Kamchatka (2002) - full transcript
The film is seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy, Harry (Matías del Pozo), who does not know that Argentina's 1976 coup d'état is impacting his life. After witnessing the "disappearance" of dissident friends, a human rights lawyer (Ricardo Darín) and his research scientist wife (Cecilia Roth) flee the city and hide from the military police in a vacant summer house. With them are their two kids: Harry, who is fascinated with the escape artistry of Harry Houdini, and El Enano, his little brother. (Translated as "Little Guy" in the English subtitles, played by Milton de la Canal. The actual translation is "dwarf".) The family adopts new identities and attempts to lead a normal life. Later, they are joined by a student who is using the alias Lucas (Tomás Fonzi). Their new life is difficult, but a visit with their estranged grandparents (Fernanda Mistral and Héctor Alterio) reveals that they are still a close-knit family. Subtly hinted, however, and used as a metaphor, is the mother's constant smoking and El Enano's renewed bed-wetting. Both serve to show how stressful and precarious their situation is.
When I grow up,
I wanna be a saint.
I told you before, Simon
Templar isn't a real saint.
What's this? Who are you?
Get out!
Let me go!
Let me go!
What will you do with us?
Don't waste your time.
Perhaps he won't return.
The ship needs him.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
- Who is it?
- Some idiot.
How come you don't know the
name of any classmate?
- They're all stupid.
- No way!
- Is that too tight?
- Tighter.
- Tighter?
- Tighter.
- I'm making it tight.
- Perfect.
Perfect.
- I'll time you.
- Stay on that side!
- On the other side?
- But don't look, okay?
Let's see...
If it's a minute,
you're "Houdini".
If it's 2, you're "Averagini".
More than 3, you're "Louserini".
- Come on!
- Ready?
- Yes.
- Go, go!
Hey, if you shit on your pants,
you're out.
Don't you have any friends?
Of course I do.
When do you see them?
Never.
Don't you ever feel
like calling them?
What if you call them?
Would they tell you off?
No. Why?
I'm a fugitive and I don't
wanna put them in danger.
And the way things are...
You're my only friend, now.
You're all I've got.
Well, you and your family.
Come on! You're 30 seconds
away from losing.
Did you hear me?
Sit up. It was too
tight, you could say so!
Or do I have to teach you to
speak as well? Give me your hand.
That's it.
- Does it hurt?
- I can't feel anything.
Give me the other hand.
If it's too tight
it cuts off your bloodstream.
- Better? - What if
they don't come back?
Mom and Dad, what if
they don't come back?
- We got held up.
- Are the kids asleep?
- Did they eat okay?
- We had to avoid...
...the military check-out points.
- Harry was a bit sick.
I'm here, sweetie.
Call me if you need me.
I know you're awake, you know,
'cause I gave you birth.
Of all my scientific experiments,
which I did a lot...
...you're the one
that came out best.
I don't care if
I'm talking nonsense...
...or drooling your ear...
...or if I sound
like Bertuccio's mom.
My sweet,
my darling little boy...
Keep all the kisses.
I love you.
Dad didn't agree, as usual. But
I convinced him. So we leave...
...first thing Saturday
and return Sunday night.
Yes! We're going to
grandpa's birthday.
Yippee!
We're going!
- Can Lucas come? - I invited
him but he's got stuff to do.
- The oil's burning! - Get out
of my way, I'm in a hurry.
- Let me help.
- Okay, come here.
You gotta add some stock to
the egg to make it tastier.
- Where did you pick that up?
- Bertuccio's mom told me.
- She's a genius. - What a
concept of genius you've got!
So it's the same: Einstein,
Michelangelo and Bertuccio's...
...mother who is a fat ass!
- She's not fat. - Move...
She's always at home and
she helps with his homework!
Yes, but you never need help.
It's burning.
You finish frying them, okay?
Be careful with the oil.
Any problems,
ring Bertuccio's mom.
- Are you serious?
- No, just kidding. I was kidding!
- You gotta go?
- Yes.
- Where?
- A meeting at work.
- You were fired!
- They fired me from the lab.
But I still have
stuff to do.
- More important than us?
- No, never.
So stay here, then.
You can't ask me to do
something wrong. Not you.
You know, your dad's old now.
He won't be with you
much longer.
If he gets on your nerves,
take a deep breath...
...and count to ten.
Do you do that every night?
I wish she did.
But we hear you every night
going "Ah, ah, ah..."
Look at him. He's been
asleep the whole journey.
No, remember, he woke up in
La Plata asking about vaccines.
"Daddy, daddy, do you have to
be vaccinated to be a saint?"
Look what he did!
- I almost strangled him!
- Don't give him hell, he hasn't...
...wetted the bed today.
Well, I got up 3 times to take
him to pee but it was worth it.
- I got up once.
- And me twice more!
- I can't believe it. - That's why
he looks like a zombie. - Zombie!
