The Tsugua Diaries (2021) - full transcript

Present

With the participation of

A film by

THE TSUGUA DIARIES

Day 22

Day 21

I barely slept last night.

Nightmares?

- Mosquitoes?
- Mice?

Yearnings?

I don’t know...



I was feeling really weird
in that room.

It’s a little better out here.

Poor thing.

We could have a party.

We could use some dancing.

You think so?
No one will show up.

C’mon!
Don’t be so negative.

I don’t like parties.
They’re all the same.

It’s just people talking
to each other and nobody listens.

I get bored.

You don’t know how to act
around other people.

Look who’s talking.

I’m shy.

Sure you are.



Sure you are.

I get embarrassed around people.

I have no patience for them,
so they have no patience for me.

You two are horrible beings.
And, on top of that, you smell terrible!

Look, you can see
the sea from up here.

- That’s not the sea.
- Sure it is.

I can’t see a thing.

But it’s okay for sunning.

The mystical droplet is about
to come loose.

Day 20

Eek...

Come here.

Gurué.

Come here!

Come here!

Gurué, come here!

Let’s go!

Day 19

It’s not rotten yet...

Oops...

Look at that.

Aim at it.

Score, almost!

Let’s try that one.

Here.

Hey!

C'mon man!

We could throw a party.
We could use some dancing.

You think so?
No one will show up.

Don’t be so negative.

I don’t like parties.
They’re all the same.

It’s just people talking
and nobody listens.

I get bored.

Don’t you know how to act
around other people?

I’m shy.

Sure you are.

I get embarrassed around others.

I have no patience for people,
so people have no patience for me.

C’mon!

Oh... I suck at this game.

We could throw a party.

We could use some dancing.
- You think so?

No one will show up.

Don’t be so negative.

I don’t like parties.
They’re all the same.

It’s people talking
and nobody listens.

I get bored.

Don’t you know how to act
around other people?

I’m shy.

Sure you are.

I get embarrassed around people.

I have no patience for them,
so they have no patience for me.

C’mon!

Day 18

How’s it going?

Good!

Have you been feeling better?

Yeah!

Well, I hope this is
what you were looking for.

Hmm...

Let me place this...

Over here.

Here.

Here.

Could you put that somewhere else?
- Ah!

Where should this go?

Over there.

Day 17

That’s too much.
Look.

No, it’s not.
It’ll work later.

What matters is over there.
- Are you pulling it to you?

No, but it’s got
to be tight on this side.

Hit it over there.

Go, do one more.

Do one more.

- Here?
- There.

No, further over there.

- Over here?
- That’s it, yeah.

Stretch it.
- It’s not going to work.

If we staple it here,
it’s going to tear.

Well, it might work.
Let’s try it.

No.
Try this one.

- That one is too loose.
- Try the other,

this one is a waste of time...

But they’re the same,
in terms of height.

Try it now...
Let me see.

In the middle.
- No, in the middle, down below.

Yeah, that’s it.

The ladder is kind of in the way.

Right.

Are you in the middle?

I am!

Keep it as wide as you can.

- Wait, this one came loose.
- What do you mean?

Come on, hit it.

You should have stapled it...
Did you hit it just once?

No, I think I hit it twice.

Okay, then.

We’ll fix it later.
Hit it, João!

I don’t know what do,
it isn’t working.

What?

What’s the matter?

What?

Didn’t you want me to staple it?

Yeah.
But neatly...

Look at that.

Look.
- What do you mean, neatly?

It’s all loose.
Stretch it!

Loosen it, more, more.

That's good because when it’s tight
it’s going to look like this.

Day 16

Hey, how’s it going?

All good.

What are you doing?

Let’s take our clothes off!

We should all get naked!

What’s wrong with you?

Stark-naked!

You keep acting up.

You two are really uptight.

You’re taunting us.

You’re overly sensitive.

- You’re not right in the head.
- I’m doing just fine!

Day 15

Open it.

Day 14

Here, put it over on this side.

Turn it around.

Wait a minute.

Do it!

Let me just see if...
Wait a minute.

Auch!
Fuck!

