An examination of the U.S. immigration system through the lives of two…
Lake Los Angeles
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
View on the Pragda STREAM site
Lake Los Angeles tells the poignant story of Francisco, a middle-aged Cuban exile laboring at an immigrant "holding house" near Lake Los Angeles in Southern California. Amidst his daily routine, Francisco's life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Cecilia, a 10-year-old Mexican girl who has crossed the border without her family.
As Francisco grapples with his own immigrant experience, he forms a unique bond with Cecilia, who finds herself navigating the challenges of survival alone. This gripping narrative explores themes of immigration, resilience, and human connection, making it an ideal choice for professors and librarians seeking to engage students in discussions about contemporary social issues and the immigrant experience.
"Two lone souls, both immigrants separated from their families, make a brief, potentially lasting father—daughter connection in "Lake Los Angeles," a tale of solitude, longing, poetic parables and comforting lies." — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
A dreamy slice of desert sun-baked magical realism... Ott's film casts spell while also remaining firmly rooted in the realities of that life." - Indiewire
Citation
Main credits
Ott, Mike (film director)
Ott, Mike (screenwriter)
Okatsuka, Atsuko (screenwriter)
Gioulakis, Alex (film producer)
Sánchez, Roberto (actor)
Trujillo, Johanna (actor)
Méndez, Eloy (actor)
Other credits
Cinematography, Mike Gioulakis; editing, Santos S. Santos; music, María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir.
Distributor subjects
Migration Studies; Culture + Identity; Family; North America; Caribbean Studies; Latin American StudiesKeywords
00:00:16.308 --> 00:00:18.185
- [Girl] Old man?
00:00:19.436 --> 00:00:21.313
- [Girl] Old man are you awake?
00:00:22.564 --> 00:00:24.441
- [Girl] Or are you sleeping?
00:00:26.026 --> 00:00:27.945
- [Girl] When I couldn't sleep,
00:00:29.363 --> 00:00:31.573
- [Girl] my mom would tell me a story
00:00:33.909 --> 00:00:37.704
- [Girl] My favorite was about a wandering man
00:00:38.205 --> 00:00:40.332
- [Girl] who was lost
00:00:42.084 --> 00:00:44.753
- [Girl] After walking for a long time,
00:00:46.129 --> 00:00:48.757
- [Girl] he became tired and hungry.
00:00:50.842 --> 00:00:53.428
- [Girl] Without food and water
00:00:53.428 --> 00:00:56.640
- [Girl] he thought he would die
00:00:57.349 --> 00:00:59.726
(wind chimes)
- [Girl] and would cry in pain.
00:01:00.769 --> 00:01:05.274
- [Girl] Then a rabbit that was passing by
00:01:05.274 --> 00:01:07.734
- [Girl] felt sorry for him
00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:11.738
- [Girl] and she offered herself as food,
00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:14.241
- [Girl] to save his life.
00:01:16.451 --> 00:01:18.412
- [Girl] As a thank you,
00:01:19.454 --> 00:01:23.792
- [Girl] the man carved the image of the rabbit
00:01:26.128 --> 00:01:28.005
- [Girl] on the moon
00:01:29.756 --> 00:01:31.758
- [Girl] so that she would be with him...
00:01:33.427 --> 00:01:35.429
- [Girl] ...forever.
00:01:36.096 --> 00:01:38.932
(far off traffic)
00:02:24.311 --> 00:02:26.021
- [Woman] Panties too?
00:02:28.023 --> 00:02:28.940
- [Man] Si.
00:03:21.660 --> 00:03:24.246
(horn honking)
00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:31.044
- [Man In Truck] You looking for work?
00:03:31.044 --> 00:03:32.045
- Si.
00:03:32.045 --> 00:03:35.424
- [Man In Truck] I've got three
hours, 12 dollars an hour.
00:03:35.424 --> 00:03:37.259
- Yeah, all of you guys.
00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:52.023
(truck engine revs)
00:04:10.208 --> 00:04:12.627
So this whole thing is coming down,
00:04:12.627 --> 00:04:14.504
you can see that already came down,
00:04:14.504 --> 00:04:16.465
we have to move everything out
00:04:16.465 --> 00:04:20.635
and anything metal, copper
or anything shiny basically,
00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:25.891
I want you to take that
out and put it here.
00:04:31.354 --> 00:04:33.773
(soft music)
00:04:38.570 --> 00:04:40.572
-[Man] Hi my love, how are you?
00:04:43.283 --> 00:04:45.118
-[Man] Where are you?
What are you doing?
00:04:46.661 --> 00:04:48.663
-[Man] And the kids, how are they?
00:04:50.373 --> 00:04:52.375
-[Man] Do they ask abut me?
00:04:57.631 --> 00:04:59.633
-[Man] How I miss their smiles...
00:05:05.055 --> 00:05:06.515
- All this shit still has to,
00:05:06.515 --> 00:05:08.475
no, all this shit goes
now, everything has to go.
00:05:08.475 --> 00:05:10.101
(groan)
00:05:11.102 --> 00:05:13.104
-[Man] How is Havana?
00:05:14.856 --> 00:05:16.858
-[Man] Did you get the package I sent you?
00:05:20.070 --> 00:05:22.781
(soft music)
00:05:22.781 --> 00:05:26.159
-[Man] The extra money is for you
to buy yourself something beautiful.
00:05:28.495 --> 00:05:30.330
-[Man] I have a new job, it's in an office.