Happy birthday, grandpa!
Thank you. I see you still
have that old heap!
With two boys, it's the best
car to have. Happy birthday.
Open it!
Open it!
Oh, my favorites!
- Mom, are they chocolate?
- No, they're real.
- Happy birthday, grandpa.
- More gifts! Let's see.
I don't know if you want to
please me or kill me?
Whisky and cigars!
You know when I last
saw you?
- When?
- 6 months and 12 days ago.
It's not your fault.
...8, 9, 10. And now?
Do I start again?
Take a deep breath.
First, second, third, fourth...
...and reverse.
Again, but harder.
- That's it, good.
- First...
...second, third...
...fourth... - Tell me,
your friend from China?
- Japan!
- China, Japan...
How is he doing?
- He changed school last year.
- Really?
What about... what's his name,
Bertutti?
- Bertuccio!
- Bertuccio.
How's Bertuccio doing?
Don't tell me he
also changed school!
- No, I did.
- Really?
To a religious school run by
a priest friend of dad's.
Since we've been going, my
brother wants to be a saint.
We live in the suburbs.
Mom was fired from the lab.
Dad had to shut down...
...his law office.
Some militars broke into it...
...and destroyed everything, they
seized Roberto, his partner.
Sometimes he works at home.
Before, he used to work in
pubs but there were...
...a lot of policemen around.
Promise me something.
Grandpa.
Grandpa.
- Yes.
- Don't fight.
Not this time.
If I'm not wrong,
there should be one here.
- What's that smell?
- Mothballs.
That's how things last for
so long. Here we go.
This one.
Let's see...
I knew it would fit.
This is all like it always
was, right?
I mean, when dad was a kid.
Just the same.
Why didn't you change it?
- Into a playroom!
- For me?
In a way, it is a playroom,
the way it is.
It's my time machine.
Whenever I come to dust,
I sit here and look around...
...and remember things.
You miss him, don't you?
You want to know if I go
around weeping like a fool?
No, I don't.
But I like to remember
the good old times.
We gotta find a reed...
...as thick as a finger,
more or less.
Hollow it, then you can use
it to breathe under water.
- This one? - No, as thick
as my finger not yours.
If not, you can't breathe!
- But there aren't any that thick.
- There are a lot, look.
All right.
Schools always need teachers.
That could be a temporary
solution, at least.
Try and convince him.
If I do...
...he won't listen. If his
dad does, hell's gonna burn.
You know how they are,
two of a kind.
Come in, love.
We're also to blame.
Why? 'Cause we taught him to
take love, but not to give it.
They love each other whether
fighting or playing tough.
You know what it's like
to live with 3 brutes.
But then, when they grow up
and can't fight any more...
Nothing will change. Someway,
they'll fight differently.
You won't be like that,
will you, dear?
The situation's tough, dad,
militars kill people every day.
We want to be together
as much as we can.
Is it so hard
to understand?
- Come on, pour.
- It'll hurt.
- You must see a doctor!
- Pour.
David Vincent is brave
and doesn't cry.
- Are you okay?
- Yes.
Poor bird, eh?
- Can I take one?
- Yes.
Here.
Then it's bath time, ok?
All right.
See you up there.
No, wait.
Hang it round your neck.
Like that.
- Press here, right?
- Yes. This one to shoot...
...and turn here
to wind the film.
- What are you doing?
- I'm taking a photo.
No, don't, really.
I hate photos.
You can take one of all this,
or that duck...
- Who cares about the duck?
- Go on, take one, but not of me.
I always come out with
a stupid grin on my face...
...and you wonder, "What was
this guy thinking about?"
What are you
thinking about now?
That my son's a pain in the ass
taking photos...
...when I don't want.
- Come on, dad, tell me.
That we should've come here
more often.
And... why don't we stay?
Because we can't.
Look at me.
Hey, look at me.
Look at me now.
Look at me now.
We can't, son.
We can't.
We can't.
Do you understand?
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Grandpa...
... happy birthday to you.
Blow!
Bravo!
What a lot of smoke!
Move together for a photo.
Cheer up a bit, please.
- Grandpa's teaching me
to drive. - I wanna learn, too.
- Tell grandpa he's nuts.
- He told me you'd say that.
He also told me to tell you
that you learned to drive...
...when you were
younger than me.
That's better.
Sleep, little baby...
... your mommy's in the field.
Leave him, you big boy.
You'll wake him.
May I?
- Look, a shooting star!
- Where?
There. Didn't you see it?
It's gone now. It fell.
When your mom and dad
were engaged...
...we'd sit here after dinner,
looking at the sky.
There were lots of Russian and
US satellites and capsules then.
On a moonless night, you
could see them. We did once.
Mom and her satellite!
It was a shooting star!
- It was a red light!
- No! Red was the wine you had.
What's a shooting star?
If you stare at the sky
without blinking...