Dear, we started building
a butterfly house today.

I can’t remember whose idea
it was anymore,

and I don’t think
it’s going to work out.

The mood has been heavy
since yesterday.

I haven’t been thinking as much about you
and I didn’t think about that song again.

Okay, but I am cool.

I’m calm.

I’m not the one
who needs to take it easy.

Fuck...

I can take it.

But I’m only doing this for us,

because we have an agreement,
and I’m a professional.

I’m doing this for you.

I don’t give a fuck
about anyone else.

Come here.

Gurué.

Come here.
Come on.

Come on.

Day 13

Carloto, did you go surfing
on your day off?

Carloto,
I’m talking to you.

Is it true you went surfing
on your day off?

- What’s it to you?
- Are you kidding me?

I’ve been stuck here for a month,
I can’t leave,

and you're selfish enough
to go surfing on your day off?

Knowing what’s out there?
- Someone got shellfish, right?

What if the shellfish were infected?

Having stuff delivered is one thing,

bringing things in is another.

Some of us are over 60, at-risk,

you really want that
on your conscience?

It’s really irresponsible, man!

Not to mention that the whole production
might have to shut down,

because you went surfing.

I’m sorry, I think we all agree
we can’t go on like this.

I think it’s clear to everyone.

- Everyone?
- It’s impossible!

We have a scene to do together,

and after this
I don’t think it will be possible.

You don’t think it’s possible?

I don’t!

I mean, we have
a kissing scene together...

Right now,
I don’t feel safe to do it.

I’m not kissing anyone!

I’m not kissing anyone!
- You’re not kissing anyone?

That’s what I just said!

And I think we all agree, I mean,
there’s no point in risking...

I don’t know, Crista.
I think that...

maybe there’s no need
for that, right?

We wait for two or three days,
and in the meantime

we perform the scenes at a distance...

like the Portugal Film Commission
recommends...

and after those three days we’ll see
if he’s showing any symptoms.

I don’t think those three days are enough.

Unless he is asymptomatic, they are.

I’m asymptomatic.

There’s no way for you
to know that right now, Carloto.

There’s one thing I don’t get.

Those decisions aren’t yours to make.

It's up to Miguel and Maureen,
the directors.

I’m sorry, but it wasn’t up to you
to decide to go surfing either,

when we had an agreement.
- I am more experienced than you,

and I know what I’m talking about.
This is not how it's done.

But this doesn’t just concern
the directors.

It concerns everyone.
It’s about everyone’s health!

No one is trying
to take charge of the film.

You guys disinfected everything
you brought with you?

How can I trust
that your objects were clean?

But we know that up to...

This is pointless!
- You really think that’s an argument

you can make here, now?

Carloto...

maybe the surfing thing...

is a bad idea.

Next time you can’t...

go out.

You’ll stay here.
Like everyone else.

Crista...

maybe you’re being overly dramatic...

because there’s a really small chance,
statistically speaking,

of him having caught it.

I don’t think
it’s that serious.

João, I liked what you said.

It was to the point
and you were helpful,

your words were to
the effect of us keeping on doing the film

and we can change a thing or two,

so everyone is safe.

Any other suggestions?

Maybe the crew have something to say

about this situation?

We could stay 22 feet apart
from Carloto, for one.

Get him his own bathroom.

Postpone the kissing scene.

Or rewrite it.

I mean, that would be a job for you.

I can do it.

Do what?

The kissing scene.

- What? Instead of Carloto?
- Instead of Carloto, sure.

C’mon, let’s be real.
Look, I’m with Carloto.

Everything is fine by me.

That’s easy for you to say,
you’re not kissing him.

Does anyone know if the beach
was very crowded?

The beach was empty
and there was a pandemic of jellyfish.

Velella.

Listen, I really
appreciated everyone’s input

but it’s a bit windy right now
so I think we should head inside.

Let’s go then, please.

- Did we cut?
- Okay, let’s go.

Day 12

Day 11

Carloto!

You’re wearing my socks.

These socks?

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Those are my socks.

I’m sorry.
But I need these socks.

I can really use them.