00:05:35.252 --> 00:05:37.254
-[Man] They pay me more than before
00:05:42.592 --> 00:05:44.344
(banging)
00:05:44.344 --> 00:05:47.305
-[Man] but it's a lot of hours and
the work is hard.
00:05:50.767 --> 00:05:53.520
-[Man] But it's okay.
00:05:58.191 --> 00:06:00.193
-[Man] Everything here is extreme.
00:06:01.945 --> 00:06:06.157
-[Man] The weather is either too hot
or too cold; there is no in-between
00:06:06.157 --> 00:06:09.452
(men speak in foreign language)
00:06:09.869 --> 00:06:11.871
-[Man] This place makes me
miss you so much.
00:06:19.170 --> 00:06:20.922
-[Man] I dreamt about you last night.
00:06:26.595 --> 00:06:28.597
-[Man] We were floating on the Almendares River.
00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:35.854
- [Man From Truck] 40,
that's a little more.
00:06:35.854 --> 00:06:37.856
-[Man] You were looking at me with a strange look,
00:06:41.109 --> 00:06:42.027
Thanks man.
00:06:44.070 --> 00:06:46.072
-[Man] and you were silent for a while, but...
00:06:48.783 --> 00:06:50.493
- [Worker] Garcias.
00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:53.622
-[Worker] He paid us well, didn't he?
00:06:55.165 --> 00:06:56.958
-[Man] He paid us shit.
00:06:57.792 --> 00:06:59.919
-[Man] you start to tell me softly...
00:07:02.714 --> 00:07:04.716
-[Man] I'm still here.
00:07:05.425 --> 00:07:07.427
-[Man] I'm still here.
00:07:07.969 --> 00:07:09.971
-[Man] Over and over again.
00:07:12.557 --> 00:07:14.601
-[Man] And you were floating away...
00:07:14.601 --> 00:07:17.979
(fire crackling)
00:07:17.979 --> 00:07:20.440
(soft music)
00:07:20.940 --> 00:07:26.946
-[Man] ... I swam toward you but the currents
would pull me farther away.
00:07:30.492 --> 00:07:34.204
-[Man] I woke up in a panic,
then was relieved because
00:07:37.916 --> 00:07:39.918
-[Man] it was only a dream.
00:07:53.056 --> 00:07:56.059
-[Man from Van] I brought more.
00:08:03.775 --> 00:08:05.777
-[Man from Van] Look over here!
00:08:06.861 --> 00:08:08.863
-[Man] I have so much more to tell you.
00:08:14.202 --> 00:08:18.206
-[Man] In my spare time, I've been
taking care of hurt animals
00:08:20.625 --> 00:08:22.627
-[Man] until they recover.
00:08:23.044 --> 00:08:24.963
Is anyone hungry?
00:08:24.963 --> 00:08:26.131
- [Woman] Yes.
00:08:35.515 --> 00:08:37.517
And the girl?
00:08:39.686 --> 00:08:41.688
-[Man] Some take longer than others, but...
00:08:46.026 --> 00:08:48.570
-[Man] When they are better I let them go.
00:08:49.070 --> 00:08:51.072
Eat!
00:08:51.656 --> 00:08:53.658
You have to eat!
00:09:02.667 --> 00:09:05.670
Does anyone need to use the bathroom?
00:09:13.428 --> 00:09:15.430
-[Man] There is one in particular
00:09:19.726 --> 00:09:23.021
-[Man] She's been with me longer than the rest.
00:09:24.773 --> 00:09:26.775
-[Man] It's a kitten.
00:09:29.903 --> 00:09:31.905
-[Man] She's scared,
00:09:33.782 --> 00:09:37.118
-[Man] but I think you would like her.
00:09:43.166 --> 00:09:45.460
-[Man] It's getting late my love.
00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:47.462
-[Man] I have to go
00:09:47.796 --> 00:09:49.798
-[Man] but I will dream of you.
00:09:51.007 --> 00:09:53.259
-[Man] both of us in the river,
00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:56.262
-[Man] laughing, swimming, and floating
00:09:57.764 --> 00:10:01.059
-[Man] and with your sweet voice
you will say,
00:10:01.810 --> 00:10:03.812
-[Man] I'm still here.
00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:07.524
-[Man] I love you my love.
00:10:07.524 --> 00:10:09.400
(tape recorder click stop)
00:10:29.045 --> 00:10:32.090
(dog barking)
00:10:32.090 --> 00:10:34.551
(engine revs)
00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:43.852
-[Man] Don't fuck with me.
00:10:44.227 --> 00:10:45.979
-[Man] How much longer?
00:10:45.979 --> 00:10:48.106
-[Man from Van] He says he almost
has all the money.
00:10:48.106 --> 00:10:49.941
-[Man from Van] Then I'll come and get her.
00:10:49.941 --> 00:10:51.192
-[Man] No, that wasn't the deal!
00:10:51.192 --> 00:10:52.485
-[Man] She's been here too long.
00:10:52.485 --> 00:10:55.280
She doesn't eat, she doesn't speak!
If something-
00:10:55.280 --> 00:10:57.073
-[Man from Van] Relax! Calm down!
00:10:57.073 --> 00:11:00.076
-[Man from Van] She's scared,
you know how kids are.
00:11:00.076 --> 00:11:02.412
-[Man from Van] She's fine.