...you might see a star...
...come and go...
...at 1000 mph.
- Goodnight all.
- See you tomorrow.
- Come here, grandpa. - No,
you're going to make me fall.
Careful, be careful.
Who's gonna get me up now?
- He will, he's the strongest in
the family. - Stay there, grandpa.
If I get cold, not even a crane
will get me out of here!
They're called
shooting stars...
...but they are really meteorites
or bits of rock...
- No, no science, please!
- Sure?
- Yeah.
- I can't see anything.
You have to be patient.
If you see one,
you can make a wish.
- What have wishes to do with
stars? - Honestly I don't know...
...but they always come true.
I made one once, right here.
- And it came true.
- Really?
Whatever, but
I'm sure it was a satellite.
For God's sake, mom!
- Look, another one!
- Where?
There, look.
You're a liar, mom!
Shooting stars are stones...
... that burn up when they
get close to the atmosphere.
Mom was right about that.
For some reason...
... they are directly
related to wishes.
Dad was right about this.
I watched and watched
till my eyes burnt...
... but I didn't see anything.
That must be why
my wish didn't come true.
Lucas!
Lucas!
Lucas!
You're gonna knock me down.
What happened to the lights?
A local blackout.
What's up?
You got a minute?
Give your mom a hand
before it rains. Come on!
Dead toad!
Dead toad!
This isn't a hole.
It's an elevator.
We'll put it there so
it can go straight...
...to toads' heaven.
I'm gonna wash my hands.
I gotta go.
Now?
You'll get soaking wet!
- Your dad's taking me to
the station. - Can I go?
- No.
- Why not? It's just a second.
It's late.
I waited just to say goodbye.
I'm going, Harry,
this time for good.
- Do you really have to go?
- Yes.
Why?
Wrong question.
Is that it, then?
"Bye", I turn and leave?
- Aren't we friends?
- Friends?
What for? We'll never
see each other again.
- I left my orange T-shirt.
- Go get it yourself.
Lucas! Lucas!
If they ask, say I'm ill.
- Mom's gonna be mad.
- Say you don't know.
Say we went in together
and you didn't see me again.
Okay? Go on,
I'll meet you here.
Oh, I forgot.
Your comic.
Three requirements...
... distinguish the professional
escapist from the amateur.
First, discipline.
The escapist knows
his task is a daily one...
... arduous and restless.
A ticket to Buenos Aires.
Second, concentration. The
escapist must distinguish...
... the important
from the superfluous.
The last requirement
is courage.
The escapist needs it...
... to see his task
through to the end.
Good morning.
- Is Bertuccio in? - No, he's not
back. He's at his aunt's.
That's a pity.
- Tell him I called by.
- Of course, dear.
Can I come by another day?
Yes, but phone first.
The Houdini book tells
a lot of things.
Where he was born,
who his parents where...
... how he became famous...
... what his most difficult
stunts were.
The only thing
it doesn't tell...
... is how he managed
to escape.
He's coming!
Mom, Dad, he's coming!
Mom, Dad, he's here!
Mom, Dad, he's here!
My little boy,
my little boy.
That night we had
a historic match.
Spain to Great Britain with 3.
With 2.
I immediately began
to beat my dad.
I was beating him by far.
Brazil to Sahara with 3.
You move your counters,
I'll move mine, okay?
At the crucial point...
... I controlled
forty-nine countries.
Forty-nine!
And he had only one.
Siberia to Kamchatka with 3.
China to Kamchatka with 3.
Japan to Kamchatka with 3.
Wait!
I'm regrouping!
- May I explain?
- Shut up and play!
Add three.
Pass.
China to Kamchatka with 3.
This went on for hours.
Kamchatka versus
the rest of the world.
But I couldn't beat him.
Kamchatka to Siberia, 3.
The following morning,
Dad called for action.
Hurry up!
Take him!
Mom?
What's wrong with dad?
They also got Oscar.
What do we do now?
Can I go to the toilet?
Wait till dad finishes.
I can go with him,
he's finished.
- There you go.
- Go out.
- Are you there?
- Yes.
Did you see all the people
out there eating?
Do you think they were
also called for action?
Faster! Faster!
PEDRO '75.
HARRY '76.
I need to know they'll
be safe from all this shit.
Do you know what I fear?
No, what?
Never ever seeing them again.
- What would you like?
- Coffee and milk.
Grandma is so happy
about your coming!
And the Little Guy?
He's asleep in the car.
I think that if he wakes and
you're gone, he'll be scared.
He's with mom.
I love you.
I'll wait by the van.
Be a good boy.
I love you very much.
And never forget...
The last time I saw him...
... my dad spoke of Kamchatka.
This time I understood.
Whenever I played...
... dad was with me.
When the game
got tough...
... I stayed with him
and survived.
Because Kamchatka...
... is the place to be
when you want to resist.
by Cachito