I need objects
so I can feel like someone else,

so I can distance myself
from my Carloto-self,

I need stuff to distance myself...

You could lend them to me,
just for a few days.

It would be good for the film.

I get that.
But I also need my socks.

But community spirit is important.

We’re all here for
the same thing, right?

I don’t think the socks
have anything to do with that.

They’re just socks.

But I like them.

Day 10

Tina!

Tina?
Tina!

Tina!

Tina!

Tina!

That’s annoying!

Tina!

Tina!

(in Romanian)

Maybe the dog is hungry!

Come here,
come here Tina!

Here!

Come check the air filter.

Here you go!

Easy.

Easy, I’ll give you some more.

Check if there’s gas in the tank.

There is, but we can
fill it up some more.

And is there water on the radiator?

Take a look.

Day 9

Places!

Smiles.

Look sexier!

Tina is over there pissing
by the magazines.

Carloto, what’s the dog doing there?

Go get it out of there!

Get it out!

Tina, get out.

Tina, out.

Out!

Okay, let’s shoot!

A cloud is passing
and the sky will darken,

then it clears,
then it darkens again, then it clears.

After that I think we’re good.

Okay, I want to shoot!

Okay, silence please,
we’re going to shoot.

- Places.
- Okay, silence!

Okay, we’ll set up on the cloud.
Sound.

There’s a chainsaw, man.
Just wait, it will...

Okay, man...

Carloto, what’s that
earing doing in your ear?

Can’t you cut the chainsaw out?

Take the earing out, please.

- But I was wearing it in the other scene.
- Take it out!

Vasco, just roll sound, man!

First, it’s going to get cloudy.
Then, when it clears, we’ll shoot ...

Okay, places!

- We’re rolling!
- Look sexier!

- He’s still wearing the earring.
- Shush!

Marker!

It doesn’t come off that easily.

Okay, so the cloud is going to pass

and I think we can hold the shot.

Also, if the sky covers up,

you’ll have a version
that starts in the sun.

If we do one in the sun and
another in the shade, you'll have both.

Are we rolling or not?
Is the camera rolling?

Then you can choose
one of them to work from.

Right, Miguel?

Places.

Look at me.

Look at me, slowly.

Day 8

The question is not as much whether...

I think I can speak for everyone.

We’re very open to the process
as it was laid out, but...

there’s some undefinition
that leaves us a little...

in a place where
we can’t give as much.

We don’t know what we’re shooting
on the day before or on the very day...

So what it comes down to,

is we’re doing chores,

physical work,
that needs to be done

in the farm

and we’re kind of in an...

undefined place.

I think it’s like Crista is saying.

It's this undefinition...

that’s not helping us help you.

But we’re happy.

We’re finding that,
overall, it’s been a good performance.

Things have been happening,

and they've been doing so
in the succession of days

that, in this film,
have a reverse chronology,

so that what Crista
or Carloto and João do ‘today’

goes back to yesterday.

So that,
first we see today, then yesterday.

So that it just doesn’t exist,

the question of what a character will do,
what their life is like,

what's going on,
what was wrong when they woke up,

they have to solve this or that,
well, not here.

There’s nothing for them to solve.

It goes back.
It goes back and

I think it fits the kind of work

that you have been doing.

And I think you’ve been doing it
in a way that...

both Maureen and me,

we’re happy with.

We’re proud of you.

I mean, I don’t think anyone here
is clinging to the idea of character,

but the thing is that day after day

we’re performing the same task,

and with contradicting directions,

to the point where,

we find ourselves performing tasks
that aren’t ours to perform,

and I think that’s
where things begin to...

But what you just said, isn't that
the definition of an actor’s job?

Performing tasks that aren’t
your everyday tasks, so...

Right, but yesterday I think it went
beyond an actor’s job.

The creation of the characters
was based on some of Mariana's ideas,

so maybe she can...

It’s not the character...
that’s not it.

Maybe she can explain it better.

I think we’ve had
this conversation before.

But just so we can give you some guidance,
if that's what you’re asking for,

or what you’re missing.