00:11:03.288 --> 00:11:05.290
-[Man from Van] Look, keep,
taking care of her here.
00:11:08.042 --> 00:11:10.044
-[Man from Van] I'm going to pay you good money.
00:11:16.467 --> 00:11:18.553
-[Man from Van] I'll call you tomorrow!
00:11:36.738 --> 00:11:38.698
-[Man] Are you okay, kitty?
00:11:40.825 --> 00:11:42.827
-[Man] Do you need anything?
00:11:55.006 --> 00:11:57.508
(wind chimes)
00:12:18.446 --> 00:12:21.282
(quiet muttering)
00:12:23.368 --> 00:12:27.538
(quiet speaking in a foreign language)
00:12:45.223 --> 00:12:47.225
-[Girl] Can you hear me?
00:12:52.146 --> 00:12:54.232
-[Girl] Are you cold, old man?
00:12:56.526 --> 00:12:58.987
-[Girl] Do you like the snow?
00:13:01.364 --> 00:13:03.408
-[Girl] I like it.
00:13:04.409 --> 00:13:06.411
-[Girl] I saw the snow once.
00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.582
-[Girl] My mom took me.
00:13:14.669 --> 00:13:16.421
-[Girl] She saved up money
00:13:19.215 --> 00:13:21.217
-[Girl] and took me to the mountains.
00:13:25.847 --> 00:13:27.849
-[Girl] When we got there,
00:13:28.558 --> 00:13:31.310
-[Girl] everything
00:13:31.644 --> 00:13:34.355
-[Girl] was covered in white snow.
00:13:37.483 --> 00:13:39.861
-[Girl] My mommy and me
00:13:40.486 --> 00:13:42.488
-[Girl] on top of the snow.
00:13:45.116 --> 00:13:47.118
-[Girl] It was beautiful.
00:13:48.619 --> 00:13:51.205
(wind blowing)
00:13:54.917 --> 00:13:57.378
(dog growling)
00:14:06.721 --> 00:14:09.474
(dramatic music)
00:14:22.195 --> 00:14:24.197
-[Man] A pack of cigarettes.
00:14:28.242 --> 00:14:30.995
(register beeps)
00:14:31.871 --> 00:14:34.540
(Spanish music)
00:14:54.852 --> 00:14:56.854
-[Man] Do you have to use the bathroom?
00:15:04.362 --> 00:15:06.155
-[Man] What are you writing?
00:15:21.337 --> 00:15:24.257
-[Man] Do you feel like walking
around a little bit?
00:15:36.727 --> 00:15:38.729
-[Man] Be careful.
00:15:42.567 --> 00:15:44.443
(soft music)
00:15:47.363 --> 00:15:49.782
-[Man] Do you like this place,
or do you miss Mexico?
00:15:51.826 --> 00:15:54.370
-[Girl] I hate this place.
00:15:58.040 --> 00:15:59.959
-[Man] Your dad comes next week.
00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:03.462
-[Man] Does that make you happy?
00:16:08.301 --> 00:16:10.303
-[Girl] I don't know.
00:16:17.185 --> 00:16:19.270
-[Man] You are lucky, you know that?
00:16:20.605 --> 00:16:24.609
-[Man] When I was born in Cuba, my dad
had already left and I never met him
00:16:26.611 --> 00:16:29.906
-[Man] I don't care now, but I did when
I was your age.
00:16:36.204 --> 00:16:38.206
-[Man] Do you know your dad?
00:16:43.127 --> 00:16:45.129
-[Girl] I never met him.
00:16:47.632 --> 00:16:51.594
-[Man] Even though he wasn't in your life,
I know he loves you a lot.
00:16:52.970 --> 00:16:54.972
-[Man] Your dad really loves you.
00:17:04.857 --> 00:17:06.859
-[Man] Look, it's beautiful.
00:17:17.662 --> 00:17:21.040
(corn husks crackling)
00:17:33.761 --> 00:17:35.763
-[Man] You see, it's easy.
00:17:40.601 --> 00:17:42.770
-[Man] See? Give me another.
00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:49.652
(fire crackling)
00:18:01.706 --> 00:18:03.708
-[Man] Do you like music?
00:18:12.341 --> 00:18:14.343
-[Man] Do you like music, little cat?
00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:19.181
-[Man] This is one of my favorites.
00:18:22.727 --> 00:18:25.730
(Spanish pop music)
00:19:37.301 --> 00:19:39.303
-[Girl] I remember those days
00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.641
-[Girl] when all the kids from my block
00:19:47.645 --> 00:19:49.647
-[Girl] would come out of their houses
00:19:51.107 --> 00:19:52.942
-[Girl] and we would would play for hours.
00:19:54.402 --> 00:19:56.821
(soft music)
00:19:56.821 --> 00:20:00.866
-[Girl] we'd forget about everything and everyone.
00:20:05.413 --> 00:20:07.373
-[Girl] It was like
00:20:09.250 --> 00:20:11.335
-[Girl] we were in a world
00:20:13.254 --> 00:20:15.297
-[Girl] that was only ours.
00:20:18.676 --> 00:20:20.678
-[Girl] We would sing.
00:20:23.681 --> 00:20:25.724
-[Girl] We would dance.
00:20:29.353 --> 00:20:31.355
-[Girl] Until I heard a voice
00:20:32.314 --> 00:20:33.816
- [Woman] Cecilia!
00:20:37.069 --> 00:20:38.863
Cecilia!
