Dagli Appennini alle Ande (1990–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Episode #1.2 - full transcript
From the Apennines
to the Andes
- A bad dream?
- No.
Do you want to start
the penguin count so early?
Here.
Didn't you hear a moan?
No.
A sort of call.
Well, it could be an old penguin
that is saying hello to us from Brazil!
No, it wasn't a penguin.
It was a voice.
Like... someone crying.
Trust me:
you had a bad dream.
Huh?
Help!
Did you hear that?
Help me!
Look!
There's a boy!
Help!
Mom...
Dad...
The Vigan?s are
strange people.
Why don't you rest?
You've just come back
from the hospital.
I said "strange", because your son
freaked out when you fell ill,
but then he went skiing
as nothing had happened.
And you're taking it
as a personal offence.
Marco did the right thing,
in my opinion.
Why should he have stayed here alone,
at Christmas, without anyone?
If you really can't do without him,
call him and ask him to come back.
The skiing holiday should be over, now.
He must have got back to Geneva.
No, you don't know him.
He can't have done that.
We love each other too much. He can't
have left without saying goodbye to me.
- He did say goodbye.
- Something must have happened.
He rushed to the hospital
in the middle of the night.
I was there.
I saw him.
This drawer was forced open.
- Who broke it?
- What?
Look.
Vittorio...
- What's the matter?
- Call the school.
Please.
It doesn't look very deep.
But he has a high fever.
He needs a doctor.
The doctor will only come
in three days.
Get me an antiseptic.
- He's in bad shape.
- Of course he's in bad shape.
He must have been
in the water for hours.
See what's inside.
He's Italian.
His name is Marco Vigan?.
Poor boy. He must have
fallen off a tourist boat.
All we can do is
call the Port Authority.
The temperature keeps rising.
- That's mine!
- Relax.
Here.
Calm down.
Come on, Marco,
try to calm down.
What's that?
- She's very beautiful.
- Do you know her?
Do you know
where she is?
She's waiting for you.
She's waiting for you.
Now you need to heal.
Sir, I never wait for
the plane to leave.
Besides, Marco called.
- From where?
- From Geneva.
That's what he said, at least.
Calm down, Vittorio. Francesco has
explained it to you, hasn't he?
- What time did he call?
- I don't know... At night.
Maybe he just wanted to send
season's greetings.
I'm going to check my notebook.
I must have written down the time.
- Why don't you call the police?
- No, I know where he went.
Be reasonable: a child can't get
to Argentina alone.
- Why would he have done that?
- Because I didn't do that...
13 years ago.
So you're sure that...
I called the travel agency
I normally use;
they thought I was
in Buenos Aires.
That night, at the hospital,
Marco was telling me about his mother,
but I thought it was
his usual obsession.
Here it is. That was
Saint Stephen's night.
A man called from abroad, too.
Actually, he called several times.
I'm leaving
on the next flight.
Francesco, please book a flight
to Buenos Aires for me.
But you've just come back home.
It could be dangerous for you.
What do you think I should do?
Stay here and play sick?
While my son...
No, I have to move,
do something.
The doctors said I'm fine.
It would be worse if I stayed here
without doing anything for Marco.
You know me: anxiety and anguish
would kill me more than fatigue.
This gentleman,
Antonio Godoy...
Isn't he the man
who saved Marco?
Yes. He's the only friend
I had, and I have, over there.
- Talk to him, then.
- Yes, of course.
I'll see him there.
I need Antonio.
I want to come back with Marco,
and not disappear with him.
Desaparecida.
She's not dead.
That doesn't mean
she's dead.
She's not dead.
Mom is a desaparecida.
She's not dead.
I... will find her.
The fever isn't going down.
Carlo, go and get the midwife.
Yes, you're right.
Take this.
I'm going to get Alicia.
I've lived this moment before.
Was I with you or am I wrong?
I'm sorry, Laura.
I always end up
behaving badly with you.
Argentina must have
something against us.
Marco doesn't understand.
Actually, he doesn't believe in
friendship between a man and a woman.
And he's right,
especially if the man is his father and
the woman is his father's ex-fianc?e.
Maybe we both made a mistake.
I tried my best, though.
I even called him "Marcos",
as if he were Argentinian.
Antonio Godoy is waiting for me
in Buenos Aires.
I wonder if
he has changed, too.
- On the phone, his voice was the same.
- Marco recognized him right away.
During these years, I've tried
in vain to erase those memories.
Well, even if
it wouldn't deserve it...
a toast to Argentina!
OK?
Yes.
Here, Alicia.
I have to open the wound.
- It's infected. - Don't you think
we should take him to the hospital?
- How can he be moved in this condition?
- If we manage to make him swallow this,
he won't feel a thing.
What's that?
Milk with some herbs.
It'll make him sleep.
- Alicia, do you want some coffee?
- Yes, please.
- Carlo...
- Coming right up.
- Could you give me a hand?
- Sure.
Open his mouth.
That's it...
That's it.
Good.
Come on...
Now he'll sleep deeply.
- You have to give him
these pills, tomorrow. - Okay.
I'll come back
to check on him.
And I'll try to find out more about
his mother, assuming she really exists.
She'll come.
Of course she'll come.
I... have to go to my mother.
I know.
Hi.
It's been a long time!
How are you?
- Welcome back, Vittorio.
- Thank you, Antonio.
- Let me carry that.
- Okay.
- Did you have a good trip?
- Yes, it was good.
I called you immediately.
When he showed up
at my place unexpectedly,
I realized he had
run away from home.
- Why didn't you convince him to wait?
- You don't know how he was.
He looked out of his mind. If I hadn't
helped him, he'd have run away again.
- But he did run away again!
- Yes, and I still don't understand how.
He was happy, calm.
He was sleeping, when I left.
He was resigned
to that slight delay.
Maybe a thief broke into
his room.
Or maybe he had
a nightmare.
Marco doesn't get scared
that easily.
I don't understand.
Why is he so afraid of being found?
- Why did he run away like that,
on a fishing boat? - I don't know.
I don't understand
the reason, either.
It's true, it would have been better
to inform the police.
But I tried to avoid
an unnecessary scandal, Vittorio.
I'll never forgive myself.
- You're speaking as if you already knew...
- No, I assure you.
I don't know anything.
Really.
Marco appears to be lost at sea,
for the moment. That's it.
We'll resume the search
as soon as possible, don't worry.
I'll ask them to look for him
all along the coast and the beach.
We'll comb every single metre
of both the villages and the desert areas.
We'll sound the sea bottoms,
if necessary.
It's a huge area, but if there's
a chance we can find him,
we'll find him.
I promise.
Well, what's this?
A gathering?
What are you doing there?
Hi! How are you?
How is it going?
What are you doing?
Are you hiding?
Can I try?
Sure.
Come on, look.
What do you see?
I can't see anything.
It's out of focus.
You have to adjust the focus.
Ah!
Now you have to move it
slowly, like this.
What do you see?
- What do you see?
- The penguins!
Yes, the penguins.
And now... what do you see?
- So? What do you see?
- What's that thing on the right?
- Let me see.
- Look.
Ah, that's...
No! What are you doing?
Come on, I need to try
the shirt on him.
- Did you really have to choose
this moment? - Yes.
When women get in your way, you can't
work. There's no way around it.
- So, do you like it?
- It's beautiful!
Is anyone there?
Isabella?
Carlo?
Hey!
Hi!
Are you alone?
- Are you okay?
- Yes.
- You must be Alicia.
- Yes.
- Carlo said you'd come by someday.
- Really?
I'm Marco Vigan?.
We've already met, you know?
Maybe.
But I was delirious.
Right. I just wanted to know
how you were.
- I'm great!
- Well, I'm off, then.
- Aren't you going to wait for them?
- Those two? Oh, no.
When they go to town,
they lose their way. I'm going home.
Would you like to come
with me?
Yes, I'd like to.
Let's go.
Come on, tell me
something about you.
I came to Argentina
to find my mother.
You know,
she's a desaparecida.
But she's alive.
I saw her on TV.
Granted,
this country is endless,
but I'll find her.
I'm sure.
Carlo told me you, too, were arrested
and locked in a camp, like my mother.
It's been a long time.
Were there many different places
or one place for everyone?
There were
many different places.
Look!
Look how beautiful it is!
Why many different places?
Because one wasn't big enough
for all of us.
Did you meet my mother?
- There were thousands of us.
- You didn't disappear, though.
That's your point of view.
You're not missing
if nobody is looking for you.
That's true! My mother wasn't missing,
either, until I started looking for her.
