Original subtitles

It's 6 am, the temperature 66� F...

and we are getting some very worrying cables...

from Southeast Asia...

Confirming that the Great Oriental Bank

has had to close its doors today

following a crashing bankruptcy

which left behind a jumble of victims

among the savers who trusted this bank

WAITING FOR THE MESSIAH reputedly so strong

their life-time savings

They've been mentioned savers also from our country, Argentina

apparently also involved in this dramatic situation,

which has plunged the markets in Southeast Asia

Into a state of great confusion

They'll work some days, and some days they'll be laid off

- How many will be jobless? - Well in this case...

I mean... we can't predict a number

The Tokyo exchange... the domino effect

the Euro the Yen, all that shit just fucked us.

Enthusiastic... honest...

What could you criticize about those close to you?

Nothing

- You know whom I mean by those close to you? - Yes

Mother, father, friends, girlfriend...

What skills did you develop in previous job?

Skills... the will to work...

Your main defects?

I'm not good at sports...

Sometimes I'm a little arrogant...

and I have a slight difficulty to express my thoughts

It's as if... I got false starts

Significant events in your life. Your worries...

a color, your favorite season of the year

and your expectations on this job

Could you repeat the sequence?

Just tell me the color

Blue

Blue...

I also like blue. Doesn't score many points

Red is better

And the rest of the score? How did I do it?

It was In China, the domino effect. They gave me these bonds

They are worth nothing now, but are guaranteed by the...

Chinese state

It's over

It's over

I was fired

Business is not thriving. Dad lost it all

when the bank closed, but we pretend nothing's changed

Simon continues the cook, Ram�n does the dishes...

and I wait

Dad... dad

Yes?

The savings certificate... was it a lot?

No... not much

But it was everything...

All we had

What are we going to do?

Not tell mother

That's all we can do

When the kidney doesn't work,

it is replaced by something like a filter

This is the arm, a tiny hole is punched here

and a nozzle brings out the dirty blood

This is the machine... here the filth is stopped

Another nozzle returns our cleansed blood

Just two tiny holes in the arm

Like making coffee

Exactly, but the other way round

Mum... is this temporary or forever?

Sarah, this way

The doctors believe my mother is going to die. They don't get it

Obviously they never had a Jewish mother

She can't just go, with all the things she has to do

Buy my clothes... the Tupperware meetings...

talk on the phone with her parents...

remembering everything... anyway... a lot of things

Mum can't go

- What happened, mum? - Don't Ariel

- Your purse! - Listen, Ariel...

Listen, was dad inside that purse?

Was Estela inside that purse? - No. Poor Estela

Then there was nothing important in that purse

Besides, the money is safe. Come let's go shopping

Mum...

This is my neighborhood. It's called "Once"

A very active, noisy place where we the Jewish live...

surrounded by cloths and safety pylons

Bar Mitzvah is a turning point In the life of a Jewish boy

It happens only once, in a lifetime

and it's the entry into the adult's world

Into the world of responsibilities

feeling part of this chain

Assume our role as a new link in the history of our people

It's a moment of celebration, joy, but when the party is over

and there are only the dirty dishes and the leftovers...

that's the time for reflecting and the understanding the reaches,

of the commitment

That's why the record we keep of that moment

will enable us to remember this pact in the future

It's the images of the people we love, those we don't...

which will remain in here... for ever

This is not a Bar Mitzvah. This is a wedding

Don't worry, Moshe. Basically, it's the same system

Here I have other samples. This is Feldman-Dubcovsky

At the Ben-Gurion club. It was a great party

All right...

- Cotton, isn't it? - No, this is "Shmate"

Shmate: Original Yiddish

Typical adjective denoting bad quality in clothing

Congratulations

Please protect her in eternity under the wings of your deity

May her soul be an inseparable part of chain of life...

May God allow her to rest in peace.

May God bring peace to them...

and to all the bereaved of the Israeli congregation.

Hello?

No, the lady is not in

No, I don't know when she'll be back

Yes, call later, yes...

- Starting tomorrow? - Yes

Are you afraid?

What of?

Of starting something new

No.

I am.

And I'm also afraid of being left alone

Hello?

No, she's not in

I see, well I have some id's of the lady which I found

Where did you find them?

Across from the Israeli Hospital

I can bring them to you, or we can meet...