00:20:38.863 --> 00:20:43.409
-[Girl] calling me because it was time for dinner.
00:20:44.743 --> 00:20:45.870
- [Woman] Cecilia!
00:20:50.624 --> 00:20:52.626
-[Girl] It was my mommy.
00:20:56.714 --> 00:21:00.092
(record player crackles)
00:21:07.850 --> 00:21:10.352
(phone rings)
00:21:17.985 --> 00:21:18.819
- Hello?
00:21:19.695 --> 00:21:21.697
-[Man] Yes?
00:21:22.865 --> 00:21:24.867
-[Man] When, today?
00:21:25.868 --> 00:21:27.870
-[Man] What time?
00:21:29.497 --> 00:21:31.499
-[Man] Okay, she will be ready.
00:22:12.164 --> 00:22:14.166
-[Man] Are you happy you will see your dad?
00:22:19.713 --> 00:22:20.548
Si, no?
00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:25.302
-[Girl] I don't know.
00:22:34.478 --> 00:22:37.231
(engine rumbles)
00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:43.362
-[Man] Let's go.
00:22:44.363 --> 00:22:46.365
-[Man] Don't be afraid.
00:22:54.873 --> 00:22:57.001
-[Man] Remember what I told you.
00:22:57.001 --> 00:22:59.003
-[Man] Your dad loves you a lot.
00:23:12.516 --> 00:23:14.518
-[Man from Van] Hurry up!
00:23:18.314 --> 00:23:20.816
(engine revs)
00:24:21.085 --> 00:24:23.087
-[Man from Van] We'll be driving for a few hours.
00:24:29.301 --> 00:24:31.303
-[Man from Van] You want to sleep?
00:24:38.602 --> 00:24:40.604
-[Man from Van] Plans have changed,
00:24:42.106 --> 00:24:46.110
-[Man from Van] I have absolutely no idea
where your dad is.
00:24:48.153 --> 00:24:50.114
-[Man from Van] You are going to stay with me.
00:24:59.373 --> 00:25:01.375
-[Man from Van] Are you a mute?
00:25:07.715 --> 00:25:09.717
-[Man from Van] Kids, kids...
00:25:29.236 --> 00:25:31.238
-[Man from Van] What are you looking at?
00:25:32.322 --> 00:25:33.198
- Hey.
00:25:38.454 --> 00:25:39.246
Hey.
00:25:43.834 --> 00:25:45.836
-[Girl] Nothing.
00:25:47.629 --> 00:25:50.132
(engine revs)
00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:57.890
(traffic speeds past)
00:26:15.574 --> 00:26:17.576
-[Man from Van] Do you want to use the restroom?
00:26:21.705 --> 00:26:23.707
-[Man from Van] Are you sure?
00:26:33.675 --> 00:26:36.720
Stay here, I'll be back.
00:27:23.725 --> 00:27:26.228
(soft music)
00:27:57.342 --> 00:28:00.762
-[Man] My Love,
I've been thinking about you tonight.
00:28:03.765 --> 00:28:05.434
-[Man] You would like this place.
00:28:08.145 --> 00:28:10.647
-[Man] There is so much to do
and so much to see.
00:28:16.028 --> 00:28:18.071
-[Man] I think you would like my friends.
00:28:22.034 --> 00:28:23.869
-[Man] But I feel lonely.
00:28:24.703 --> 00:28:26.747
-[Man] So lonely.
00:28:32.252 --> 00:28:34.254
-[Man] I think of you to clear my thoughts.
00:28:42.054 --> 00:28:45.515
-[Man] My love, I promise I will bring
you and the kids here soon.
00:28:58.111 --> 00:29:00.155
-[Man] Come closer.
00:29:10.040 --> 00:29:12.042
-[Man] Sing.
00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:16.296
(melodic humming)
00:30:41.381 --> 00:30:43.967
(wind blowing)
00:31:19.711 --> 00:31:22.464
(house creaking)
00:31:42.025 --> 00:31:44.027
-[Girl] Old man.
00:31:46.530 --> 00:31:48.532
-[Girl] Old man.
00:31:51.910 --> 00:31:53.912
-[Girl] Are you awake?
00:31:56.331 --> 00:31:58.333
-[Girl] Are you sleeping?
00:32:00.043 --> 00:32:02.504
(soft music)
-[Girl] Wake up.
00:32:08.051 --> 00:32:10.137
-[Girl] Are you there?
00:32:16.601 --> 00:32:18.728
-[Girl] How is the snow?
00:32:27.237 --> 00:32:29.239
-[Girl] We had to go Old man.
00:32:33.869 --> 00:32:35.871
-[Girl] My dad didn't show up.
00:32:39.040 --> 00:32:41.293
-[Girl] I don't know where he is.
00:32:45.547 --> 00:32:47.632
-[Girl] Did you hear me?
00:32:53.096 --> 00:32:55.640
-[Girl] Look outside.
00:32:57.350 --> 00:32:59.186
-[Girl] Do you see it?
00:33:01.897 --> 00:33:03.815
-[Girl] He is looking for us.
00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:09.362
-[Girl] The monster.
00:33:10.989 --> 00:33:12.991
-[Girl] He kidnaps little girls.
00:33:15.827 --> 00:33:18.413
-[Girl] But don't worry old man,
00:33:20.415 --> 00:33:22.417
I'll take care of you.
00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:26.922
-[Girl] Always.