Exactly.
Alicia, where are we going?
Isabella's expecting me home by 7 p.m..
We have to count the chicks.
We'll be back by 7 p.m..
So?
- Do you like it here?
- Definitely!
It's beautiful.
- You have a "green thumb".
- What does that mean?
It means you're good
at growing plants.
One of my school teachers
is obsessed with them.
He can even grow plants
on rocks!
Every plant, here, has a name.
A scientific name or a name
you gave to it?
No, a birth name.
For example,
its name is "Caterina".
It's 32 years old.
No, come on!
It would be a fossil plant!
It's 32 years
and 2 months old.
And what's this one called?
Germano.
Today is its birthday.
Happy birthday, then!
How are you?
Nice to meet you, Mr. Germano.
How are you, Miss Caterina?
Good to see you.
If you try to dig under those plants,
you won't find any roots.
None of them has roots.
None.
They're dead.
That's why I chose plants
and not crosses.
The dead and their corpses lie
in cemeteries.
They don't lie here.
Here are the images
of some people...
whose roots were cut when
they were transplanted far away.
Do you mean...
that each of these plants corresponds to
a dead person who has never been found?
More or less.
I knew every one of them.
And what's this one called?
Beatriz.
Beatriz Artieda.
She's not dead!
- What are you doing?
- My mom's not dead!
- You broke it!
- She's not dead! She's alive!
- Yes, yes. Sure.
- She's alive!
She's alive.
Yes.
She's alive.
Come, let's go inside.
Calm down.
- Where's Marco?
- He must have gone for a swim.
He told me he had found
an emerald cave.
Are you feeling okay?
Yes.
I'm sorry Marco is leaving.
After all, he has recovered, now,
and he's starting to get itchy feet.
Alicia believes
his mother's dead.
Why?
She can't be sure.
Because nobody knows her
or remembers her.
Argentina is big, but Marco will find her...
if someone doesn't stop him first.
But were we right
to believe that boy?
- We should call the police, or we'll get
into trouble, one of these days. - No!
Marco's right.
Someone is after him.
I'm sorry, Alicia,
but I really have to go.
Carlo and Isabella are
waiting for me.
I've made you
something really special.
Do you remember it?
With pine nuts and chocolate.
You liked it so much.
I'm crazy for chocolate.
I know.
Especially for
bitter chocolate.
Here.
It's milk with honey.
You liked it so much.
Don't you remember? It was
your favourite food for dinner.
You liked it more than
meat and potatoes.
No, it's not hot. Don't worry,
you won't burn yourself.
Drink it.
It's sweet.
What did you put in it?
Honey.
It's real milk, you know?
Like the one
I used to give you.
Do you remember?
I...
My little bull...
Your father used to tell you:
"You're Daddy's little bull."
You liked milk so much.
It really did you good.
You're so big and beautiful.
- What happened? Do you feel unwell?
- No, Alicia. I'm just fine, don't worry.
- Did you have a bad dream?
- No.
Don't be afraid.
Your mom is here, now.
And she'll never
leave you again.
Come on, let's go to bed.
Let's go and take a nice nap.
Carlo...
I'm starting to get worried.
It's very late.
Where could he have gone?
I have no idea.
It's a dog.
- I'll go and find him.
- What if someone had come to get him?
Who? He'd have waited for us,
if someone had come.
- What if the police had come?
- What?
Yes.
Marco said they were looking for him.
He heard that on the boat.
- He's afraid they'll kill him.
- Marco is a kid with too much imagination.
Alicia!
He's surely with her.
Wasn't she supposed to come
and check his wound?
This is Mom!
Yes, this is her!
"Bariloche Theatre"
"Bariloche"...
Marco...
Oh, you're already awake!
- Yes.
- And you had breakfast alone...
No, I wanted to go out
for a moment.
- Come, I'll make you some milk.
- No, no, thank you.
I'd rather some... tea.
Do you have some?
Yes, of course!
I have everything you want.
You want tea and biscuits,
don't you?
Come.
- Alicia!
- No...
You haven't drunk
your tea yet.
Alicia!
No!
Alicia!
Try again.
Maybe she's sleeping.
- What happened?
- Is Marco with you?
- You came to take him away from me!
- What's wrong with you?
No, my child hasn't
had breakfast yet.
Hi, Carlo.
Why?
No!
Why are you taking him away?
- Please leave him here with me.
- Alicia, calm down.
No!
- Alicia, please...
- Why? Please!
Thank you, Alicia.
It was nice sleeping with you.
And your cake was delicious.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Poor Alicia...
I can't believe it.
Marco's story upset her mind.
Poor woman...
You'll tell her I'm not angry
with her, won't you?
Yes, of course.
- It's exactly the same name, right?
- Right.
- And you said your mother could sing.
- It's her, there's no doubt.
- Look: she also has the same hairstyle.
- It's just a drawing.
Where's Bariloche?
Bariloche?
It's far. Very far.
OK, but by plane
I'll get there in no time.
There are no airports, here.
And the railway runs inland.
You can only
get there by car.
Is this the famous
four-lane highway?
No, this is the only road
leading to Bariloche.
- When is Juan going to arrive?
- Juan stops by once a month.
But nobody ever knows
what day, let alone what time.
He could stop by today.
If he doesn't stop by today,
he'll stop by tomorrow.
The only thing
we can do is wait.
You must be patient, Marco.
That's how things work in these parts.
Well, it'll take me two days to get there,
I'll spend another two at Mom's...
I should be back here
in a week at the latest.
- What makes you think your mother will
want to stay with us? - Are you kidding?
You saved my life.
Maybe Dad has already arrived.
He could come here with us.
So you'll finally get rid of that wreck
and Dad will give you a nice new car!
There he is!
Hey, Juan!
Juan!
Stop!
Juan!
Take this. Give it to your son,
when he's born.
No, you'll give it to him,
when we meet again.
Juan, I need a favour.
This Italian boy needs to get to Bariloche,
to visit his mother.
Could you give him a ride?
- Yes, sure. Okay.
- Thanks, Juan.
This way, you won't lose it.
It's all set.
Juan's very happy
to have company.
- What is it? - How long
will it take to get to Bariloche?!
I told you: 2-3 days.
Let's go.
This is Juan.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Marco Vigan?.
Good.
Come on, let's go.
Come on, get in.
Bye.
Et voil?, a gift for you!
It washes whiter than white!
Wash, rinse and admire!
The right product for you,
madam!
Once washed,
your penguin smells good!
Bye.
So, are you getting in or not?
Go.
Come on, go!
We found this several miles
from the point where the boy...
The backpack was on the beach.
The currents might have
carried him much further south.
My son, Luca, had given it
to him for the trip.
Marco couldn't believe
it's cold in the South.
Let's go.
Antonio, I want to go there,
to that damned beach.
Why?
There's nothing there.
Trust me;
it's unnecessary suffering.
I know.
This country swallows
everything I love.
Everyone always disappears.
Someone might have found
his body.
At least I'd have
a body to mourn.
Why, Vittorio?
Let's go.
- Can I ask you a question?
- Sure.
- How long will it take us
to get to Bariloche? - It depends.
- It depends... on what?
- On what we'll find on the road.
If we find some fair, we'll stop,
otherwise we'll keep going.
You have to earn this ride,
so you'll help me sell my merchandise.
Am I clear?
- Can you do that?
- Of course!
We'll see.
No, thank you.
Come, come! Your Juan is here,
with many nice things!
Come on, people!
Dresses, blouses!
Feel free to touch them!
Do you like it, madam?
Come on, ladies and gentlemen!
Today is a special day!
It's not a day like any other.
Make a gift to your children.
Look what a nice teddy bear!
Today is a day of wonders!
Juan has everything for everyone.
Come on, don't be put off
by the crowd. Come forward!
Wait, I have something for you.
Do you like these boots?
- How much do they cost?
- 300 australes.
They're expensive.
Can you give me a discount?
Expensive?
They're a specialty item.
"Made in Italy".
They are from the Vatican.
If you give me a discount,
I'll buy them.
Look, since you're so pretty,
I'll sell them for 250, okay?
- Okay, I'll buy them.
- Well done, you've got a bargain!
- Aren't you buying anything, madam?
- Buy, buy! I'm leaving!
It's 50 australes.
It's almost a free gift.
But the surprises are not over!
Here's another special offer:
buy three bottles of orange juice
and pay for two.
Only 5 australes.
5 australes.
Thank you.
1,450...
1,500.
Not bad for today.
1,500 australes.
My technique of
discounts works.
Discounts?