Whereabouts are you?

In the downtown area.

- Well... but, how do I know you are not the thief?

- Don't worry I wouldn't be calling you,

No... this is my job

I can keep your stuff for a few days and call you back

All right? So long

She left me, with this business of the bank,

she just threw me out

I tried to explain about China, time zones, globalized economy

But she doesn't understand about numbers

Do you have my ids?

- Want some water? - No, thanks

- How much do I owe you? - It's up to you

What for?

What do I want my mother's ids for, if she's no longer around?

She's dead, she's gone, she doesn't breathe...

doesn't speak, doesn't vote

And there's no reason to despair,

it's part of the package.

What package?

The package, the plan.

I mean, you get:

Mum goes, Simon is left alone, but here's Estela

So we take care of the business...

we wash the sidewalk, pay the taxes...

We plant a tree in the Sinai desert

And we have children... three, better four

In case one might be devious

The plan is perfect, it's wonderful

Friday night, the temple, the club...

Simon, the restaurant, God

It's a lot of things, Estela. Not fixing the Christmas tree

Why not fixing the Christmas tree?

Always living in this bubble

Don't you feel a bubble?

I don't know... I want to see what happens

Where?

Out there.

What is it?

Never seen Estela naked?

- Going, already? - Yes

Here.

Today I start on a six-month trial contract

Why trial?

It's a trial, Simon. If they like me, I go on

Estela offered to help here

I told her not to...

But you know Estela...

She's like your mother

Bye, Simon

"The State Sell"

The sign is already up, seen it?

The state sells... the trains...

the toilets... the toilet paper...

They sell everything

What are you going to do?

Nothing, people will still pee

Classy women like you will continue to visit me

What is it? You never cheated on your husband?

No, I'm waiting for his release

Elsa, I want to help you

Friends of mine need maids

And you don't know when the station is going to close

I'm staying. I can wait

They can't close the station forever. This has to change

How will people go to their jobs? In bicycles, like the Chinese?

Bye, Elsa... remember what I said

The night shift has some advantages. It makes you think

You don't have a mate talking about impossible sexual battles

You work in peace

The thing is staying awake. Is that clear?

In the morning, when the janitors arrive...

and wet the floors, then you can leave

We use initials here, much faster that way

For example, tell me your name

Ariel Goldstein

No, not Goldstein! The initials!

A. G.

Anything wrong?

You look worried

No, it's only... I've never worked with these machines

Listen to me!

A.G. You were thoroughly screened. You got a good job

A good salary, a good shift, food tickets, what else?

Don't worry then

The only serious thing is death. The rest is a joke

Don't worry, lady. I'm just washing

- I'll dry everything - Who are you?

Santamar�a. Bank employee

Please, get dressed. This is a lady's room

You are wetting everything!

Santamar�a

Ram�n, don't use the hot water. Simon is taking a shower

OK, Simon

Typical phrase of my mum: "What's the need?"

"A stranger, however reliable he might be, is still a stranger"

Everything's there

Almost everything. There was some money...

This is not Disneyland

- But the important stuff... - It's all here

- Leaving already? - I've got to go

I hope it comes handy

Bye...

Perich�n!

"Christmas"

- Yes? - Strange business

- Gee! Such a pain! - Pain? Not at all

They say it's more hygienic

I guess so...

In some states in USA it was compulsory

As soon as you were born they would cut it without asking

There is a fantastic web page in the Internet

Interesting... I'll try and find it

It's www.world-circumsized.com

It's got a page in Spanish as well

Do the women say anything about it?

Women... haven't say much for a while. I'm waiting

Waiting is not a good idea

With women, it's a question of technique, understand?

I'll explain some other night

- Hi - Hi

Good evening

- You... - Yes?

- Are you booked? - Yes, I am

At this time?

Yes, at this time

You just be... LB

LB, I'm AG

- The new one - Brand new

- Let's start - Yes

- Do you know this? - Yes

Rafael Torres. Penitentiary N� 4 Sierra Chica - C�rdoba

I don't like pizza

It gives you a swollen belly and puts grease into the wine

Is the pizza all right?

Yes, Santamar�a, very good, thanks

Thank you

I really look forward to all this fresh water.

You didn't like the pizza.

Now that I'm clean... what do you think?

A good harvest today, right?