00:33:52.739 --> 00:33:55.158
(wind blows)
00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:38.845
-[Girl] I'll be back old man.
00:35:50.190 --> 00:35:52.901
(insects buzz)
00:35:57.572 --> 00:35:59.991
(wind blows)
00:36:15.924 --> 00:36:18.510
(loud traffic)
00:36:41.241 --> 00:36:44.285
(speaking in foreign language)
00:36:44.285 --> 00:36:46.955
(spanish music)
00:37:41.384 --> 00:37:45.138
(store occupants chattering)
00:38:04.616 --> 00:38:06.951
(dogs bark)
00:38:43.071 --> 00:38:45.740
(running water)
00:38:51.120 --> 00:38:53.706
(loud traffic)
00:39:04.634 --> 00:39:07.136
(dog whines)
00:39:26.573 --> 00:39:28.575
-[Girl] Hello.
00:39:31.786 --> 00:39:33.580
-[Girl] Are you hungry?
00:39:37.959 --> 00:39:39.836
-[Girl] What's your name?
00:39:48.094 --> 00:39:50.138
-[Girl] I will call you Pancho.
00:39:52.807 --> 00:39:54.809
-[Girl] You don't like it?
00:40:01.065 --> 00:40:03.026
-[Girl] I'll call you Panchito.
00:40:08.156 --> 00:40:10.158
-[Girl] Nice to meet you, Panchito.
00:40:11.743 --> 00:40:13.745
-[Girl] My name's Cecilia
00:40:41.230 --> 00:40:43.816
(coyote howls)
00:40:53.826 --> 00:40:56.579
(ghostly voices)
00:41:14.305 --> 00:41:16.891
(coyote howls)
00:41:55.888 --> 00:41:57.515
-[Man] How many did you bring?
00:41:57.515 --> 00:41:58.850
-[Man from Van] Eight.
00:41:58.850 --> 00:42:00.226
Eight?
00:42:00.226 --> 00:42:01.728
Hey man, you said four or five.
00:42:01.728 --> 00:42:02.937
-[Man from Van] Calm down.
00:42:02.937 --> 00:42:04.689
-[Man from Van] It's more money for us.
00:42:07.233 --> 00:42:08.568
What happened to your eye?
00:42:08.568 --> 00:42:11.195
-[Man from Van] Nothing, just an accident.
00:42:11.195 --> 00:42:13.072
An accident?
00:42:13.865 --> 00:42:19.078
How did it go with the little girl?
00:42:19.078 --> 00:42:21.205
-[Man from Van] I don't know, she ran off.
00:42:21.205 --> 00:42:23.166
What do you mean she ran off?
00:42:23.875 --> 00:42:25.543
-[Man from Van] Calm down,
I'm just joking.
00:42:25.543 --> 00:42:26.794
Don't play games with me!
00:42:26.794 --> 00:42:28.921
It was a joke. It's all right,
she's with her dad.
00:42:28.921 --> 00:42:31.174
There's nothing to worry about.
00:42:32.550 --> 00:42:34.510
Don't play with me.
00:42:36.262 --> 00:42:37.513
Open it.
00:42:37.513 --> 00:42:39.140
-[Man from Van] Hold on.
00:42:39.140 --> 00:42:40.183
I need a favor.
00:42:40.183 --> 00:42:41.267
What?
00:42:41.267 --> 00:42:42.268
A loan.
00:42:42.268 --> 00:42:43.478
From me?
00:42:43.478 --> 00:42:44.645
Two thousand dollars.
00:42:46.063 --> 00:42:48.107
- Have you seen where I live?
00:42:48.107 --> 00:42:51.527
-[Man from Van] Can you or can you not?
-[Man] Of Course I can't, you're crazy.
00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:02.079
-[Man from Van] Come on, get out.
00:43:02.830 --> 00:43:04.707
-[Man from Van] Be careful with your heads.
00:43:05.541 --> 00:43:07.543
-[Man from Van] To the house.
00:43:09.545 --> 00:43:11.547
-[Man from Van] Careful.
00:43:28.147 --> 00:43:30.149
-[Man] This is too many people, you know.
00:43:32.109 --> 00:43:34.111
-[Man from Van] I'll see you tomorrow.
00:43:37.740 --> 00:43:40.243
(wind blows)
00:43:56.676 --> 00:44:00.263
- [Ghostly Voice] Cecilia.
00:44:10.022 --> 00:44:12.358
(door creaks)
00:44:14.068 --> 00:44:14.902
Ceci!
00:44:21.158 --> 00:44:23.661
(wind blows)
00:45:29.977 --> 00:45:31.979
-[Girl] Is that you papa?
00:45:40.905 --> 00:45:43.574
(spanish music)
00:45:47.203 --> 00:45:51.290
(speaking in a foreign language)
00:45:56.253 --> 00:45:58.339
- I can go straight to the left?
00:45:58.339 --> 00:46:01.926
Yeah, it'll take you
about four more miles.
00:46:08.849 --> 00:46:11.143
(whistling)
00:46:13.354 --> 00:46:15.690
(dog barks)
00:46:20.778 --> 00:46:22.196
-[Girl] Hello, Panchito.
00:46:22.196 --> 00:46:24.448
(dog whines)
-[Girl] Are you thirtsy?
00:46:24.448 --> 00:46:27.243
(loud traffic)
00:46:30.579 --> 00:46:32.581
-[Girl] Do you want some water Panchito?