We can't give discounts.
Is that clear?
We have fixed prices.
It's wrong. You must first raise
the price and then give a discount.
It works, especially with women.
If you convince them
the discount is only for them,
they'll go home happy,
thinking they've got a bargain.
A client needs to believe you'd rip
anyone off but him or her.
Trust me;
it's a proven system.
We, Venetians, are
great merchants.
Oh, nonsense!
- I've been doing this job forever, and
I want to do it my way! - As you wish.
Sir...
- Sir...
- What do you want?
They'll be waiting for you
after dark.
- Why? - They want to talk
to you, down in the garden.
- Who wants to talk to me?
- I don't know.
Mr. Vigan?...
It's us.
We're here.
What do you want?
We want to talk to you.
- Why here?
- Because you're alone.
Today, at the beach,
you weren't in good company.
Who are you?
We're friends of Marco's.
Ah.
Aren't you the ones who told Godoy and
the police that you'd never seen him?
Yes, but we don't trust
those people. And Mr. Godoy...
He's my friend,
and a decent person.
- We want to talk only to you.
- Your son, Marco, is alive.
He stayed with us. We took care
of him, but then he left.
He wants to find his mother.
No.
No, I can't believe it.
- What do you want? Money? I'll give it
to you, but leave me alone! - No.
We don't want anything.
Then tell me what you know,
for God's sake.
Marco's in Bariloche now.
Why in Bariloche?
- There's a kid!
- Shut up.
I'm not coming with you.
There's a kid!
Now he's gone.
Are you happy?
Here we are!
Get your hands off me!
- Close the door, or we'll get
soaked! - Yes, Boss.
Juan...
Juan!
What do you want?
Get out of here!
Well done, Juan!
You did the right thing.
Juan!
Let me in!
Open the door!
Please, let me stay here!
I'm cold!
What a cute boy!
He wants to play...
The price will change, then.
Of course!
- Come, sweetheart.
- Get out of here!
Come here.
It's my turn.
Mom...
Call me here,
at the police station.
Yes, thank you.
They've been alerted,
in Bariloche.
But I don't want you to suffer
again unnecessarily, Vittorio.
Hello?
Yes, Godoy.
Go ahead.
Very well.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Yes, she exists.
Beatriz Artieda, opera singer.
- And you think that...
- No.
Your Beatriz is dead,
Vittorio.
Do you realize how many women
with the same name exist in Argentina?
I'm trying to imagine
what my son's thinking,
and I'm trying to understand.
I may sound heartless, but I have to be.
Your disappointment would be terrible.
Anyway, he hasn't got
to Bariloche yet.
That singer has been informed.
If a boy shows up,
she'll immediately get
in touch with us.
- Did you tell her not to scare him?
Marco will be so upset... - Yes.
She's aware of everything.
But we don't know yet
if it's really him.
How can we be sure
he's alive?
Yes, I know...
That's what those two told you.
I still don't know
what they wanted from you.
I'm sorry.
We'll see. I, too, hope he's alive.
You know that.
Gosh, I'm so sleepy...
- I'm exhausted.
- You're tired, aren't you?
Hey...
- So?
- No, don't beat me!
What?
No!
Please!
- What are you doing here?
- Don't beat me!
Are you crazy?
Hey...
Come here!
Where are you going?
What have I done to you?
Are you nuts?
Come on, stop it!
Come here.
What happened to you?
Let me see.
What's wrong with you?
Hands off!
Let me see this scratch.
How did you get this?
Huh?
Look at you!
Why did you sleep outside?
Have you lost your mind?
Come on, move it!
Get in the truck.
What were you thinking,
sleeping outside?
Huh?
Come on, get in.
It's late.
And make some coffee.
Marco...
Marco!
For both of us.
And make it strong.
What a fool!
He slept outside.
What was he thinking?
Look, there's a helicopter.
Come, come!
We have items for all tastes!
- It's the police!
- Damn, it's them! Don't stop!
- What the hell do they want?
- They want me. Try to lose them.
Why?
What did you do?
- Will you answer me?
- Me? Nothing.
Okay.
Hold on tight, then.
Watch out,
they're flying low!
Don't worry, we'll get rid of them.
You have Juan's word.
They're not giving up, huh?
See? What did I tell you?
We've lost them.
Well done!
The police helicopter took off
immediately,
and it spotted the truck in this area,
before losing sight of it.
This means they're surely
not headed to Bariloche.
Couldn't they have taken
a provincial road?
No, if the driver ran away like that,
it was certainly not to please your son.
In my opinion, he had a very good
reason to avoid the police.
I think he dropped him off
in this stretch of the road,
and then he ran away.
Or...
Or he didn't drop him off, because
there was no boy in that truck.
Why does Marco always run away
when he sees the police?
A typical father's question.
Because he's afraid.
He ran away from home,
and now he's afraid.
He thinks that, if they get him,
they'll send him back to Venice.
Uniforms are scarier
when one is already scared.
- Your son's very determined.
- Yes.
How about publishing
an announcement in the papers?
- Someone must have seen him.
- Oh, good idea!
Many will see him, then.
Especially if you offer
a reward.
You're right.
But we must do something.
Marco's down there, alone.
He's alive, though.
Or so it seems.
That's the most
important thing, right?
Juan, the Emperor
of the Pampa, is here!
Come on, women, don't be shy.
Ask, and it shall be given to you.
Juan has never said no
to anyone!
Open your hearts
and your wallets to me!
- Come forward. Don't be afraid.
- Here, madam.
Come on, feel free to touch
the merchandise.
- Marco, I'll be back in a moment.
- Okay.
Try this, madam.
It works wonder.
Well, well...
Please, come forward.
Go shopping at the store
of your friend Juan. It's open!
Go, women!
Go!
Good!
Hello, everyone.
Hey, that's mine!
You never change, Juan.
At least buy us a drink,
for once!
Two... and three.
- I'll see you in a week.
- They're not enough for a week.
- I'll see you tomorrow, then.
- Okay. Bye.
A soap bar, please.
Hey, I'm talking to you.
- A soap bar.
- Here's the right soap bar for you.
15 australes.
- I'll kill you!
- Knock it off, you two!
The police are here.
Cheers!
Here I am, women.
Come and buy!
- Listen, madam...
- Are you talking to me?
Yes, come forward.
With your face, you could be
an actress, you know?
- Who, me?
- Yes. Let me see your hands.
Aw, you need a nail polish.
By sheer coincidence,
I have here the right one for you.
You have to apply two coats of it,
as movie stars do,
on both your fingernails
and toenails, of course.
Now look at the difference! You'll see
the effect it has on your hands.
Are you playing? You're supposed
to be working. Get out of here!
But I...
Come on, people!
Come forward!
Let it go.
Don't be a fool.
Come.
What?
Come with me.
Come on, get in.
Hey...
Today Juan really went
too far.
- You're right.
- He's going to pay for that!
- Do you know Juan?
- No.
But... he's like my boss.
At this time, they're drunk.
- Is he your father?
- No. He's my boss.
But grown-ups are all alike.
- What do you mean?
- I mean you have to let it go...
or things will get worse for you.
Here. Console yourself.
Thank you.
Wrong pass!
Pass it to me, Vittorio!
Here.
Look.
- Look at this cross.
- Come on, pass it.
Come on!
I'm losing my patience.
Don't let him run away again.
And call me, even at home.
Yes, at any time.
Is that understood?
Okay.
All right.
Yes, sure.
Talk to you soon.
Vittorio is playing with the kids.
He's very disheartened.
- Have you got any news?
- No, none.
Antonio...
I love you.
- You know that, don't you?
- I know that.
Help him.
Yes.
Bye.
You bastard, now we'll
settle the score with you!
Juan!
Stay out of that.
It's their business.
- They're going to kill him!
- No! They're too good friends.
At worst, they'll steal his money.
And, next time, he'll steal theirs.
It happens all the time
when they play cards.
Help!
Come!
Come here, you bastard!
- Stop it, Juan!
- Let go of me!
No, stop it!
- Juan!
- Now I'll fix you!
- You bastard!
- Juan!
No, stop!
- Let go of him! Stop!
- I'll kill you!
- What do you want?
- Let's get out of here!
- Stop!
- Let go of me!
Where are you going, you coward?
Come here, you bastard!
I'll find you!
You bastard...
This is none of your business.
Take this, and this!
This will teach you to mind
your own business!
Take this!
Scram!
What do you mean,
he didn't get there?
If he's not in Bariloche,
he must be on the way.
- He can't have vanished into thin air.
