #
# It's the Amor Amor #
# The love of fun and laughter #
# When l'm celebrating #
# Death can wait till after... #
lt stinks of sorcery in here.
But this beats all.
So, let's see.
Merengue, boys!
# What my mind does hatch #
# l for you sing with joy #
# But little Meyo, the poor boy #
# Now he's met his match... #
# My mind, it never rests #
# l tell you from the heart #
# Prepare to bite the dirt #
# As here stands the best #
# l always sing with feeling #
# Clear sighted is my soul #
# If victory is your goal #
# Die in your own deceiving #
# No one beats my game #
# l too sing with emotion #
# l'm under no illusion #
# l revel in my fame #
# Boundless is my memory #
# l sing both night and day #
# Your fame will fade away #
# Once l end your sorcery... #
Go, Ignacio!
# Listen to the melody #
# That my verses play #
# l have no need of sorcery #
# Because talent is my trade #
# My wish has been fulfilled #
# You're singing to my tune #
# That talent that you claim #
# l'll stomp it in the ground #
# That's what you think #
# But l will prove to you #
# That no one walks on... #
# l make myself respected #
# My singing rules you well #
# So now go straight to hell #
# Where you are expected #
# And if you try me again #
# l'll give you such a beating #
# My talent is untiring #
# Like my inspiration #
# So get upon your knees #
# And beg forgiveness, please! #
Where to now?
Eat in peace.
Why did you want to stop playing?
lt's not me who plays.
lt's the accordion.
l can't control it.
That's why l have to return it.
See those mountains?
Sierra de Perija.
That's where we're headed.
What for?
Only one man can fix the accordion.
Why do you live here?
lt's the only land the bank doesn't want.
Hnow the story of that accordion?
They say it's bewitched.
No.
Not bewitched.
The tale of that there instrument
is that Guerra, Ignacio's master...
won a duel with the devil.
The devil, to get his revenge,
put a curse on it.
Whoever plays it
is doomed to be a troubadour.
Wandering, playing and singing,
till the day they die.
lgnacio got married and swore he'd stop playing.
But now look at him.
lt is said
that the only one who can undo the curse,
is Master Guerra.
Did you play it?
Still believe that shit? At your age!
What's so funny?
Gave the kid a swig of your lousy moonshine?
No, but l've a nice drop here freshly brewed.
Here, try some.
l've quit drinking. And it looks awful.
Sure you have!
Come on! What's got into you?
You'll have some?
Sure.
lt's good.
So, Nine,
can you fix it or not?
lt is damaged.
And even if l can, it won't sound the same.
lf l were you, l'd get another.
That's the one l need.
What for?
To return it to its owner.
Don't tell me Guerra is still alive?
That old goat is still on the go?
Christ!
How the hell does he do it?
Mother always told you
not to hang around with that guy.
She knew you'd wind up tangled in his web.
What?
You're brothers?
You didn't know?
You hadn't told him?
Christ!
With my family, who needs enemies!
How's Ana Luz?
Ana Luz is dead.
How long since you last met?
Eight years.
He's always lived here?
He was never very sociable.
ls that an accordion we hear?
Maybe those cowhands from El Paso.
Could be.
The accordion was meant to be played solo.
Other instruments can play chords or bass.
But only the accordion can do it alone.
Alone, like we who play it.
So, Nine, could you fix it?
Your accordion's fixed, little brother.
But stay a while.
Have a drink with me...
before you leave to never return.
We've a chance to make some money.
They're holding a festival
to celebrate the Vallenato legend.
They've been talking about it all year.
Well, well.
Already Good Friday?
Been a long time on the road...
Who are they?
lgnorant superstitious people.
They believe that if today they kill a certain bird
they'll become drummers overnight.
They're hunting the guatapana, the drummer-bird.
# My sad note comes to tell your soul #
# What my heart truly feels #
# l grow impatient, l lose control #
# Sad and crazy for your love #
# l can't live without you #
# My heart is in despair #
# No longer let it suffer #
# It hurts me when it cries #
# You will be to blame #
# If you let it die #
# You will be to blame #
# If you let it die... #
That group's really good.
lsn't that Emiliano Zuleta?
All the best are here.
What does the winner get?
He's crowned Hing of Vallenato.
- And no money? - Sure.
How much?
A thousand pesos.
A thousand pesos. Wow!
Good evening.
Are you Ignacio Carrillo?
Yes.
No accompanists?
No.
Okay, follow me.
This is Ignacio Carrillo, the lead accordionist.
My pleasure. Alvaro, on guacharaca.
No, l don't play with him.
What?
l don't play with him.
Why not? You know the deal.
He has a problem with my cousin.
Until it's solved, l won't play with him.
ls that true?
Got anybody else?
No, he's the only drummer.
lf you don't find another fast, you're out.
- How fast? - You're on next.
l'll play.
Let me play.
Think this is a game?
lt's the guatapana rhythm, right?
Let me play...
or we'll never get to Master Guerra.
l can do it.
Our turn, let's go.
Next up in our accordion contest,
as part of this first festival,
please welcome, Ignacio Carrillo,
all the way from Majagual, Sucre.
Come watch from the balcony.
lgnacio, let's go.
We're on.
Change of plan.
Just play along.
# Oh, little horse #
# Of wood so fine #
# Ever since childhood #
# Sweet joy of mine #
# You were my first toy #
# You watched me grow, remembering the boy #