NORDESTE

Argentina, 2005, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Juan Solanas.

Life is hard in the northeast regions of Argentina. Workers live in poor conditions. Bosses are bullying and ruthless. Nevertheless, there is a strong sense of community. What is significant, as a nun who takes care of children, explains towards the end of the film, is that it is the world’s capital for child trafficking.

The film opens with two strands. One is the story of Martin, a thirteen year old with strong potential but who is trapped in his poverty, living with his mother, Juanna, about to be evicted from their hovel home. The other story concerns a French businesswoman, Helene, who comes to Argentina to find a baby to adopt. She is played by prominent French actress, Carole Bouquet, in a passionate performance, both loving for the baby and imperiously angry when crossed.

The film creates the atmosphere of the town. The audience feels as if they have lived there and come to know the people, the routine of their daily lives and their problems. The film also reveals the double dealing of criminals who exploit the children as well as the social injustice which is connived in by the local police.

You can see where this is all leading, but the film finally leaves us with a seemingly inconclusive scene where we can speculate and hope about what will happen.

1. An Argentinian story, Latin America, universal? Social issues?

2. The title, the region of Argentina, its poverty, the towns, the people, lack of opportunity, way of life?

3. The child-trafficking capital of the world? The nun’s explanation of what happened in this area? Exploitation of children?

4. The introduction to Martin, to Helene, the different worlds, the contrast, their eventually coming together?

5. Martin, his age, the slaughter of the ox, the gift of meat from Alberto to Martin’s mother, their relationship, the sexual relationship, her pregnancy, the pills and her abortion, Alberto’s reaction? Martin, his age and life, at school, friends, the bullies, his pet crocodile and feeding him, the gun?

6. Helene and her job, the poised businesswoman, going to Argentina, Buenos Aires and her confrontation with the baby marketers, the failure, her anger and going to the north-east? The contact with Gustavo, the woman at the hospital, the discussions about the baby, the opportunities, the costs and the extra money? Her staying, meeting people, the driver, the encounter with Juanna? Her waiting, the call that the baby was ready, her tenderness with the baby, at home, the cot, the clothes, sleeping? Going to the doctor for the check-up, the information, the baby dying, her anger and inability to accept the decision? The visit from Aurora, the request that she adopt the baby? Going to visit the nun, the explanations? The fire at the house and its destruction, her taking Juanna to the hospital, waiting with Martin – a future together?

7. Juanna and her life, poverty, her love for Martin, the relationship with Alberto, her being evicted from her house, Enrique and his clashes with her, bullying? Her pregnancy, the pills and the abortion? Friendly with Helene? In the town, her work, social? The gun, the fire and her injuries? Her future?

8. Enrique, the boss, the bully, the bulldozer and the threats, the dance and his keeping things going, killing the boy, the police coming and his justifying himself? The gun, the fire?

9. The baby traffickers, the woman at the hospital, Gustavo, the nurse? The doctor and his authority? The well-dressed people in Buenos Aires, the provincial types – criminals and exploitation?

10. Human life, values? The town itself, the spirit, the social and the dance? The poverty, development? The role of religion – church and ritual?

11. The hope of the ending, the message about human beings, relationships, life?