00:46:34.583 --> 00:46:36.585
-[Girl] Here.
00:46:37.670 --> 00:46:40.131
(dog lapping)
00:46:51.642 --> 00:46:54.228
(loud traffic)
00:47:37.605 --> 00:47:40.191
(car honking)
00:48:22.233 --> 00:48:24.819
(loud traffic)
00:49:15.870 --> 00:49:18.539
(loud rumbling)
00:49:31.635 --> 00:49:33.637
-[Girl] Old man,
00:49:34.221 --> 00:49:36.223
-[Girl] I have something to tell you.
00:49:39.101 --> 00:49:41.854
(fire crackling)
-[Girl] Today
00:49:44.148 --> 00:49:46.150
-[Girl] I saw the savior.
00:49:50.029 --> 00:49:52.031
-[Girl] Did you hear that?
00:49:57.661 --> 00:49:59.663
-Stay quiet old man!
00:50:04.710 --> 00:50:06.712
-[Girl] It won't hear us.
00:50:20.017 --> 00:50:22.311
- [Ghostly Voice] Cecilia.
00:50:28.692 --> 00:50:31.445
(coyote howling)
00:50:40.037 --> 00:50:43.165
-[Man] What about the rest of them?
-[Man from Van] They haven't paid me yet
00:50:51.507 --> 00:50:53.509
-What about the loan?
00:50:54.718 --> 00:50:56.720
-Do I look like a bank?
00:50:57.763 --> 00:50:59.765
-It's only two thousand dollars.
00:51:00.474 --> 00:51:02.476
-Only?
00:51:03.936 --> 00:51:05.938
-And why do you need so much money?
00:51:07.940 --> 00:51:09.942
-Business.
00:51:13.445 --> 00:51:16.991
(shovel scraping)
00:51:31.463 --> 00:51:33.007
- [Owner] That was last month.
00:51:33.007 --> 00:51:34.758
-[Man] Can I use the bathroom?
-[Owner] Yeah.
00:51:34.758 --> 00:51:37.469
Yeah, of course, you know the way.
00:51:38.595 --> 00:51:42.016
Yeah, no, no, just does some work for me.
00:51:43.684 --> 00:51:46.854
(weed eater buzzing)
00:52:39.239 --> 00:52:41.909
(clock ticking)
00:53:22.699 --> 00:53:25.202
(piano music)
00:53:42.553 --> 00:53:44.388
- [Man] Are you through in there?
00:53:44.388 --> 00:53:45.597
We gotta go!
00:53:45.597 --> 00:53:47.433
-[Man] On my way!
00:53:51.186 --> 00:53:53.939
(shovel scraping)
00:53:55.315 --> 00:53:57.526
(soft music)
00:54:00.571 --> 00:54:02.197
-[Girl] Old man,
00:54:12.374 --> 00:54:14.376
-[Girl] How do you feel?
00:54:18.172 --> 00:54:20.549
(wind blows)
00:54:21.800 --> 00:54:23.802
-[Girl] You look sad.
00:54:25.053 --> 00:54:28.724
(building orchestral music)
00:54:33.437 --> 00:54:35.439
-[Girl] When I'd get sad,
00:54:40.903 --> 00:54:42.821
-[Girl] my mom would tell me a story
00:54:50.496 --> 00:54:54.666
-[Girl] about a boy and a tree.
00:55:00.172 --> 00:55:03.258
-[Girl] The tree loved the boy so much.
00:55:05.719 --> 00:55:08.680
-[Girl] She would give her leaves
00:55:08.680 --> 00:55:10.849
-[Girl] and her branches to the boy
00:55:12.100 --> 00:55:14.561
-[Girl] So that he would be happy.
00:55:20.067 --> 00:55:22.027
-[Girl] But one day,
00:55:23.237 --> 00:55:25.239
-[Girl] the boy was not satisfied
00:55:26.198 --> 00:55:28.200
-[Girl] and stopped visiting the tree.
00:55:30.619 --> 00:55:35.165
-[Worker] When we were in the hotel room
coming here, I started thinking about
00:55:35.165 --> 00:55:42.673
-[Worker] everything I was leaving behind
and I started to cry
00:55:45.217 --> 00:55:48.887
-[Worker] I was leaving it all for a better life,
00:55:49.429 --> 00:55:53.267
-[Worker] but it was sad for me to think
of my friends and family.
00:55:55.102 --> 00:55:59.106
-[Worker] I wanted to help my mom and dad,
but I never had any money.
00:56:00.774 --> 00:56:02.776
-[Worker] So I had to
00:56:03.360 --> 00:56:07.322
-[Worker] look for a better life
in a different place.
00:56:07.322 --> 00:56:10.075
-[Worker] In a different part of the world.
00:56:18.292 --> 00:56:21.128
-[Girl] The tree was so sad.
00:56:27.718 --> 00:56:29.720
-[Girl] The boy grew
00:56:31.847 --> 00:56:33.849
-[Girl] until he turned into a man.
00:56:39.438 --> 00:56:43.734
-[Girl] He'd come back only when
he needed something.
00:56:51.408 --> 00:56:53.410
-[Girl] Until one day,
00:56:54.494 --> 00:56:56.913
-[Girl] the tree was left with nothing.
00:56:58.749 --> 00:57:01.335
(fire crackles)
00:57:05.589 --> 00:57:09.676
-[Girl] Only a stump was left.