- I did all you asked me to do,
even if I was sure
it was useless, but that's it!
Those two from the penguin colony
told you a lot of lies. I don't know why.
- Marco never left in that truck.
- But that truck exists. The chopper saw it.
Everything disappears in this country,
even itinerant vendor trucks!
Vittorio, come, it's ready.
No, not for me.
- Why did you stop?
- I want some coffee. Go and make some.
Yes.
After the glacier,
we'll be almost there.
Are you coming with me
to meet my mother?
Where? To Bariloche?
No way!
Why should I come?
Those people are loaded;
they wouldn't buy my items.
- Where are you going?
- For a pee.
Ah.
Thankfully,
he didn't take this, too.
The star!
Well, he can keep the money.
Don't move, Marco.
Don't move!
Maybe it'll mistake you
for a rock.
And maybe it has nothing
against you at all.
Just don't make a sound...
even if it licks your face.
And, above all,
don't be afraid.
Gosh!
Antonio...
Where are your pills?
- Why are you looking for the pills?
- Where are they?
- Are these the ones?
- Yes.
What's wrong with you?
Huh?
I can't sleep.
Hey, where are you going?
Are you running a marathon?
You aren't running
very fast, though!
Come on, do your best!
Go, you're alone.
You're tired, huh?
- Do you always train like that?
- I have to go to Bariloche.
Get on; I'll take you.
Hold on tight!
Look, we've arrived.
That's the theatre.
It's closed, though.
Never mind. It'll open,
sooner or later, won't it?
Well, I think so.
Come and see;
that's my mother!
Really?
Yes, I swear!
- Is that your mother?
- Yes. Sure.
- Your mother is an actress, then.
- No, she's a singer.
Wow!
She's very good, you know?
- Tonight I'll let you in free, if you want.
- Maybe I'll see you around.
- Bye.
- Bye. And thanks.
Bye.
Opera House
So you can buy
something to eat.
(they sing "Parigi, o cara"
from "La traviata")
No!
Marco...
You're not her!
- Wait!
- You're not her!
- No, I'm not her. But I was
waiting for you. - Let go of me!
Listen, Marco...
Marco...
No...
Marco!
Oh my God!
Be quiet.
When I took off my wig,
he screamed.
You should have seen his eyes;
they were full of despair.
He's a kid
with too much imagination.
His mother is surely dead.
I think he's right.
Miracles happen in life.
Come.
My instinct tells me
Marco's right.
It's a feeling I can't explain,
but I'm sure that woman is alive.
Mom...
Where are you?
"Tilcara"...
"Tilcara"...
- To your health!
- Thank you.
So, Beatriz, what do we do
with this boy?
They're looking for him.
I let him out of the theatre,
but those men will come here.
Of course.
What are you going to do?
- I want to help him. - Are you sure
you're doing the right thing?
In kids, some obsessions can turn
into real schizophrenias.
The boy is sane, but he has
too much imagination.
That's enough!
I don't know
what's right for him,
but I'm not going to
hand him over to those men.
I don't trust Godoy.
He's always been a servant
of the military.
Maybe I'll regret it
all my life,
but the boy put
his trust in me.
He thought I was his mother.
You must take him
away from here.
Put him in the car and take him
to the provincial road.
Give him some money.
He needs to find a ride or
any other way to go north.
Tilcara is that way.
Mind you,
it's a several-day journey.
So, what's new?
Bye.
Thank you.
- Bye. Good luck.
- Bye.
No, something doesn't add up.
- Vittorio, listen...
- No, I don't want to listen anymore.
Tell me, why did Marco run
away again?
The police were about to get him, but
your son's madness infected that singer,
who let him run away.
You should have informed her.
You said you had talked to everyone!
And I did.
But she wanted to do things
her own way.
Antonio, you don't want
to find him.
You want my son to disappear
like his mother! Why?
Sorry, I lost my mind.
Anyway, I'm going back
to Venice.
But only to get a divorce,
I assure you!
I left him at the hotel.
He's always sleepy. So I told him:
"I want to enjoy Argentina, otherwise
what sort of honeymoon would it be?"
Now, finally, I have company!
Look there!
Stop!
Stop!
Oh my God!
Of course it's him.
I remember him very well.
I don't forget a face.
We know each other, don't we?
Yes, we met at Venice airport.
See?
What did I tell you?
We're taking you to town, where someone
from home will come and get you.
Is the boy Italian?
Yes, he's Venetian.
We travelled together.
I found him unconscious.
I'll see him immediately.
Do you know his name, by any chance?
- No, but he surely has an ID.
- Now we'll check it.
Where's he going?
Hey, stop! Stop!
Stop!
Stop!
Stop!
What are you doing?
My cart!
- You scoundrel!
- Murderer! - You rascal!
It's much easier
than driving a motorboat!
- It was a child. I saw him well.
- A child?
Why didn't you tell him?
Because he'd worry
unnecessarily.
- I must be sure it's him first.
- You perfectly know it's him.
He's just disappeared again.
What's the matter with you, Antonio?
Why don't you trust me?
Yes, it's him.
He stole the car.
How long do you think a kid can continue
driving a stolen car across Argentina?
- Send a helicopter, then, before it's too
late. - Let me solve these things, please.
- Don't torment yourself,
and don't torment me! - Okay.
And don't talk to anyone,
especially not to Vittorio.
It's not right for him
to keep deluding himself.
The past is dead and buried,
now! Is that clear?
Dead and buried!
The best horses in the world!
Giddy up, little horse!
Faster!
Run, run!
Gallop!
Get on.
Be careful.
Look at the boy!
Hello, boy!
Are you having fun?
Come on!
Gallop!
Come on!
Let's go!
Faster!
Come on, run!
Don't you ever put out the fire,
not even when the day breaks?
I put it out only when
all the men are awake.
The puma is very afraid
of fire.
It's more afraid
of men, though.
I met a puma,
but it wasn't afraid of me.
Because you're a kid.
Here.
Where did the carousel go?
It left. They come and visit us
when they have no work in the city.
- The owner worked with us
many years ago. - Ah.
Where are you guys going?
North.
- We're taking the cattle to Mendoza.
- Isn't Mendoza near the Andes?
It's in the Andes!
Actually, at their foot.
I'm going to Tilcara.
Do you know where it is?
It's far.
Very far.
I know.
Here, everything seems to be
far from everything else.
Come on, wake up.
Get up.
Come on, we have
a tough day ahead of us.
Come on, kid,
get a move on.
I wanted to receive you
in person to express my regret.
I assure you we did
everything possible.
He and I know the police did everything
humanly possible, Your Excellency,
and we are infinitely grateful
to you for that.
The corpse...
I mean, the boy's body...
was not found. If you wish, I can issue
a Certificate of Presumed Death.
Try to understand, please...
My friend is not in the frame of mind
to talk about this subject now.
I'll let you know later.
Oh my God!
No, no!
It can't be true.
I don't want to believe it.
- What should I do?
- Here.
Press this, okay?
- Are you ready, madam?
- Yes, I'm ready.
- Don't take too long.
- No. Here you go.
- Now you take one of me.
- Go and pose with them.
Sir...
Sir...
Do you want me to read
your future?
Yes?
What a nice hand!
You're a very lucky man.
It's written in your palm.
It's only 100 australes.
Can you also read the future
of dead people?
Yes.
But it's a sin. The souls of
the dead must not be disturbed.
I'll pay you well.
Do you have something
belonging to that person?
An object, a letter?
The dead are
no laughing matter.
Why are you making fun
of the dead?
It's a sin, you know?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
There are no dead people
in your palm.
It's not the photo
of a dead person.
This boy is alive.
Wait!
Where are you going?
Hey, stop!
Give me your money!
Come on, give me your money!
Here.
More.
Give me more.
Come on.
And your watch, too.
Quick!
Come on!
Did you hear me?
- Who should I give it to?
- Take it to Francisco.
Don't stop! Come on,
fetch some firewood.
Here.
Take this.
So, where's the firewood?
Good.
Put it on the fire.
Now bring me
some more water.
Yes...
- Good luck.
- Thank you. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Over there, beyond
the mountain, is the railway.
Just wait; the train will come,
sooner or later.
It leaves from Bariloche
and goes up north.
This is for when you're cold.
This is for
when you're hungry.
And this is for
when you're thirsty.
But don't drink this water unless you're
collapsing, and only take a sip of it,
because it's the only water
you'll have until the train arrives.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
And thank you.
Hey, boy...
This is for the work you did.
No, no.
Someone would steal it.
And he could even kill me!
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Good luck.