Our idea for creating the characters

or the narrative for this film

was never based on
biographical information.

If the character went to school,

or if they worked,
if they had an okay childhood, or didn’t,

none of that
is going to matter to us.

The very sequence of events,

or the events themselves
during the film

may not be what

gives a character direction either,

but rather what
we capture from each of you

and the idea, which is based on
something Maureen suggested,

as this is something

that she is very interested in exploring,
is capturing...

those elements
around which a character is built,

through carrying out tasks,

we could shoot and observe

and work from there,
capturing, maybe,

something from Crista we like
and building from there,

the same with Carloto,
the same with João,

so maybe that construction
has more to do with that,

and less with information
about the character

or the narrative we could,
give you, you know?

But the question is
you’re not letting us,

and I think that’s the source
of our confusion,

you’re not letting Crista,
João and Carloto perform those activities,

you're conditioning us just being here,

just doing things...

Because maybe if I was the one
deciding what I was going to do

I would be picking up fruit
instead of doing some other task.

Or João, maybe he’d want
to push the wheelbarrow, or...

Do you agree, Maureen?

Do you understand
what we’re saying?

I think she said yes.

I do. I mean, I do.
If you’re uncomfortable or unhappy with

the actions we’ve been proposing,

this is a collaborative work too,

we’re creating new things
together every day,

so we can think of
other things and other actions,

but creating the characters’ stories,
the relationship between them,

a trajectory, that is not,
at all, what we’re after.

Day 7

João Nunes Monteiro.

Carloto Cotta.

Crista Alfaiate.

I want to thank you
for coming to this morning meeting.

You are very kind.

Maureen is getting
another ultrasound today.

I’m going with her.

But the film can’t stop.

So we decided that you’re going
to keep it going without us.

Today, you’ll be the directors.

Seeing as the film is pretty open,

you can film whatever you feel like.

There are no restrictions.

I mean, you should finish by
eight thirty PM

so that the crew can rest,

as they are very tired
because their rooms are full of mosquitoes

that won’t let anyone sleep.

Any questions?

Crista!

So, we can suggest a scene
and it gets shot in the afternoon?

Right.

Does each of us suggest a scene
or do we have to agree on a scene

that the three of us will film?

Work it out.

What are we going to do?

What?

What are we going to do?

Yeah.

I mean...

what if
we think about it later?

I agree.

You do?

I do.

Check, ah, check.
Wait, there’s something here.

Wait a minute.

We can’t sing any songs, can we?
Because of the copyrights...

So...

we would like to communicate
an important piece of information,

a warning,

to the population around here...

There’s a plague of...

There’s a plague of dicks.

Bison dicks.

Wholly.

Wholly.

Woolly.

Woolly.

Fuck, talk about wasting film.

Day 6

Come here,
come here.

Fuck, the water’s freezing.

We have to.

There.

Now we just need to scrub.

Now aim here.

Aim here.
Here.

More, more.

Here, here.
Aim at my hand.

Aim at my hand.
That’s it.

At my hand.
Aim it...

I’m aiming at your hand.

At all of your hands!

Dear, today I have a toothache.

It’ll pass.

The animals here
don’t make a lot of noise.

Just the parrots.

I think they’re
the sonic memory of the house.

They mimic sheep,
car honks, tractors,

mechanical diggers and old boleros.

A historian could write
a dissertation using these parrots.

The weather’s been cold,

for August,

but tonight

it’s really hot.

Day 5

See you soon.

See you soon!

Good luck!

Where are we going to shoot?

Hey, Maureen.

Miguel?

Are you out of the doctor's yet?

You’ve got to make it quick;
we're shooting here.

Really?
What are you shooting?

This and that.

Listen, I'm out of
the doctor's, yes,

and I have bad news.

Everything’s fine with the baby,

but there’s a risk of premature birth,

and, well, I can’t go on
shooting like this.

The doctor said that I should rest,
that I have to be on my back,

at least for the weekend,
until I get another ultrasound.

But it’s very likely that
I’ll always have to...

be on my back,
either in bed or on the couch,

so I don’t know how we’re going to
be able to work like this.

Hello?