Elsa, I'm talking about something else

Won't you listen?

What do you see, Santamar�a?

A man and a woman

A lonely man and a lonely woman

I don't understand Laura's work

She goes after people with problems...

...asks them questions and then shows them on TV.

Laura, that's not very nice... but you are...

Zero six...

Zero six... zero six... here, twelve

You get it?

- Post-production, good evening - Ariel? It's me, dad

- Where are you, Simon? - At the store

- What is that noise? - We bought a Karaoke

- We are trying it - What's that?

It's Estela's idea

A Karaoke, to get the kids singing

Everybody wants to be an artist nowadays, like you

Listen, listen Estela

Dad... dad!

What do you think?

It's fine dad, but I'm working

I got to go. You can tell me tomorrow

Yes... "met zein darnoj"

- "Met" what? - "Met zein darnoj"

It's like "see you later" or "so long"

The only way to end a phone conversation with dad

- And what is it? - Yiddish

A language spoken by Jews all over the world

Ah, Yiddish

- You are also Jewish? - No...

...but I'm gay

We have a lot in common

Did she say "gay" or "goy"?

Anyway we got nothing in common

That's a myth

People think they cut a whole chunk off

But it's just a piece of skin...

...good for nothing, just like the appendix

- And what do they do to women? - Nothing

They got nothing surplus

The foreskin is a good subject. It never falls

Thanks See you tomorrow

Now she leaves, walks, goes away

She takes her scarf off, her clothes and she goes to sleep

Plug it in!

- Like it? - It's very bright

Higher, Ram�n, higher

One, two, three, testing. Do you hear me, Ram�n?

Ram�n, can you hear?

It's like the Wailing Wall. But right here, close by

When we reopen each bring his wish

I've already asked something

If you wish, I'll keep a space for you

I've seen naked women

I've seen Estela, and my cousin

But, together... I mean, they can't get too far, right?

I've tried to imagine

how could it be

It's technically Impossible. Absurd... How?

It'd be easier with a dick

Are you sure?

Practical, simple,

everything's ready

I remember when I first went to bed with a boy

I saw him naked with a silly thing hanging and I thought:

"It will never work"

However, it did

So?

So what?

Did you enjoy it? You never told me

Yes... it was wonderful

I was worried about not getting pregnant...

about not making noise because mum was sleeping next door...

and about catching any disease

I was all the time thinking where had I left my underwear

In the end it was like a gym lesson

Don't worry

Your dad

Now what?

He's coming for Christmas

He's promised that for 10 years. Why would you believe him now?

Because I miss him

Let him come then

Don't worry, he won't flinch at having a gay daughter

Yes, but I'm not gay

I'm just with the person I love

who happens to be a woman like me

And it makes no difference?

Today you can be with me...

tomorrow with a blender, then with a Pekingese, or...

Yes, with a man...

...with a dick this size

What the fuck do you want, Annie?

I'm not "whoever I go to bed with", the person I love...

or what I chose to do with my pussy

I will not turn into a militant of my clitoris

I don't know what you're looking for

It looks as if my love is not enough

It's not easy to sleep during the day

Will you give me a hand?

I'll get some coffee

No, coffee will make you impotent

Impotence, heartburn, lots of ailments

- Let's go to eat? - To eat?

It's not a stain

It's a tear that never could come out

- And you? - I have no restrained tears

- That... - That's my third eye

It can't see well. It's crooked

- And your dad? - He died, when I was five

That is not true, he's very much alive

He'll come to see me for Christmas, as usual

- You look alike - We look alike

My mother died, really died

After the funeral we got together at the restaurant...

eating eggs, crying...

the telephone rang, and someone named Santamar�a called

He asked for Sarah, my mother...

and I said: "The lady is not in"

Luckily, he did call back and we got together

Santamar�a... it would be interesting to know him

I'd like to tell his story

A man with a very special job... return identities

I don't think it's so poetic for him

Sticking his hands in trashcans...

...can't be too nice

Wouldn't you like to work with me?

Obviously, she's in love. Why would she choose me?

What do I have to do with the world she like so much?

A TV star... "The Streets of Santamar�a"

I prefer "The Identities of Santamar�a"

- I like the other one better - The streets?

Yes... it's more urban

- What's her name? - Laura

Don't feel ashamed

How is it going?