Let's go.
English subtitles by YRR
to the Andes
- A bad dream?
- No.
Do you want to start
the penguin count so early?
Here.
Didn't you hear a moan?
No.
A sort of call.
Well, it could be an old penguin
that is saying hello to us from Brazil!
No, it wasn't a penguin.
It was a voice.
Like... someone crying.
Trust me:
you had a bad dream.
Huh?
Help!
Did you hear that?
Help me!
Look!
There's a boy!
Help!
Mom...
Dad...
The Vigan?s are
strange people.
Why don't you rest?
You've just come back
from the hospital.
I said "strange", because your son
freaked out when you fell ill,
but then he went skiing
as nothing had happened.
And you're taking it
as a personal offence.
Marco did the right thing,
in my opinion.
Why should he have stayed here alone,
at Christmas, without anyone?
If you really can't do without him,
call him and ask him to come back.
The skiing holiday should be over, now.
He must have got back to Geneva.
No, you don't know him.
He can't have done that.
We love each other too much. He can't
have left without saying goodbye to me.
- He did say goodbye.
- Something must have happened.
He rushed to the hospital
in the middle of the night.
I was there.
I saw him.
This drawer was forced open.
- Who broke it?
- What?
Look.
Vittorio...
- What's the matter?
- Call the school.
Please.
It doesn't look very deep.
But he has a high fever.
He needs a doctor.
The doctor will only come
in three days.
Get me an antiseptic.
- He's in bad shape.
- Of course he's in bad shape.
He must have been
in the water for hours.
See what's inside.
He's Italian.
His name is Marco Vigan?.
Poor boy. He must have
fallen off a tourist boat.
All we can do is
call the Port Authority.
The temperature keeps rising.
- That's mine!
- Relax.
Here.
Calm down.
Come on, Marco,
try to calm down.
What's that?
- She's very beautiful.
- Do you know her?
Do you know
where she is?
She's waiting for you.
She's waiting for you.
Now you need to heal.
Sir, I never wait for
the plane to leave.
Besides, Marco called.
- From where?
- From Geneva.
That's what he said, at least.
Calm down, Vittorio. Francesco has
explained it to you, hasn't he?
- What time did he call?
- I don't know... At night.
Maybe he just wanted to send
season's greetings.
I'm going to check my notebook.
I must have written down the time.
- Why don't you call the police?
- No, I know where he went.
Be reasonable: a child can't get
to Argentina alone.
- Why would he have done that?
- Because I didn't do that...
13 years ago.
So you're sure that...
I called the travel agency
I normally use;
they thought I was
in Buenos Aires.
That night, at the hospital,
Marco was telling me about his mother,
but I thought it was
his usual obsession.
Here it is. That was
Saint Stephen's night.
A man called from abroad, too.
Actually, he called several times.
I'm leaving
on the next flight.
Francesco, please book a flight
to Buenos Aires for me.
But you've just come back home.
It could be dangerous for you.
What do you think I should do?
Stay here and play sick?
While my son...
No, I have to move,
do something.
The doctors said I'm fine.
It would be worse if I stayed here
without doing anything for Marco.
You know me: anxiety and anguish
would kill me more than fatigue.
This gentleman,
Antonio Godoy...
Isn't he the man
who saved Marco?
Yes. He's the only friend
I had, and I have, over there.
- Talk to him, then.
- Yes, of course.
I'll see him there.
I need Antonio.
I want to come back with Marco,
and not disappear with him.
Desaparecida.
She's not dead.
That doesn't mean
she's dead.
She's not dead.
Mom is a desaparecida.
She's not dead.
I... will find her.
The fever isn't going down.
Carlo, go and get the midwife.
Yes, you're right.
Take this.
I'm going to get Alicia.
I've lived this moment before.
Was I with you or am I wrong?
I'm sorry, Laura.
I always end up
behaving badly with you.
Argentina must have
something against us.
Marco doesn't understand.
Actually, he doesn't believe in
friendship between a man and a woman.
And he's right,
especially if the man is his father and
the woman is his father's ex-fianc?e.
Maybe we both made a mistake.
I tried my best, though.
I even called him "Marcos",
as if he were Argentinian.
Antonio Godoy is waiting for me
in Buenos Aires.
I wonder if
he has changed, too.
- On the phone, his voice was the same.
- Marco recognized him right away.
During these years, I've tried
in vain to erase those memories.
Well, even if
it wouldn't deserve it...
a toast to Argentina!
OK?
Yes.
Here, Alicia.
I have to open the wound.
- It's infected. - Don't you think
we should take him to the hospital?
- How can he be moved in this condition?
- If we manage to make him swallow this,
he won't feel a thing.
What's that?
Milk with some herbs.
It'll make him sleep.
- Alicia, do you want some coffee?
- Yes, please.
- Carlo...
- Coming right up.
- Could you give me a hand?
- Sure.
Open his mouth.
That's it...
That's it.
Good.
Come on...
Now he'll sleep deeply.
- You have to give him
these pills, tomorrow. - Okay.
I'll come back
to check on him.
And I'll try to find out more about
his mother, assuming she really exists.
She'll come.
Of course she'll come.
I... have to go to my mother.
I know.
Hi.
It's been a long time!
How are you?
- Welcome back, Vittorio.
- Thank you, Antonio.
- Let me carry that.
- Okay.
- Did you have a good trip?
- Yes, it was good.
I called you immediately.
When he showed up
at my place unexpectedly,
I realized he had
run away from home.
- Why didn't you convince him to wait?
- You don't know how he was.
He looked out of his mind. If I hadn't
helped him, he'd have run away again.
- But he did run away again!
- Yes, and I still don't understand how.
He was happy, calm.
He was sleeping, when I left.
He was resigned
to that slight delay.
Maybe a thief broke into
his room.
Or maybe he had
a nightmare.
Marco doesn't get scared
that easily.
I don't understand.
Why is he so afraid of being found?
- Why did he run away like that,
on a fishing boat? - I don't know.
I don't understand
the reason, either.
It's true, it would have been better
to inform the police.
But I tried to avoid
an unnecessary scandal, Vittorio.
I'll never forgive myself.
- You're speaking as if you already knew...
- No, I assure you.
I don't know anything.
Really.
Marco appears to be lost at sea,
for the moment. That's it.
We'll resume the search
as soon as possible, don't worry.
I'll ask them to look for him
all along the coast and the beach.
We'll comb every single metre
of both the villages and the desert areas.
We'll sound the sea bottoms,
if necessary.
It's a huge area, but if there's
a chance we can find him,
we'll find him.
I promise.
Well, what's this?
A gathering?
What are you doing there?
Hi! How are you?
How is it going?
What are you doing?
Are you hiding?
Can I try?
Sure.
Come on, look.
What do you see?
I can't see anything.
It's out of focus.
You have to adjust the focus.
Ah!
Now you have to move it
slowly, like this.
What do you see?
- What do you see?
- The penguins!
Yes, the penguins.
And now... what do you see?
- So? What do you see?
- What's that thing on the right?
- Let me see.
- Look.
Ah, that's...
No! What are you doing?
Come on, I need to try
the shirt on him.
- Did you really have to choose
this moment? - Yes.
When women get in your way, you can't
work. There's no way around it.
- So, do you like it?
- It's beautiful!
Is anyone there?
Isabella?
Carlo?
Hey!
Hi!
Are you alone?
- Are you okay?
- Yes.
- You must be Alicia.
- Yes.
- Carlo said you'd come by someday.
- Really?
I'm Marco Vigan?.
We've already met, you know?
Maybe.
But I was delirious.
Right. I just wanted to know
how you were.
- I'm great!
- Well, I'm off, then.
- Aren't you going to wait for them?
- Those two? Oh, no.
When they go to town,
they lose their way. I'm going home.
Would you like to come
with me?
Yes, I'd like to.
Let's go.
Come on, tell me
something about you.
I came to Argentina
to find my mother.
You know,
she's a desaparecida.
But she's alive.
I saw her on TV.
Granted,
this country is endless,
but I'll find her.
I'm sure.
Carlo told me you, too, were arrested
and locked in a camp, like my mother.
It's been a long time.
Were there many different places
or one place for everyone?
There were
many different places.
Look!
Look how beautiful it is!
Why many different places?
Because one wasn't big enough
for all of us.
Did you meet my mother?
- There were thousands of us.
- You didn't disappear, though.
That's your point of view.
You're not missing
if nobody is looking for you.
That's true! My mother wasn't missing,
either, until I started looking for her.
Exactly.
Alicia, where are we going?