Dried up.
00:57:12.471 --> 00:57:14.473
-[Girl] Nothing was left.
00:57:17.893 --> 00:57:19.895
-[Girl] Nothing.
00:57:20.395 --> 00:57:24.066
(building orchestral music)
00:57:59.017 --> 00:58:01.687
(loud rumbling)
00:58:16.868 --> 00:58:19.037
- [Ghostly Voice] Cecilia.
00:58:31.675 --> 00:58:32.551
Cecilia.
00:58:35.512 --> 00:58:38.098
(loud rumbling)
00:58:46.773 --> 00:58:48.775
- You won't regret that
you came, asshole.
00:58:50.569 --> 00:58:52.571
-We'll split it half and half.
00:58:57.659 --> 00:58:59.578
- There's a lot of money in this place.
00:59:04.541 --> 00:59:06.543
- And how do you know that?
00:59:08.920 --> 00:59:10.922
- I do business with these people.
00:59:18.680 --> 00:59:20.682
- Business.
00:59:24.102 --> 00:59:26.104
- Last time I was there, i took this.
00:59:29.775 --> 00:59:31.777
- They didn't even notice.
00:59:48.502 --> 00:59:50.420
(wind blows)
00:59:50.420 --> 00:59:53.673
- [Ghostly Voice] Cecilia.
00:59:55.050 --> 00:59:57.135
- [Ghostly Voice] I've been looking
for you Cecilia.
00:59:57.135 --> 01:00:00.096
(loud rumbling)
01:00:01.681 --> 01:00:03.683
- [Ghostly Voice] Come to me Cecilia.
01:00:06.561 --> 01:00:08.563
- [Ghostly Voice] Why didn't you want to see me?
01:00:10.732 --> 01:00:13.735
- [Ghostly Voice] Why don't you want
to see me, Cecilia?
01:00:14.569 --> 01:00:16.571
-[Girl] I don't know you.
01:00:17.572 --> 01:00:22.285
- [Ghostly Voice] The come and meet me
Cecilia. Come in.
01:01:25.307 --> 01:01:28.226
(crickets chirping)
01:01:46.244 --> 01:01:48.246
-[Driver] They're leaving.
01:01:51.207 --> 01:01:54.210
-[Driver] Alright, you ready?
Honk twice if someone is coming.
01:02:15.482 --> 01:02:18.234
(fire crackling)
01:02:30.413 --> 01:02:34.125
(muttering in foreign language)
01:02:51.851 --> 01:02:53.853
-[Man] Don't fuck with me.
01:02:57.816 --> 01:02:59.818
-[Man] Don't fuck with me.
01:03:06.241 --> 01:03:08.243
-[Man] Hurry up, hurry up.
01:03:17.836 --> 01:03:20.588
(fire crackling)
01:03:38.857 --> 01:03:41.109
-[Girl] You are not my papa.
01:03:47.240 --> 01:03:49.951
(traffic passing)
01:04:18.480 --> 01:04:21.316
(soft eerie tone)
01:04:25.737 --> 01:04:27.739
-[Girl] Don't worry old man,
01:04:30.658 --> 01:04:32.660
-[Girl] it wasn't him.
01:04:41.211 --> 01:04:43.713
-[Girl] You sleep well.
01:05:03.233 --> 01:05:04.943
- Wake up asshole! Hurry up!
01:05:04.943 --> 01:05:06.486
-What happened?
01:05:06.486 --> 01:05:07.529
-Nothing
-What did you get?
01:05:07.529 --> 01:05:09.989
- Nothing!
-What you mean nothing!?
01:05:09.989 --> 01:05:11.991
-They didn't have shit in there!
01:05:32.387 --> 01:05:34.806
(wind blows)
01:05:41.104 --> 01:05:43.731
(loud traffic)
01:05:47.110 --> 01:05:49.779
(spanish music)
01:05:59.956 --> 01:06:01.374
- Can I help you?
01:06:05.962 --> 01:06:07.964
- Can I help you?
01:06:11.009 --> 01:06:13.011
- Things cost money.
01:06:15.430 --> 01:06:17.432
-You understand?
01:06:19.017 --> 01:06:21.102
-You understand?
01:06:23.813 --> 01:06:25.690
- I'm watching you.
01:06:26.524 --> 01:06:28.860
I saw you little girl!
01:06:28.860 --> 01:06:30.820
You got that?
01:06:30.820 --> 01:06:32.363
- I saw you!
01:06:33.198 --> 01:06:35.617
(wind blows)
01:07:02.018 --> 01:07:04.771
(building music)
01:07:09.734 --> 01:07:13.655
(chatter in a foreign language)
01:07:29.462 --> 01:07:32.048
(bell ringing)
01:08:02.412 --> 01:08:05.373
(upbeat Latin music)
01:08:15.633 --> 01:08:18.177
(bell ringing)
01:08:21.931 --> 01:08:25.184
(upbeat spanish music)
01:09:30.124 --> 01:09:31.000
- Gracias.
01:09:34.504 --> 01:09:38.508
(chatter in a foreign language)
01:11:05.595 --> 01:11:08.014
(soft music)
01:13:38.789 --> 01:13:41.792
-[Girl] What happened old man?
01:13:48.299 --> 01:13:51.052
(dramatic music)
01:14:27.213 --> 01:14:29.215
-[Woman] Dear Francisco, How are you?
