Flooded Out (Los inundados)

I am Dolores Gaitan, better known as Don Dolorcito.

It's summer. It's 6:30 in the morning, and it rains in Boca Del Tigre.

This is the story of my family, of my wife, Optima, and my children.

It is also the story of my friend Funes.

And of Don Marlin Orellano, founder of the neighborhood.

And of Casal, and of Zabala, the fisherman, and Busto.

It's the story of hundreds of families in Santa Fe, hundreds of Argentines.

When this film is over, all of us will return to our flooded, muddy homes,

where the filmmakers sought us out to make this film.

As I said before, I will share my story,

and while my language may not be flowery, it is sincere.

THE FLOODED

Take the pigs to their pens!

Dolorcito! Dolorcito! Look!

I told you.

Good heavens!

Pilar! Mario! Conito! Come, children! Hurry up!

I told you. I told you so. You are so thickheaded.

It's no big deal.

- It's always the same with you. - Hurry, Boss. Hurry!

Let's go! Move! It's always the same with you!

How are you today, chief?

Orellano! How will we sell these rags to the newspaper before 4:00?

Leave that alone! I have to keep watch over everything.

And your father just sits there. Mario! Conito! Good for nothing kids!

C'mon, dad. Let's go.

Be quiet you snot-nosed kid! We're not going anywhere!

Do you think I'm that stupid?

There they come!

It's a godsend!

There's no need to shoot your mouth off just for the sake of it.

Come here, son. It's a godsend.

Are you sick?

I was up until 2 a.m. laying down bags, waist high in water.

Pilar, hand me that pot.

Hey, brat! Pee on the floor!

Watch it!

Move out of the way!

Me first, sir! My legs can't take it any longer.

You'll get a hernia, my friend!

I want to die here.

Not me! The government is obligated to provide for us, isn't it?

Are we or are we not Argentines?

Brother!

Wait for me!

"Cleaning Service"

Against the high cost of living, against the potholes in the streets!

Against government inefficiency and bureaucratic waste! Vote!

Honesty and integrity! Vote for councilman...

Guys, we have to push.

Vote our candidate... Dr. Benitez.

"Closed to traffic, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m."

You can't go. Traffic is closed.

- This is official business. - Ha! What traffic?

Fine, go ahead.

Long live Colon! Long live Colon! Colon! Colon!

Is this how you take care of your siblings, you snot?

- They're helping Funes with the fire. - Oh really!

"I don't know why, I don't know why I fell in love with you..."

"...Without even knowing you..."

Keep an eye on the milk, Dad.

This is all very nice, but we don't even have money to buy food.

Well, if they brought us here, they won't let us starve, right?

Jeez!

Don't play the fool, Dolores.

Last night you drank away the last of our money.

So what? Are we flooded or not?

What is it? What letter does it begin with?

- Do you want to be my girlfriend? - Yes...

If you want to be my girlfriend, first... you know.

- Pig! - Pilar... hey, Pilar!

Leave me alone.

I'm telling mom!

Ooh, stud...

Are you done? Quit goofing off, you.

Do the plants still need to be watered?

When you're done, take down the laundry,

and mend any of Don Cocho's socks that still have holes.

Miss Zoraida, I'm leaving!

Okay, dear.

Miss Zoraida, with this mess we're in...

Wait a minute while I finish with these flowers.

If you could pay us a little in advance...

This afternoon we start the novena for Uncle Fito.

Grandfather Fito.

I want Pilar to decorate the altar with them.

Look, Optima. This is what Zoraida was talking about:

"Flooded in the Central Zone."

Mr. Editor: As I observe the settlement of train wagons

that house the flooded next to the post office, I ask myself

- Optima... - Coming!

if there was no other refuge for those poor people,

that we should have to witness such misery up close.

- Optima, come here. - Coming, Miss.

leaving to we taxpayers the burden...

Take this for Dolores. I gave it to Cocho for our silver anniversary.

Thank you, Miss Zoraida. We're barely scraping along.

I'm sorry, but Cocho doesn't receive his pension until the 27th.

You know God will provide.

It fits perfectly, Dad!

