Skin in Flames (La piel en llamas)

SKIN IN FLAMES

The city's top hotel and they make you haul your own luggage?

I can't imagine what the worst one is like.

Come in, don't stand there. Don't let them get the wrong idea.

Not even the presidential suite gets presidential treatment.

Is this normal to you?

I don't think we'll ever agree on what "normal" is.

Things here aren't like in your country, Mr. Salomon.

I know. They're different to anywhere else in the world.

Are you okay, Mr. Salomon?

It's nothing.

Too many memories, that's all.

Jesus Christ!

Look.

Sit down. Get comfortable, if you can.

I'm sorry. We could do the interview somewhere else.

No, here will be perfect.

Are you sure?

Please, make yourself comfortable, Mr. Salomon.

Fine.

I'm afraid I haven't much time. They're picking me up in half an hour.

Don't worry, the Presidential Palace isn't far.

I know, but all the committee members are coming, the ambassadors...

And the Minister...

The Minister for Tourism and Communication.

-You've done your homework. -It's my job.

Do you mind if I...?

Go ahead.

Thank you.

Have a drink, if you like.

No, I'm alright.

I've been dreaming about interviewing you for years.

-No need to flatter me. -I mean it.

It means a lot to me.

What paper did you say you work for?

What else? The country only has one.

What happened to the other one?

They closed it down last month for being unpatriotic.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Why?

-Aren't you sorry? -It wasn't my newspaper.

Mine either.

When were you last here?

-Five years ago. -Do you think it's changed?

There's democracy now.

A democracy that also shuts down newspapers.

Yes, but it's still a democracy.

You should be proud of it, especially you.

Me?

Yes, you. How old are you, 28? 30?

You've lived most of your life in wartime, right?

-Now, however... -We're still at war, Mr. Salomon.

Not hearing the bombs doesn't mean the war is over.

-But there's a peace treaty now. -If you want to call it that.

-What would you call it? -Do you expect me to thank you?

-What for? -For the peace.

Me?

You, your country, the U.N. What's the difference?

I'm just a photographer.

You're getting the prize for your contribution to peace here.

-I didn't do anything. -Can I quote you on that?

Your Spanish is good for someone who learnt it at school.

No need to flatter me.

Shit!

-For God's sake! -What is it?

-There's a woman down there. She's... -She's naked.

She's dead!

She must've jumped from one of the hotel windows.

-It's the tallest building in the city. -For God's sake!

Some come here to ensure an easy death.

For God's sake!

Right, now yes. Now yes.

I almost didn't come, you know?

Because of this, because of death

and because of today's date.

You've done your research, you're a journalist.

You'll have done your job.

Because of the prize, because of everything.

It's one thing to see it all on TV,

and another is being here.

No one notices.

A woman just killed herself and no one notices.

People are still scared of getting too close to the windows.

I'm going to freshen up.

We'll start the interview right away.

Make yourself comfortable.

Hi, gorgeous.

Hello, Dr. Arellano.

-They let you in without a problem? -As always.

-How are you? -Good. Lots of work, but good.

Sara... How is she?

Still in intensive care.

But is she better?

No change.

When can I see her?

It's still too soon, Ida.

But you told me I could see her this week.

I was wrong. She has to be isolated.

I don't get why they're doing this to me.

Because it's the best for her.

The best for her is to be with her mother.

Are you complaining?

-Are you complaining? -No.

Yes, you're complaining, and you have no reason to.

No, I'm not, I'm very grateful.

That's better.

I just want to be with her, to give her a kiss,

to be by her side.

Remember, any infection could be fatal.

Is that what you want? To kill her with one of your kisses?

We're doing all we can. Or aren't we?

Thank you.

It's alright.

I brought her favorite book,

for you to give to a nurse, or... I don't know.

Sara loves to be read it before bed.

Ida.

The protagonist is a little pig

that travels in a balloon and meets other animals.

Sara likes me doing the animal voices. Will you tell the nurse to do that?

Otherwise, the story's not funny.

I can't promise anything.

She'll hear it, won't she?

Even if she's still...

I read that in a magazine

Of course.

-Whenever you want, we can start. -Whenever you want, we can...

If you're not feeling well...

If you're not feeling well.

No. It's the humidity.

This damned humidity rots my brain.

We should get this over with as soon as possible.

Did you bring a recorder?

I'll take notes.

Why do you wear gloves?

-Excuse me? -In this humidity, I'm surprised.

Is this part of the interview?

I have eczema. It's not pretty.

-Since when? -Must we talk about my hands?

-Your hands are important. -I don't see why.

Your hands took the most famous photograph in history.

I think that makes them important.

Then let's talk about the photograph.

Does the question bother you?

I won't answer personal questions. You should've been warned.

How do you feel about our government awarding you

for the first international prize for artistic merit?

Well, getting it fills me with pride.

For me, my profession, and the State I represent.

The establishment of such an award

is a clear indication

of your government's efforts

to restore normality, democracy.

I know it's just a photograph, but there's also...

what it represents for your nation's recent past.

What will you do with the million-dollar prize?

I'll donate it

to healthcare and reconstruction programs.

Aren't taking any notes?

I will when you tell me something I don't know.

-Don't you think it's too much? -What?

A million dollars for a photo you took twenty years ago.

It's not just any photo, you said so before.

Exactly.

You've received all the awards.

Do you think you need any more publicity?

This medal isn't publicity.

For me or the photograph, I assure you.

Of course not, but it is for this country.

What do you mean?

Our child mortality rate is 50%.

Over a third of the population has the HIV virus,

the schools are destroyed,

and only the arms industry works.

And our government creates an International Artistic Merit prize,

which they give to you.

Doesn't that sound like a marketing campaign?

I won't make controversial statements.

No one's asking for them. I just want honest statements.

Do you want them to close down your newspaper too?

-The girl. -What girl?

The girl in the photo. What side was she on?

That doesn't matter.

She was on the losing side,

the side that 20 years on is now in power.

Have you looked closely at the photo?

I have indeed, more than I wanted to.

Then may I say that you didn't understand it.

What's there to understand exactly?

That the photograph knows no sides.

It only shows what happened:

a little girl, six or seven years old, flying through the air

because of a bomb that exploded right behind her.

-Just that? -Yes, just that.

It doesn't matter who dropped the bomb or who the girl was.

You have to see the essence of the image:

an innocent victim of horror.

-That's why it became a symbol. -A symbol of what?

You know, a symbol of peace.

Is that what you think this is?