Sometimes I think it's my imagination

Sometimes I think she's waiting for me

I mean, gestures, provocation. The moment to leap

But I think I wouldn't dare

You have to make them laugh. That's all

I'm courting a beauty now. A woman my age

You met her in the street?

No, this is a fine lady

She has a home, a job. A fine woman

And this woman... Elsa, is she alone?

No, but we're still in business

What is it, Estela?

I never see Ariel

He must be very busy

He's working a lot...

...and he's not working alone

Ram�n! Turn the Karaoke on. Simon wants to dance

Santamar�a, I can't let you in

I live alone and I don't trust people

And even though he's far and locked away,

I have a husband

Well... I love him and I miss him

You'll leave me out in the street?

Leave everything tidy

And don't take any chicks

The only chick I want to take

doesn't want to come

I'll call you in a minute

Don't worry, I'll call you back. Catch you later

Elsa!

I forgot how to do it

Let's try and remember

- 4, 8, 1, 2, 0... - 8, 5, 7, 1...

- I'm not home - Yes, we are

- Leave your message after the beep - We'll answer later

- You ruined my recording - Because we're playing games

Don't tell me a guy like you, young, with a job, is alone

Working in TV attracts women

That's the problem with the young

You've got everything but you don't have the technique, got it?

- Shall I explain? - Yes

Twenty-five minutes?

25 minutes, but don't rush it. You'll get tense

This is not a competition

This, Goldstein, takes time, like good wine

Yes... and then what?

Then what? Then you fly. You fly to the sky.

25 minutes, no more

- Do you feel at ease? - Yes, I do

Do you want to sleep here?

In your bed?

Are you afraid?

Yes, a bit

Besides, I didn't bring a toothbrush

It's important

Don't worry.

I have two

Roem: Laura's gone... to the world of dreams...

of sleeping women, women who dream...

about other sleeping women

Ariel... I want to meet Santamar�a

The safety booth

This is where poor Valerga was

He died in a shootout

Those were the tellers...

and this is where I was

Here was Echebarne, the accountant

He had problems with everything...

papers, his wife, the manager...

This is the kitchen, we got together to have mate,

and rolls on Fridays

It wasn't very big... Monday to Friday...

9 to 5, half an hour lunch break...

Usually I have a table over there

But today we are here

It's fine with me if women dance it

Very nice. I don't get it when men start to dance

hey perspire, naked...

A guy picks you up by the waist

He moves you around... I don't like it

Do you want to talk?

- Leaving? - It's getting late

No, Sarita, I'm fine

Estela helps with the restaurant

Ariel got a job and met new people

He misses you a lot of course

Yes, my love, Ram�n is also close to us

We are all fine, Sarita

Don't worry about a thing... Simon is not alone

My love, we'll be released for Christmas

They can't afford the cider here

So get the tree, the mate and the bed ready

And send me some cash for the ticket and some clean clothes

I'm coming back to stay. Missing you...

your jail lovebird

- What is it? - Nothing

- Sure? - Sure, what could happen?

- He's being released - Who?

Your husband, your jailed lovebird

How do you know?

Thieves are always released for Christmas

- Where is he? - Sierra Chica

- That's far away - Not that far

50 pesos for the train fare and something for clean clothes

But now, I'm broke

Talking about money... how much?

- Three hundred - Let's call it 350

Hanukah: A feast day, like Christmas...

...but without tree or Jesus

The fight of the Macabees is remembered...

a group of Jewish warriors

who recaptured the Temple at Jerusalem destroyed by the Greek

The story tells that these warriors, the Macabees,

entered the temple in darkness,

found a little vase with oil for lighting candles

The flame from this oil miraculously Illuminated them

for eight nights. The temple was reopened and purified

That's why today, and during eight nights we'll light them

Hanukah is the feast of lights, of the victory of spirit...

...of Identity over force

Santamar�a

For the ticket, a new shirt, and the cider

Why do you do this?

Some nights I dream about your warm bottom

against my tummy. It's wonderful

Then I wake up and your bottom is not there

Of course not, I have it in my bed

Do you really dream about me?

Every night, Elsa, I swear

To be recognized by someone

Someone from my previous life

My other life at the bank. The club, the credit cards

Some friend, a mate. Someone who will tell me:

Santa, how are you?