Miguel?

Cat got your tongue?

Day 4

They found a woolly mammoth.

A what?

The woolly mammoth.

A wowee mammoth?

A mammoth who had hair
on his back.

And they found it now?

They did.
Inside a dog’s stomach.

Bizarre.

But a dead dog,
who died 14 thousand years ago.

It must have been
a really funny creature, right?

- Yeah.
- If it was able to eat mammoth.

But how did the dog?

Look up the image online.
Mammoth, woolly mammoth.

Woolly, not holy mammoth.

Moly hammoth.

No. Woolly mammoth.

It’s a cute animal!

Woolly or hairy?

Woolly, woolly!

Woolly.

Are you sure it’s not hairy?

Hairy?
Is it hairy?

Exactly.

Woolly or hairy mammoth was the last
species of mammoth that adapted

to the northernmost
regions of the planet.

Compared to other species of Mammuthus,
these animals are modest-sized,

roughly the same as
modern African elephants.

Modest-sized...

Modest-sized.
Let me see the picture.

Modest?
This doesn’t look that modest to me.

Look, just look at that!
- Oh, it wasn't a mammoth.

Rhinoceros?

No! It wasn’t a mammoth,
it was a rhinoceros.

I’m sorry.
It was a rhinoceros.

Woolly rhinoceros.

Wait a minute.

Mammoths we knew about,
but not woolly rhinoceroses.

Woolly rhinoceros.
Here it is.

Right!

Hey, people!

People!

Alright, let’s move on
with this pool scene.

Carloto, hose.

Crista...

broom.

João, broom.

Why do I get the broom?

I don’t know, you just do.

Okay, sound!

Okay, silence, please,
over in the kitchen!

Four A over two, fifth.

Marker!

Action!

I saw a tractor,

over there on the garage,

I think we could use it...

in the film.
- Right.

But did you have
a specific scene in mind?

- A tractor moves...
- Hmm...

And then...

and then we’ll see.

Maybe one of them
could ride the tractor.

Okay.

Maybe João.

And do you know
if he can drive it?

If he can’t,
maybe Carloto can...

or Crista.

And we could put it in the film.

I’m not sure
I see the point.

A scene with the tractor moving...

and that’s it.

They move around here,
in this space, right?

- Yes, but...
- The tractor is really beautiful.

The tractor itself?

It’s really beautiful.

Okay.

But do you have any idea where...
In the middle of the...

Not yet.
Not just yet.

Okay.

That idea sounds too stupid.

Do you have anything better
than the tractor?

Well, there’s this book by Pavese
that I’m reading, rereading,

that I’d read maybe
10 years ago,

and that I brought here
because I remembered that story,

of some young people
who go out to a house in Piemonte

to spend a few days,
in the Summer,

and, well,
in the story as I remembered it,

it was two boys and a girl,

and so I thought it made sense
for me to bring that book.

It turns out it’s a lot more people,
but anyway...

they hang around the house,

doing nothing, it’s August...

and they never leave,
they’re always there.

I don’t know,

I think maybe there’s something there.
We can get some ideas...

Okay, we’ll read it!

Those are quinces!

They are.

Quinces.

I like quinces.

- Didn’t you see it? It was orange!
- No.

But look, there’s some over there.

There!

Did you see them?
- Yeah!

Look at that!
- Wait, wait...

There are so many!

Are you sure those are stars?
I think they’re extra-terrestrials.

No, they’re not.

Yeah, yeah.
I think they’re aliens.

Look over there!
There!

Day 3

Fuck, it smells bad!

It smells really bad!
It's stuck there.

Here, you’re going to need this.

That’s not going to work.

Sure it will!

- Sure it will...
- It will!

That’s it!
- That’s it!

- Done.
- What about the rest?

Hand it over.

- It’s disgusting.
- It’s coming.

Help me pull on it.

Eeek!
Watch out!

I’m all dirty.

- Eeeeek!
- Fuck.

It’s not going to be easy.

Doesn’t this have,
I don’t know,

a valve we can remove
and release some water?

We can’t go in the water like this.

Day 2

Thank you.