Isabella's expecting me home by 7 p.m..
We have to count the chicks.
We'll be back by 7 p.m..
So?
- Do you like it here?
- Definitely!
It's beautiful.
- You have a "green thumb".
- What does that mean?
It means you're good
at growing plants.
One of my school teachers
is obsessed with them.
He can even grow plants
on rocks!
Every plant, here, has a name.
A scientific name or a name
you gave to it?
No, a birth name.
For example,
its name is "Caterina".
It's 32 years old.
No, come on!
It would be a fossil plant!
It's 32 years
and 2 months old.
And what's this one called?
Germano.
Today is its birthday.
Happy birthday, then!
How are you?
Nice to meet you, Mr. Germano.
How are you, Miss Caterina?
Good to see you.
If you try to dig under those plants,
you won't find any roots.
None of them has roots.
None.
They're dead.
That's why I chose plants
and not crosses.
The dead and their corpses lie
in cemeteries.
They don't lie here.
Here are the images
of some people...
whose roots were cut when
they were transplanted far away.
Do you mean...
that each of these plants corresponds to
a dead person who has never been found?
More or less.
I knew every one of them.
And what's this one called?
Beatriz.
Beatriz Artieda.
She's not dead!
- What are you doing?
- My mom's not dead!
- You broke it!
- She's not dead! She's alive!
- Yes, yes. Sure.
- She's alive!
She's alive.
Yes.
She's alive.
Come, let's go inside.
Calm down.
- Where's Marco?
- He must have gone for a swim.
He told me he had found
an emerald cave.
Are you feeling okay?
Yes.
I'm sorry Marco is leaving.
After all, he has recovered, now,
and he's starting to get itchy feet.
Alicia believes
his mother's dead.
Why?
She can't be sure.
Because nobody knows her
or remembers her.
Argentina is big, but Marco will find her...
if someone doesn't stop him first.
But were we right
to believe that boy?
- We should call the police, or we'll get
into trouble, one of these days. - No!
Marco's right.
Someone is after him.
I'm sorry, Alicia,
but I really have to go.
Carlo and Isabella are
waiting for me.
I've made you
something really special.
Do you remember it?
With pine nuts and chocolate.
You liked it so much.
I'm crazy for chocolate.
I know.
Especially for
bitter chocolate.
Here.
It's milk with honey.
You liked it so much.
Don't you remember? It was
your favourite food for dinner.
You liked it more than
meat and potatoes.
No, it's not hot. Don't worry,
you won't burn yourself.
Drink it.
It's sweet.
What did you put in it?
Honey.
It's real milk, you know?
Like the one
I used to give you.
Do you remember?
I...
My little bull...
Your father used to tell you:
"You're Daddy's little bull."
You liked milk so much.
It really did you good.
You're so big and beautiful.
- What happened? Do you feel unwell?
- No, Alicia. I'm just fine, don't worry.
- Did you have a bad dream?
- No.
Don't be afraid.
Your mom is here, now.
And she'll never
leave you again.
Come on, let's go to bed.
Let's go and take a nice nap.
Carlo...
I'm starting to get worried.
It's very late.
Where could he have gone?
I have no idea.
It's a dog.
- I'll go and find him.
- What if someone had come to get him?
Who? He'd have waited for us,
if someone had come.
- What if the police had come?
- What?
Yes.
Marco said they were looking for him.
He heard that on the boat.
- He's afraid they'll kill him.
- Marco is a kid with too much imagination.
Alicia!
He's surely with her.
Wasn't she supposed to come
and check his wound?
This is Mom!
Yes, this is her!
"Bariloche Theatre"
"Bariloche"...
Marco...
Oh, you're already awake!
- Yes.
- And you had breakfast alone...
No, I wanted to go out
for a moment.
- Come, I'll make you some milk.
- No, no, thank you.
I'd rather some... tea.
Do you have some?
Yes, of course!
I have everything you want.
You want tea and biscuits,
don't you?
Come.
- Alicia!
- No...
You haven't drunk
your tea yet.
Alicia!
No!
Alicia!
Try again.
Maybe she's sleeping.
- What happened?
- Is Marco with you?
- You came to take him away from me!
- What's wrong with you?
No, my child hasn't
had breakfast yet.
Hi, Carlo.
Why?
No!
Why are you taking him away?
- Please leave him here with me.
- Alicia, calm down.
No!
- Alicia, please...
- Why? Please!
Thank you, Alicia.
It was nice sleeping with you.
And your cake was delicious.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Poor Alicia...
I can't believe it.
Marco's story upset her mind.
Poor woman...
You'll tell her I'm not angry
with her, won't you?
Yes, of course.
- It's exactly the same name, right?
- Right.
- And you said your mother could sing.
- It's her, there's no doubt.
- Look: she also has the same hairstyle.
- It's just a drawing.
Where's Bariloche?
Bariloche?
It's far. Very far.
OK, but by plane
I'll get there in no time.
There are no airports, here.
And the railway runs inland.
You can only
get there by car.
Is this the famous
four-lane highway?
No, this is the only road
leading to Bariloche.
- When is Juan going to arrive?
- Juan stops by once a month.
But nobody ever knows
what day, let alone what time.
He could stop by today.
If he doesn't stop by today,
he'll stop by tomorrow.
The only thing
we can do is wait.
You must be patient, Marco.
That's how things work in these parts.
Well, it'll take me two days to get there,
I'll spend another two at Mom's...
I should be back here
in a week at the latest.
- What makes you think your mother will
want to stay with us? - Are you kidding?
You saved my life.
Maybe Dad has already arrived.
He could come here with us.
So you'll finally get rid of that wreck
and Dad will give you a nice new car!
There he is!
Hey, Juan!
Juan!
Stop!
Juan!
Take this. Give it to your son,
when he's born.
No, you'll give it to him,
when we meet again.
Juan, I need a favour.
This Italian boy needs to get to Bariloche,
to visit his mother.
Could you give him a ride?
- Yes, sure. Okay.
- Thanks, Juan.
This way, you won't lose it.
It's all set.
Juan's very happy
to have company.
- What is it? - How long
will it take to get to Bariloche?!
I told you: 2-3 days.
Let's go.
This is Juan.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Marco Vigan?.
Good.
Come on, let's go.
Come on, get in.
Bye.
Et voil?, a gift for you!
It washes whiter than white!
Wash, rinse and admire!
The right product for you,
madam!
Once washed,
your penguin smells good!
Bye.
So, are you getting in or not?
Go.
Come on, go!
We found this several miles
from the point where the boy...
The backpack was on the beach.
The currents might have
carried him much further south.
My son, Luca, had given it
to him for the trip.
Marco couldn't believe
it's cold in the South.
Let's go.
Antonio, I want to go there,
to that damned beach.
Why?
There's nothing there.
Trust me;
it's unnecessary suffering.
I know.
This country swallows
everything I love.
Everyone always disappears.
Someone might have found
his body.
At least I'd have
a body to mourn.
Why, Vittorio?
Let's go.
- Can I ask you a question?
- Sure.
- How long will it take us
to get to Bariloche? - It depends.
- It depends... on what?
- On what we'll find on the road.
If we find some fair, we'll stop,
otherwise we'll keep going.
You have to earn this ride,
so you'll help me sell my merchandise.
Am I clear?
- Can you do that?
- Of course!
We'll see.
No, thank you.
Come, come! Your Juan is here,
with many nice things!
Come on, people!
Dresses, blouses!
Feel free to touch them!
Do you like it, madam?
Come on, ladies and gentlemen!
Today is a special day!
It's not a day like any other.
Make a gift to your children.
Look what a nice teddy bear!
Today is a day of wonders!
Juan has everything for everyone.
Come on, don't be put off
by the crowd. Come forward!
Wait, I have something for you.
Do you like these boots?
- How much do they cost?
- 300 australes.
They're expensive.
Can you give me a discount?
Expensive?
They're a specialty item.
"Made in Italy".
They are from the Vatican.
If you give me a discount,
I'll buy them.
Look, since you're so pretty,
I'll sell them for 250, okay?
- Okay, I'll buy them.
- Well done, you've got a bargain!
- Aren't you buying anything, madam?
- Buy, buy! I'm leaving!
It's 50 australes.
It's almost a free gift.
But the surprises are not over!
Here's another special offer:
buy three bottles of orange juice
and pay for two.
Only 5 australes.
5 australes.
Thank you.
1,450...
1,500.
Not bad for today.
1,500 australes.
My technique of
discounts works.
Discounts?
We can't give discounts.
Is that clear?
We have fixed prices.
