Don't Swallow My Heart, Alligator Girl

ON THE BRAZIL-PARAGUAY BORDER, MOTORBIKE GANGS RACE ON THE HIGHWAYS,

CROSSING MEMORIES OF THE WAR BETWEEN THESE COUNTRIES,

WHEN BRAZIL KILLED 600,000 PARAGUAYANS AND CONQUERED PART OF ITS TERRITORY.

NOW THE SOLDIERS ARE GONE,

BUT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BRAZILIAN FARMERS AND SMALL GUARANI RESISTANCE GROUPS

STILL COVER THE APA RIVER'S BANKS IN BLOOD.

IN THIS LAND HAUNTED BY THE PAST,

A BRAZILIAN BOY AND A PARAGUAYAN GIRL WILL LIVE AN IMPOSSIBLE LOVE

AND REMEMBER THE GUARANI NAME OF THE BLOODIEST OF BATTLES: ÑANDIPÁ!

"TOGETHER WE REACH THE END"

Basano!

Basano!

Basano!

Basano!

Come back!

Stupid Brazilian boy!

You can't swim in my river without my permission.

I'm Basano, the Tattooed, Queen of Apa River.

You know what?

You can shove your stupid wooden sword.

Everything here is mine!

My necklace...

Joca? Joca!

Get out of the water.

What happened, man? Are you crazy?

-Where is the girl? -You're hurt! Get out of there.

What was that?

Your heart sleeps in the bottom of the Apa River.

Amidst the sounds of war, motorcycles and alligators.

Where my people were killed and my culture was buried

between memories and fear.

And I walked carrying history with me

mixed to my body and my blood

of a Guarani warrior.

And you?

You continued to call my name in the fog,

talking about a love that would make me forget everything.

You are such a bad boy

You go out with all the girls

-You don't know how to love -No, I don't...

Good evening, Mr. Wayne.

Good evening, Clark Kent.

I thought you would be hungry, sir.

I was.

Has she left?

Yeah.

I don't like sleeping with women.

I'd rather wake up alone.

I can only stand my brother's snoring.

Yeah, right. You're the one who snores.

-Me? -You really do.

I think it's mom. She sleeps all day.

It's been ten years since she left dad and we came to this shithole.

You don't remember, but I do.

I like it here.

You like it because of your Indian girl.

That jaguar that scratches you. What was her name?

It's a funny name...

What was the jaguar's name?

I thought you liked it here.

Because of your gang.

Mom doesn't know what to say and says bullshit.

We love parties, having fun, speed and motorbikes.

"Gang" sounds like I'm a criminal. Is that what you think?

Do you think I'm a criminal?

What a stupid Bruce Wayne I've got!

Look here.

Pay attention.

Pay attention. Look at me.

Before this bug stops breathing,

your wild little jaguar of an Indian girl

will have forgotten you.

She might even fall in love with you,

but she'll leave you.

Don't die.

-All cool? -Cool.

Hey, animal! You're late, man!

-How are you, bro? -Cool.

Hey.

Sorry about the time, Telecath. I had an issue with my mom.

Shut up, get me a beer and come back here.

Hey, prince!

Won't you say hi to your pals? Hey, man!

I'll leave you guys alone.

My mother is not well, chief.

She's on strong medication and I look after my brother.

Sorry.

So you spent the whole night watching TV with sick mom and baby brother?

Is that why you're so late?

What's that, Indian?

I knew it.

What?

You have woman smell on you.

Maybe it's my mom.

Did you know Lucia has a magic nose?

What did you tell him?

Alberto called me, asking,

"Where is my Laurita?"

So you've decided to fuck the enemy's girlfriend

right one day before the race?

Do you know what you deserve?

You deserve a round of applause!

This is what you deserve!

-Congrats! -Way to go!

You almost gave me a heart attack.

Go to hell, bro!

Since when do you have a heart, my prince?

Let's go! Leave the guy alone!

Let's win the race and beat those losers!

-Let's go! -Now you must win the race!

Let's go, Calendar Gang! Let's get the Paraguayans!

C'mon!

Guarani Republic!

-Fuck you! -Guarani Republic!

Motherfucking Paraguayan!

Shitty Paraguayan!

Bad dreams, João Carlos?

About your shitty father again?

No.

Then the girl...

The tattooed one?

Is she still haunting you?

Is that Indian girl still there, inside your head?

When I go to sleep,

I see her.

When I open my eyes,

I see her.

When I draw in my notebook,

I draw her.

When I get in the shower,

I see images of her.

Come here.

Come, give me a kiss.

I've told you you should not come here.

I don't want anything with anyone, Alberto.

We don't have anything now, but we will, soon.

I will break up with Laurita and we'll be together.

I got it in a bet with my friends.

And you? Did you have luck in the bike race?

I lost.

Brazilians are cheaters.

Your boyfriend's brother was there.

He is a good pilot. The "prince".

I don't have a boyfriend, Alberto!

I don't have anybody.

Basano!

I was only joking.

Hey, girl...

Open the door!

I am your older cousin.

I saw dead bodies in the river.

Paraguayans like us. Guaranis like us.

Why?

Calm down, girl.

This is a land of heartless men, you can't help it.

Are you ok, Mr. Clark?

I am perfecto, señor Wayne. Just perfect!

Champion!

Champion!

I won.

And that blood on your hand?

You don't remember when we used to hunt jaguars in dad's farm.

But I do.

Now get out, João Carlos. I want to take a shower.

Move it, João Carlos!

Go to school, João Carlos.

It's time for you to go to school and study.

Become a real person.

Go, João Carlos.

Close the door.

Come on in, Joca. You're late.

Come on!

It was one of the most violent wars in South American history.

It's informally called "the Crying War" or "War of Tears",

as many of the defeated soldiers

returned covered not only in blood, but also in tears.

It was one of the cruelest wars in the world

and the most violent in Latin American history.

Many stories claim the soldiers were not very patriotic,

because the government promised them plenty of money and lands.

Among the stories of soldiers

and former slaves who enlisted to be given a different life,

there is the story of a man

who survived by hiding under the corpses of allies.

He covered his body in blood.

Then, at night, he stole a Paraguayan horse

and returned to Brazil a rich man...

João Carlos!

Don't be mad at him, teacher.

He's lost his heart.

Joca?

Am I dead?

Are you sure you'll go in the river?

I need to find my lucky necklace.

My father gave it to me.

-Aren't there any alligators? -Of course not!

You never know...

-Joca? -Joca?

Joca, get out of there.

-Joca! -Joca!