Is everyone still asleep?

They’re hungover!

Were you drinking too?

Me?
Yes, but not too much.

- Not too much?
- Not too much.

What about you?

I didn’t drink too much either.
I don’t need to drink a lot.

I get all...

You’re like me.

What about Adilsa?

She’s...

Is she still asleep?

She’s hungover,
what did you expect?

Here?

You chop them right away?

You want to chop them right away?
Right after you peel them?

Yeah. You peel them,
then you chop...

In little cubes, like this, right?

No, for the fish stew
I usually cut them in slices.

This one’s going in like this.

No problem. I usually cut them
like this for the fish stew.

Like this, like this.

- Is this okay?
- Cubes are good for cod in cream sauce.

Here!

Here, pretty doggie!

Come here!

Come here!

Let’s go!

Day 1

First of all,
I’d like to thank everyone

for your professionalism,

which allowed us to prepare
for the beginning of this shoot,

with everyone having
to test negative for Covid-19.

And that allows us to be here today,
beginning this shoot.

Anyway, I’d like to state some of the
Portugal Film Commission’s recommendations

regarding attention to symptoms.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19,
such as fever, coughing

or trouble breathing

must inform production immediately and
leave the shooting location straight away,

informing the National Health Service
immediately.

Regarding the cloths
to be used for cleaning,

Isabel and Adilsa know
how it has to be done,

but I think it’s important for everyone
to be aware of it:

cleaning cloths should
preferably be single-use, throwaway,

and differentiated by a colour code
for each of the areas,

according to the risk level.

As follows: countertops, tables,
chairs, restaurant sofas and offices,

among others, blue;

dining tables,
food preparation areas, green;

bathrooms,
for the sink only, yellow;

for the toilet,

just the outside of the toilet,
of course, red...

... presenting a negative result
to a Sars-Cov test

undertaken as near as possible
to the date of performing their scenes,

keeping isolated from then onwards,
as the test only determines

the subject’s condition at the
exact date when it’s undertaken.

That’s it,
for more information

you can access the following website,
which is constantly being updated

Alright, now I wanted to know
if any of you have any questions

or doubts about
what was just said.

I do have a question.

It doesn’t exactly have to do with
the Commission’s rules,

but maybe it does have something
to do with hygiene, I don't know.

Which is about breakfast.

I came in
and usually the first thing I do

is open the refrigerator
and check out what’s there.

So I opened the fridge
and there was a bottle of milk.

And it was half empty, so I asked
what’s it going to be like,

for breakfast,
is there milk?

Yes, there’s always milk.

And where is it?
It’s in the fridge.

No, in there’s a glass of milk there,
but it’s not milk.

I drink a cup, it’s gone,
and then the next one

doesn’t even have milk...
- Come on Vasco!

- And I didn’t... Really...
- Vasco!

For starters,
the milk wasn’t yours to begin with,

it was Mariana’s, okay?

And that's for 1.

If it’s Mariana’s,
why is it in the fridge?

For 2.
You shouldn’t even be addressing that,

we’re talking about
something else.

That conversation
was had previously by email.

Right...

And in those emails,
in case you don’t remember it...

What emails?

Everyone was asked
what they wanted for breakfast.

Right, but I didn’t answer your email
because it was...

I wasn’t the one
who sent the email,

I got that email too...

Asking people about breakfast? Alright.

- Exactly.
- I like blueberry jam

with cinnamon and...

That's what you wrote back?

No, I didn't...

What I'm saying is that

there should be a basket
with the basics.

Milk, bread, butter,
you don’t need to...

People don’t need to say “I like butter".
Everybody likes butter.

A basket with the basics...
- Did you answer the email?

No. It was...
Did anyone answer?

I didn’t because it was stupid.

Did you answer the email?

Nobody did.

What?
Everyone’s saying they did.

I’m asking you,
did you answer the email?

- They didn’t.
- Did you?!

- It’s stupid!
- Did you answer?!

This film was shot in lockdown regime,
between August 17th

and September 10th 2020

Featuring

With

As well as

For Helena

Translated by
Francisca Cortesão