Soul Suburbia (Suburbios del alma)

San Clemente del Tuyú, Argentina, mid nineties.

Good afternoon, Lalo, how are you?

Everything's good, Clara, and you?

Good, I'm good.

How is it going with your guitar lessons?

Great, I'm learning step by step.

Good.

Are you taking a chance today?

Yeah, you bet.

Could you give me hot water?

Please.

- Really hot, okay? - Sure.

There you go.

When are you applying for the club?

No, I don't like paperwork.

Besides, I can't read.

Tell me, Lalito, how's business?

I'm not gonna lie,

profits level's low today,

but I think someone got something back there.

I'll go and give them a lesson, I bet they don't know a thing.

Good luck.

SOUL SUBURBIA (main theme playing)

Fuck.

Motherfucker!

I'll get you the fuck out, bitch.

Look.

Clara finished your scarf.

With yours she reached 430 orders.

Isn't it amazing?

She's mad as at hatter,

she knits them all the same, they even have the same colour.

Don't be like that,

you know it's because of his son.

Still, crazy as hell.

Besides, she doesn't charge them.

She could be rich.

How much does a scarf like that cost? 30, 40?

Don't say that.

Clara is an adorable woman.

You have to get in her shoes.

Shit!

Fuck!

Sorry! I didn't notice!

I'm so clumsy!

Don't worry.

This happens all the time.

I'll untangled it.

Let me.

Can I ask you something?

Sure.

What's your name?

We see each other all the time,

we're strangers and acquaintances at the same time, don't you think?

Miguel.

I'm Clara.

Yeah you're right.

It's just that...

I'm just like my husband,

I come here to fish and I forget about everything else.

Time and space... I don't even know where I am.

I always see you by yourself.

Because I'm a widow, since nine years ago.

Yeah.

When we moved here

my husband came here every single day,

I couldn't understand how he didn't get bored.

But he insisted so much

one day I joined him

and now I realize he was right.

There it is.

Okay, I'm going to make some mate.

Sorry, wouldn't you like some company?

I'm good making mate,

but no pressure though.

Sure.

Mate is for sharing.

Besides...

I brought some lemon cake.

Homemade, fresh out of the oven.

I made it myself.

Do you like it?

It's okay if you don't.

How can I not like it?

You made it, it's a cake

lemon flavor.

Sure. Let's go.

Okay.

Thanks for that.

You ate the whole thing!

I thought they've be some leftovers for tomorrow.

Would you like some chicken, fries?

Anything else?

No, I pass.

Do you want some fruit?

No, no...

The fish was good.

Isn't it?

For the record, you criticize my friend

she makes a scarf for you,

she gets you dinner.

Good point.

You're right.

Anyhow, she loves freezing her ass fishing.

I would never.

She'll die from the cold someday.

Knock it off.

Listen.

What did you do in school now?

Tell me the truth, don't make me look like an idiot in front of the principal.

Nothing.

I didn't do anything.

Nothing?

My classmates were making trouble, and we all got punished for it,

but I didn't do anything.

You never do anything.

Did you hear that?

Mr. Nice here never does anything.

Mom, really, I didn't do anything.

Give him a break.

You know the other kids are problematic.

Monica's son for example, remember?

He's like Judas.

Perfect. You know what?

Maybe you should go and face the problem,

since you're so advocate.

And you little brat

next time I'll bring you home with my foot up your ass.

Did you hear me?

Good night.

Thanks, mom.

Can you believe it?

Fucking child.

I'm going out to buy some smokes.

Clara!

Clara!

Clara!

Come here.

Come.

Come on in.

Hi Migue.

How's it going?

I haven't see you in the dock in a few days,

is something going on?

Yeah

a lot of stuff actually.

The cold, my depression...

But today I decided to take a walk.

So...

I passed by the nursery,

collected some pine cones.

Sorry, am I talking too much?

No, no...

No, I love hearing you speak.

We all have bad days.

Yeah, that's true.

It's just that...

These dates are terrible for me, Migue.

Today's the 22nd anniversary of the disappearance of my son Damián.

It happened during the military government.

Yeah.

That must've been terrible.

Would you like to come inside and have some mates?

No, thank you.

Just a few.

Please.

So we decided to break up

and sell a house we had back there,

a big house.

She bought an apartment for her and I bought this house.

40 year as a railroad worker,

I always dreamed about retiring in a place like this.

What about you, Clara?

Well

my husband

always wanted to retire by the sea.

Fishing, in peace.

He was having a bad time in Buenos Aires

specially after what happened with our only son.

So we sold our house and moved here.

He really enjoyed it.

He always said to me,

“Clarita, this is paradise”.

And did you enjoyed it?

I don't know.

A part of me felt I should've stayed and keep looking for our son.

On the other hand,

when we arrived here I felt so much energy coming to me

that I felt I had to stay here.

Something like...

I'm not sure how to explain it.

I better go.

Today's not an easy day for me.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Would you like to take some fish? It's fresh, from last night.

No, no.

The mates and snacks were enough.

I need to go.

(melancholic piano melody and birds chirping)