It's wrong. You must first raise
the price and then give a discount.
It works, especially with women.
If you convince them
the discount is only for them,
they'll go home happy,
thinking they've got a bargain.
A client needs to believe you'd rip
anyone off but him or her.
Trust me;
it's a proven system.
We, Venetians, are
great merchants.
Oh, nonsense!
- I've been doing this job forever, and
I want to do it my way! - As you wish.
Sir...
- Sir...
- What do you want?
They'll be waiting for you
after dark.
- Why? - They want to talk
to you, down in the garden.
- Who wants to talk to me?
- I don't know.
Mr. Vigan?...
It's us.
We're here.
What do you want?
We want to talk to you.
- Why here?
- Because you're alone.
Today, at the beach,
you weren't in good company.
Who are you?
We're friends of Marco's.
Ah.
Aren't you the ones who told Godoy and
the police that you'd never seen him?
Yes, but we don't trust
those people. And Mr. Godoy...
He's my friend,
and a decent person.
- We want to talk only to you.
- Your son, Marco, is alive.
He stayed with us. We took care
of him, but then he left.
He wants to find his mother.
No.
No, I can't believe it.
- What do you want? Money? I'll give it
to you, but leave me alone! - No.
We don't want anything.
Then tell me what you know,
for God's sake.
Marco's in Bariloche now.
Why in Bariloche?
- There's a kid!
- Shut up.
I'm not coming with you.
There's a kid!
Now he's gone.
Are you happy?
Here we are!
Get your hands off me!
- Close the door, or we'll get
soaked! - Yes, Boss.
Juan...
Juan!
What do you want?
Get out of here!
Well done, Juan!
You did the right thing.
Juan!
Let me in!
Open the door!
Please, let me stay here!
I'm cold!
What a cute boy!
He wants to play...
The price will change, then.
Of course!
- Come, sweetheart.
- Get out of here!
Come here.
It's my turn.
Mom...
Call me here,
at the police station.
Yes, thank you.
They've been alerted,
in Bariloche.
But I don't want you to suffer
again unnecessarily, Vittorio.
Hello?
Yes, Godoy.
Go ahead.
Very well.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Yes, she exists.
Beatriz Artieda, opera singer.
- And you think that...
- No.
Your Beatriz is dead,
Vittorio.
Do you realize how many women
with the same name exist in Argentina?
I'm trying to imagine
what my son's thinking,
and I'm trying to understand.
I may sound heartless, but I have to be.
Your disappointment would be terrible.
Anyway, he hasn't got
to Bariloche yet.
That singer has been informed.
If a boy shows up,
she'll immediately get
in touch with us.
- Did you tell her not to scare him?
Marco will be so upset... - Yes.
She's aware of everything.
But we don't know yet
if it's really him.
How can we be sure
he's alive?
Yes, I know...
That's what those two told you.
I still don't know
what they wanted from you.
I'm sorry.
We'll see. I, too, hope he's alive.
You know that.
Gosh, I'm so sleepy...
- I'm exhausted.
- You're tired, aren't you?
Hey...
- So?
- No, don't beat me!
What?
No!
Please!
- What are you doing here?
- Don't beat me!
Are you crazy?
Hey...
Come here!
Where are you going?
What have I done to you?
Are you nuts?
Come on, stop it!
Come here.
What happened to you?
Let me see.
What's wrong with you?
Hands off!
Let me see this scratch.
How did you get this?
Huh?
Look at you!
Why did you sleep outside?
Have you lost your mind?
Come on, move it!
Get in the truck.
What were you thinking,
sleeping outside?
Huh?
Come on, get in.
It's late.
And make some coffee.
Marco...
Marco!
For both of us.
And make it strong.
What a fool!
He slept outside.
What was he thinking?
Look, there's a helicopter.
Come, come!
We have items for all tastes!
- It's the police!
- Damn, it's them! Don't stop!
- What the hell do they want?
- They want me. Try to lose them.
Why?
What did you do?
- Will you answer me?
- Me? Nothing.
Okay.
Hold on tight, then.
Watch out,
they're flying low!
Don't worry, we'll get rid of them.
You have Juan's word.
They're not giving up, huh?
See? What did I tell you?
We've lost them.
Well done!
The police helicopter took off
immediately,
and it spotted the truck in this area,
before losing sight of it.
This means they're surely
not headed to Bariloche.
Couldn't they have taken
a provincial road?
No, if the driver ran away like that,
it was certainly not to please your son.
In my opinion, he had a very good
reason to avoid the police.
I think he dropped him off
in this stretch of the road,
and then he ran away.
Or...
Or he didn't drop him off, because
there was no boy in that truck.
Why does Marco always run away
when he sees the police?
A typical father's question.
Because he's afraid.
He ran away from home,
and now he's afraid.
He thinks that, if they get him,
they'll send him back to Venice.
Uniforms are scarier
when one is already scared.
- Your son's very determined.
- Yes.
How about publishing
an announcement in the papers?
- Someone must have seen him.
- Oh, good idea!
Many will see him, then.
Especially if you offer
a reward.
You're right.
But we must do something.
Marco's down there, alone.
He's alive, though.
Or so it seems.
That's the most
important thing, right?
Juan, the Emperor
of the Pampa, is here!
Come on, women, don't be shy.
Ask, and it shall be given to you.
Juan has never said no
to anyone!
Open your hearts
and your wallets to me!
- Come forward. Don't be afraid.
- Here, madam.
Come on, feel free to touch
the merchandise.
- Marco, I'll be back in a moment.
- Okay.
Try this, madam.
It works wonder.
Well, well...
Please, come forward.
Go shopping at the store
of your friend Juan. It's open!
Go, women!
Go!
Good!
Hello, everyone.
Hey, that's mine!
You never change, Juan.
At least buy us a drink,
for once!
Two... and three.
- I'll see you in a week.
- They're not enough for a week.
- I'll see you tomorrow, then.
- Okay. Bye.
A soap bar, please.
Hey, I'm talking to you.
- A soap bar.
- Here's the right soap bar for you.
15 australes.
- I'll kill you!
- Knock it off, you two!
The police are here.
Cheers!
Here I am, women.
Come and buy!
- Listen, madam...
- Are you talking to me?
Yes, come forward.
With your face, you could be
an actress, you know?
- Who, me?
- Yes. Let me see your hands.
Aw, you need a nail polish.
By sheer coincidence,
I have here the right one for you.
You have to apply two coats of it,
as movie stars do,
on both your fingernails
and toenails, of course.
Now look at the difference! You'll see
the effect it has on your hands.
Are you playing? You're supposed
to be working. Get out of here!
But I...
Come on, people!
Come forward!
Let it go.
Don't be a fool.
Come.
What?
Come with me.
Come on, get in.
Hey...
Today Juan really went
too far.
- You're right.
- He's going to pay for that!
- Do you know Juan?
- No.
But... he's like my boss.
At this time, they're drunk.
- Is he your father?
- No. He's my boss.
But grown-ups are all alike.
- What do you mean?
- I mean you have to let it go...
or things will get worse for you.
Here. Console yourself.
Thank you.
Wrong pass!
Pass it to me, Vittorio!
Here.
Look.
- Look at this cross.
- Come on, pass it.
Come on!
I'm losing my patience.
Don't let him run away again.
And call me, even at home.
Yes, at any time.
Is that understood?
Okay.
All right.
Yes, sure.
Talk to you soon.
Vittorio is playing with the kids.
He's very disheartened.
- Have you got any news?
- No, none.
Antonio...
I love you.
- You know that, don't you?
- I know that.
Help him.
Yes.
Bye.
You bastard, now we'll
settle the score with you!
Juan!
Stay out of that.
It's their business.
- They're going to kill him!
- No! They're too good friends.
At worst, they'll steal his money.
And, next time, he'll steal theirs.
It happens all the time
when they play cards.
Help!
Come!
Come here, you bastard!
- Stop it, Juan!
- Let go of me!
No, stop it!
- Juan!
- Now I'll fix you!
- You bastard!
- Juan!
No, stop!
- Let go of him! Stop!
- I'll kill you!
- What do you want?
- Let's get out of here!
- Stop!
- Let go of me!
Where are you going, you coward?
Come here, you bastard!
I'll find you!
You bastard...
This is none of your business.
Take this, and this!
This will teach you to mind
your own business!
Take this!
Scram!
What do you mean,
he didn't get there?
If he's not in Bariloche,
he must be on the way.
- He can't have vanished into thin air.
- I did all you asked me to do,
even if I was sure
it was useless, but that's it!