01:14:30.633 --> 01:14:32.593
-[Women] I hope this letter finds you well.
01:14:35.513 --> 01:14:38.391
-[Women] I've been wanting
to write you for months,
01:14:38.391 --> 01:14:41.686
-[Women] but there are things I'm still trying
to understand in my life without you.
01:14:41.686 --> 01:14:44.647
(turbine spinning)
01:14:48.776 --> 01:14:50.778
-[Women] I've been thinking about
when we first met.
01:14:52.822 --> 01:14:54.824
- Two kids in love
01:14:56.242 --> 01:14:58.160
- with a passion to change the world.
01:14:59.036 --> 01:15:01.038
- Or at least our world in Havana
01:15:03.833 --> 01:15:06.085
- But you left.
01:15:06.085 --> 01:15:07.837
- You left me, my love.
01:15:07.837 --> 01:15:09.255
- Your children,
01:15:09.255 --> 01:15:11.173
- and your country.
01:15:13.175 --> 01:15:16.137
- Our views of this place
have always been different,
01:15:18.681 --> 01:15:20.683
- that never changed.
01:15:21.225 --> 01:15:23.227
- But you did
01:15:24.812 --> 01:15:27.815
- You left everything that was important to you
01:15:29.233 --> 01:15:31.235
- with a promise of something better.
01:15:32.236 --> 01:15:34.196
- a better life?
01:15:34.196 --> 01:15:36.198
-[Man in Van] I'll bring you more tomorrow.
01:15:37.616 --> 01:15:39.618
-[Women] Is your life better without me?
01:15:43.039 --> 01:15:45.040
-[Women] Maybe it's like a dream,
01:15:46.834 --> 01:15:48.836
- like us floating in the river
01:15:50.796 --> 01:15:52.757
- whispering,
01:15:52.757 --> 01:15:54.759
- I'm still here.
01:16:01.140 --> 01:16:04.518
- At this point, all I have left is the
sound of your voice in my memory.
01:16:04.518 --> 01:16:06.937
(soft music)
01:16:08.147 --> 01:16:10.316
- [Ghostly Voice] Cecilia!
01:16:12.276 --> 01:16:14.278
- [Ghostly Voice] Leave without me, Cecilia!
01:16:17.156 --> 01:16:19.158
- [Ghostly Voice] You'll be okay.
01:16:22.036 --> 01:16:24.038
- [Ghostly Voice] Leave without me, Cecilia!
01:16:24.747 --> 01:16:25.581
Cecilia.
01:16:28.918 --> 01:16:29.752
Cecilia!
01:16:33.964 --> 01:16:35.966
- You're going to be okay. I'll stay here!
01:16:37.134 --> 01:16:37.968
- Mamma?
01:16:43.849 --> 01:16:45.893
- Leave my love. They're waiting for you!
01:16:45.893 --> 01:16:47.102
- [Cecilia] Mamma!
01:16:47.561 --> 01:16:49.563
- You'll be okay!
01:16:50.356 --> 01:16:52.024
(emotional music)
01:16:52.024 --> 01:16:53.359
- [Woman] Cecilia!
01:17:03.119 --> 01:17:05.120
- You'll be okay
01:17:18.008 --> 01:17:20.010
-[Woman] I can't wait any longer my love.
01:17:21.637 --> 01:17:23.514
- Your boys are almost men now.
01:17:24.515 --> 01:17:27.726
- You're just a face in old
photographs to them.
01:17:29.812 --> 01:17:31.814
- And now, to me.
01:17:32.273 --> 01:17:35.276
- This is not how I imagined things would end,
01:17:37.319 --> 01:17:41.824
but our communication is almost like a ghost.
01:17:44.952 --> 01:17:46.954
- Pieces of paper,
01:17:48.330 --> 01:17:50.332
- broken promises.
01:17:55.796 --> 01:17:57.756
- I wish you the best
01:17:58.173 --> 01:18:01.177
- with your life, with your love,
01:18:01.719 --> 01:18:03.721
- with your dream.
01:18:05.598 --> 01:18:10.686
- I say all of this knowing
well that I will miss you,
01:18:10.686 --> 01:18:13.772
- in the same way the boys miss you,
01:18:13.772 --> 01:18:16.483
- the way Havana misses you.
01:18:17.484 --> 01:18:20.696
- Always, with love,
01:18:21.071 --> 01:18:23.073
- Claudia
01:18:48.349 --> 01:18:50.809
(wind blows)
01:19:26.553 --> 01:19:29.014
(soft music)
01:20:02.923 --> 01:20:05.592
(crickets chirp)
01:20:24.486 --> 01:20:26.905
(wind blows)
01:20:28.699 --> 01:20:31.368
(fire crackles)
01:20:36.165 --> 01:20:38.584
(soft music)
01:21:59.456 --> 01:22:02.334
(soft piano music)
01:22:15.931 --> 01:22:18.392
(wind chimes)
01:22:34.032 --> 01:22:36.493
(birds chirp)
01:23:17.534 --> 01:23:20.120
(upbeat music)
Distributor: Pragda Films
Length: 65 minutes
Date: 2016
Genre: Expository
Language: Spanish
Grade: Middle School, High School, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
The is title is available for licensing on the Pragda STREAM site.
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Docuseek? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Mexican American artist Ana Teresa Fernández imagines a creative way to…
A lively rejoinder to Bolivia's status as a dumping ground for the world's…