Watch ‘Adiós Buenos Aires’, a feature film centred around the 2001 crisis and how it affected one man’s plans to leave for good
Expect the unexpected, always.
Set in November 2001, months after the FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, Julio Färber, a man who planned to leave his country for a new life in Germany, sold everything he owned to make his dream a reality. In a stream of unfortunate events, the main character faces a nasty car accident on a bridge caused by a local female taxi driver and resistance from his teenage daughter. In my opinion, what pulled me in about the film was the five-piece working-class Tango band’s tenacity to perform their music, only to get three empanadas each per gig. Eventually, the government aired a public service announcement on Hoy TV, declaring the cease of its citizen’s wages—allowing them to withdraw up to a maximum of 250 pesos a month (approximately $14.89 in today’s economy) or $1,000 a month (roughly about $59.58). It led to many violent protests, leaving the police overwhelmed, with many wounded and one person dead in Rosario due to the use of tear gas and bullets. During what Argentines call “the “Corralito” (little stall)”, people were hungry and desperate.
Today, in North America, one could consider themselves lucky to feed a family of three with $250 a week. Could you imagine what life would be like to go to the bank and hear you can only withdraw approximately $15 of your hard-earned money? You would lose it, too.
The feature film is out now, playing in select theatres. Watch the official German Kral-directed trailer below. It is in English subtitles.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8SQ6ripXCk&h=315]
Listen to the incredible movie soundtrack, too.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUBn_MYWysc&h=315]