This will only get me made fun of.

I wasn't born to be laughed at.

Take a photo!

Enjoy your dinner.

It's a little cold, but it's still good.

Madam, how has it been living in the city center?

What can I tell you? I don't even know how to read.

Sad to think some want this to end.

End? You're mistaken, this has only just started.

- It was in "The Liberal". - "The Liberal"? Ha!

Look, sir, these people were born to live on the banks.

We're like scabies here.

Gentlemen, that paper is playing the government's game.

It pretends to be neutral, but it's shaping public opinion to get rid of all of you.

Our paper, "Progress" won't allow it.

- Is the picture for "The Liberal"? - No.

Take a picture of everyone!

Remember, whatever happens, the solution is Benitez!

Optima, a souvenir! It's free!

The Flood. Hunger and Grief. The Government Blind and Deaf.

Dr. Canudas, come join us.

Benitez, councilman. Vote Popular Action!

There's a lot of blank votes, no?

Canudas, come in!

Find a way to fix it then.

- How is it going? - With the food or us?

What a sense of humor, Gaitan!

This year we'll steal the elections.

We must let everyone know the first thing we'll do in office

is construct a new dam.

That's what we want. Funes and I wanted to speak with Dr. Benitez.

Ohm he's like a son to me.

So what's all this talk that they want to evict us from here?

Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it.

Have a bite.

Hello. As subsecretary to the Minister of Hygiene and

Social Welfare, I will be brief.

The government is not blind, nor deaf, nor dumb.

Despite the fact this is a long standing problem, we will do all that we can

so that all of you will have a dam before the next flood.

Seems to me these guys are looking for votes in the next election.

Mr. Strozzo will say a few words on behalf of the organizers

of the Solidarity Conference.

How much longer...

Ladies and Gentlemen, we ask ourselves what can we do

to mitigate the disgrace fallen upon you.

What can we do to comply with our social conscience

as good citizens of this nation?

I wonder who wrote that for him?

In solidarity with you, the flooded, I have here the outcome

of the individual man's response to the common need...

Ugh, it's hot.

Sit over there. It's only noon. This is going to take awhile.

These socks, these blankets, these shirts, this sugar, this tea...

To me! To me!

Gentlemen, please! Form a line. Please, miss, make a list

of every family member, daughters, sons, the ages of each, health status...

They should give them fruit cakes and champagne!

I didn't get anything.

Here, I'll be right back.

Hey! You're such a...

Want it? Come here.

Give it to me, give it to me!

Go barefoot for all I care.

Ow!

C'mon, give it here! No, no, nooo!

Out! Get out! Dogs of the devil!

- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon.

Fancy seeing you here, Miss Zoraida.

Ugh, what filthy dogs. I decided to go for a ride...

Mario, bring the lady a glass of water.

I decided to go for a ride and come by to see why Pilar hadn't come today.

Pilar?

What day is today? Tuesday, no?

Of course! She went to Don Goyo's butcher shop who sells on credit...

At least until Gaitan makes some headway with his politics.

Mom, look! What's his name?

That's my little boy. He's Juan Domingo.

- What a cutie. - He is, isn't he?

This woman is looking for a serious maid. Do you know any?

One with references. Can't just let anyone in your home these days.

Don't let Pilar get away with this. Once these girls hit the streets...

they start having babies and get lazy.

"I'm such a changed man, my God. I don't know who I am anymore."

Shameless!

"Don't you see I'm lost, my heart is beaten and dizzy..."

I'm going to kill myself! I'm going to kill myself!

For the construction of drainpipes, the solution is Benitez!

No more darkness in public plazas, vote Benitez!

The flooded evicted from the port! Read "Progress"!

The cat is out of the bag! The flooded evicted from the port!

A little something for the flooded... A little something for the flooded...

- A little something for the flooded? - Please, miss, I already gave twice!

- Look at that cutie over there! - Which one?

Why don't you go to the other side, maybe we can collect more.

Fine by me.

Look at those Italian shoes! I just love them!

Oh Marta, how can you like those?

Hot off the presses! The flooded are evicted from the port!

Are the wagons a necessary solution, or is the government