Those two from the penguin colony
told you a lot of lies. I don't know why.
- Marco never left in that truck.
- But that truck exists. The chopper saw it.
Everything disappears in this country,
even itinerant vendor trucks!
Vittorio, come, it's ready.
No, not for me.
- Why did you stop?
- I want some coffee. Go and make some.
Yes.
After the glacier,
we'll be almost there.
Are you coming with me
to meet my mother?
Where? To Bariloche?
No way!
Why should I come?
Those people are loaded;
they wouldn't buy my items.
- Where are you going?
- For a pee.
Ah.
Thankfully,
he didn't take this, too.
The star!
Well, he can keep the money.
Don't move, Marco.
Don't move!
Maybe it'll mistake you
for a rock.
And maybe it has nothing
against you at all.
Just don't make a sound...
even if it licks your face.
And, above all,
don't be afraid.
Gosh!
Antonio...
Where are your pills?
- Why are you looking for the pills?
- Where are they?
- Are these the ones?
- Yes.
What's wrong with you?
Huh?
I can't sleep.
Hey, where are you going?
Are you running a marathon?
You aren't running
very fast, though!
Come on, do your best!
Go, you're alone.
You're tired, huh?
- Do you always train like that?
- I have to go to Bariloche.
Get on; I'll take you.
Hold on tight!
Look, we've arrived.
That's the theatre.
It's closed, though.
Never mind. It'll open,
sooner or later, won't it?
Well, I think so.
Come and see;
that's my mother!
Really?
Yes, I swear!
- Is that your mother?
- Yes. Sure.
- Your mother is an actress, then.
- No, she's a singer.
Wow!
She's very good, you know?
- Tonight I'll let you in free, if you want.
- Maybe I'll see you around.
- Bye.
- Bye. And thanks.
Bye.
Opera House
So you can buy
something to eat.
(they sing "Parigi, o cara"
from "La traviata")
No!
Marco...
You're not her!
- Wait!
- You're not her!
- No, I'm not her. But I was
waiting for you. - Let go of me!
Listen, Marco...
Marco...
No...
Marco!
Oh my God!
Be quiet.
When I took off my wig,
he screamed.
You should have seen his eyes;
they were full of despair.
He's a kid
with too much imagination.
His mother is surely dead.
I think he's right.
Miracles happen in life.
Come.
My instinct tells me
Marco's right.
It's a feeling I can't explain,
but I'm sure that woman is alive.
Mom...
Where are you?
"Tilcara"...
"Tilcara"...
- To your health!
- Thank you.
So, Beatriz, what do we do
with this boy?
They're looking for him.
I let him out of the theatre,
but those men will come here.
Of course.
What are you going to do?
- I want to help him. - Are you sure
you're doing the right thing?
In kids, some obsessions can turn
into real schizophrenias.
The boy is sane, but he has
too much imagination.
That's enough!
I don't know
what's right for him,
but I'm not going to
hand him over to those men.
I don't trust Godoy.
He's always been a servant
of the military.
Maybe I'll regret it
all my life,
but the boy put
his trust in me.
He thought I was his mother.
You must take him
away from here.
Put him in the car and take him
to the provincial road.
Give him some money.
He needs to find a ride or
any other way to go north.
Tilcara is that way.
Mind you,
it's a several-day journey.
So, what's new?
Bye.
Thank you.
- Bye. Good luck.
- Bye.
No, something doesn't add up.
- Vittorio, listen...
- No, I don't want to listen anymore.
Tell me, why did Marco run
away again?
The police were about to get him, but
your son's madness infected that singer,
who let him run away.
You should have informed her.
You said you had talked to everyone!
And I did.
But she wanted to do things
her own way.
Antonio, you don't want
to find him.
You want my son to disappear
like his mother! Why?
Sorry, I lost my mind.
Anyway, I'm going back
to Venice.
But only to get a divorce,
I assure you!
I left him at the hotel.
He's always sleepy. So I told him:
"I want to enjoy Argentina, otherwise
what sort of honeymoon would it be?"
Now, finally, I have company!
Look there!
Stop!
Stop!
Oh my God!
Of course it's him.
I remember him very well.
I don't forget a face.
We know each other, don't we?
Yes, we met at Venice airport.
See?
What did I tell you?
We're taking you to town, where someone
from home will come and get you.
Is the boy Italian?
Yes, he's Venetian.
We travelled together.
I found him unconscious.
I'll see him immediately.
Do you know his name, by any chance?
- No, but he surely has an ID.
- Now we'll check it.
Where's he going?
Hey, stop! Stop!
Stop!
Stop!
Stop!
What are you doing?
My cart!
- You scoundrel!
- Murderer! - You rascal!
It's much easier
than driving a motorboat!
- It was a child. I saw him well.
- A child?
Why didn't you tell him?
Because he'd worry
unnecessarily.
- I must be sure it's him first.
- You perfectly know it's him.
He's just disappeared again.
What's the matter with you, Antonio?
Why don't you trust me?
Yes, it's him.
He stole the car.
How long do you think a kid can continue
driving a stolen car across Argentina?
- Send a helicopter, then, before it's too
late. - Let me solve these things, please.
- Don't torment yourself,
and don't torment me! - Okay.
And don't talk to anyone,
especially not to Vittorio.
It's not right for him
to keep deluding himself.
The past is dead and buried,
now! Is that clear?
Dead and buried!
The best horses in the world!
Giddy up, little horse!
Faster!
Run, run!
Gallop!
Get on.
Be careful.
Look at the boy!
Hello, boy!
Are you having fun?
Come on!
Gallop!
Come on!
Let's go!
Faster!
Come on, run!
Don't you ever put out the fire,
not even when the day breaks?
I put it out only when
all the men are awake.
The puma is very afraid
of fire.
It's more afraid
of men, though.
I met a puma,
but it wasn't afraid of me.
Because you're a kid.
Here.
Where did the carousel go?
It left. They come and visit us
when they have no work in the city.
- The owner worked with us
many years ago. - Ah.
Where are you guys going?
North.
- We're taking the cattle to Mendoza.
- Isn't Mendoza near the Andes?
It's in the Andes!
Actually, at their foot.
I'm going to Tilcara.
Do you know where it is?
It's far.
Very far.
I know.
Here, everything seems to be
far from everything else.
Come on, wake up.
Get up.
Come on, we have
a tough day ahead of us.
Come on, kid,
get a move on.
I wanted to receive you
in person to express my regret.
I assure you we did
everything possible.
He and I know the police did everything
humanly possible, Your Excellency,
and we are infinitely grateful
to you for that.
The corpse...
I mean, the boy's body...
was not found. If you wish, I can issue
a Certificate of Presumed Death.
Try to understand, please...
My friend is not in the frame of mind
to talk about this subject now.
I'll let you know later.
Oh my God!
No, no!
It can't be true.
I don't want to believe it.
- What should I do?
- Here.
Press this, okay?
- Are you ready, madam?
- Yes, I'm ready.
- Don't take too long.
- No. Here you go.
- Now you take one of me.
- Go and pose with them.
Sir...
Sir...
Do you want me to read
your future?
Yes?
What a nice hand!
You're a very lucky man.
It's written in your palm.
It's only 100 australes.
Can you also read the future
of dead people?
Yes.
But it's a sin. The souls of
the dead must not be disturbed.
I'll pay you well.
Do you have something
belonging to that person?
An object, a letter?
The dead are
no laughing matter.
Why are you making fun
of the dead?
It's a sin, you know?
What are you talking about?
What do you mean?
There are no dead people
in your palm.
It's not the photo
of a dead person.
This boy is alive.
Wait!
Where are you going?
Hey, stop!
Give me your money!
Come on, give me your money!
Here.
More.
Give me more.
Come on.
And your watch, too.
Quick!
Come on!
Did you hear me?
- Who should I give it to?
- Take it to Francisco.
Don't stop! Come on,
fetch some firewood.
Here.
Take this.
So, where's the firewood?
Good.
Put it on the fire.
Now bring me
some more water.
Yes...
- Good luck.
- Thank you. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Over there, beyond
the mountain, is the railway.
Just wait; the train will come,
sooner or later.
It leaves from Bariloche
and goes up north.
This is for when you're cold.
This is for
when you're hungry.
And this is for
when you're thirsty.
But don't drink this water unless you're
collapsing, and only take a sip of it,
because it's the only water
you'll have until the train arrives.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
And thank you.
Hey, boy...
This is for the work you did.
No, no.
Someone would steal it.
And he could even kill me!
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Good luck.
Let's go.
English subtitles by YRR