I don't know, someone who'll bring me back to the world

It's lacking a love story

Without a love story it's no good

She works at the restroom of a train station

Her name is Elsa

We could talk to her

It's what we need for the program

Laura, I want to come up with you

- What for? - What for?

To caress your back

To look at you naked, wash your clothes

Want me to wash your clothes? Whatever

No, I'm not alone

Of course you're not alone. You are with me

The door!

- Hi - Your dad called

It's there if you want to listen

- He's not coming... - No

I knew it

I feel embarrassed

Don't worry. Imagine when you see yourself on TV

My TV is very small. I'll probably won't fit in

- I'm not alone - You're married

That box is my husband

How are you, Rafael? How often so you write?

"Yerba mate", sugar and a radio to listen to the game

I think you don't want to get out

Here, your sweetheart is waiting

Tell me about Santamar�a

One night, a naked man shows up in my bathroom

and he comes every day...

and wants me to believe he loves me

That's it, what can I say...

there's no more to it

A good man, good company

You are Ariel's girlfriend

Who told you?

Who told you I'm Ariel's girlfriend?

Santamar�a

A man's version told by another man, about a woman

You're complicated. You'll scare the men away

Do you have a mate?

Sort of

Look after him, when you least expect it

all the men circling around you...

dying to kiss you and have children with you, disappear

And you have to make do with whatever you can get

Better don't play it close

When you are old it's nice to have someone to talk to

Santamar�a...

you are overdoing it!

I mean it, someone must have forgotten him

You just don't forget a baby in a trash can

I know about this

We can take him to the police

There's no way

we'll take a baby to the police on Christmas Eve

They'll eat him like a turkey

Go buy diapers for the kid

And don't you stay behind with your id's

What is it?

I'm going to Uruguay

I want to spend Christmas with my mother

I've been wanting to tell you for a week

But you were too busy, with your dad, your program...

Come here

I'm not a dog

I don't want you to scratch my back every now and then

I need to be with my mother...

to walk barefoot down the beach and let her cook for me...

and spoil me, and tell me how pretty her daughter is

That's all

It's closed

- Mr. Simon? - Yes?

I am Laura, a friend of your son's

Yes, my son always talks about you

Does he?

What are you looking for?

Ariel, he's not in?

No, he's working, at a wedding

I'm going there now I can take you

Yes, please. Thanks

Long live the newlyweds!

No, I don't miss her

The thing is, I'm still obsessed by some memories

They are always the same

Her feet on the pillow...

My hands holding her head when I helped her dye her hair

A wrinkle behind her ear

which she would scratch when nervous

When you speak like that you look like your son

- Who do you miss? - My father

Since we can't love each other,

we miss each other

That's why we keep well apart

Shalom!

You go with the men

Sure? Look after it

Where are you going?

To look for another man

Who?

My father

- He's not coming... - No, he's not coming

"Me-metendernoj"... So long

No. "Met zein darnoj". Catch you later

- How are you? - Fine

And the Karaoke?

It works

Your life?

It also works

Why did you escape?

Because... you were part of the plan

What plan?

You know it well, Estela

My only plan is to love you. That's all

Today is the last Hanukah night,

we'll reopen the restaurant and Estela is going to sing

We call ourselves Lonely People and we met through the Internet

We don't like the holiday season, Christmas and so on...

so we get together to discuss this

Today we are going to meet for the first time

The girls take the drinks, and we take something to eat

If you feel like it... you know

www.we're-not-alone -in-the-world.com

Just bring something to eat. Cheer up

Come Elsa, this is the last one. It's really something

Make a wish, Santamar�a...

make a wish

I've already made mine

"A Year Later"

It seems like yesterday...

Living alone is strange, you lose a lot of time

Paying taxes, defrosting the refrigerator,

having breakfast, changing the toilet paper...

...putting it into...

Ironing my shirts...

Today I ironed it for you but lately I don't...

I went to see a phonetician

and he tells me it's psychological

Listen: Isn't my speech more fluent now?

I got a new contract, for another six months,

on a trial basis

It's on trial, forever

At the beginning I had trouble with my bowel movements

Working at night and sleeping during the day...

Now I got used,

you get adapted

I'm no longer waiting for anyone

The Savior, the Messiah

It's not a guy with a beard who descends from the sky

with an impeccable tunic

I no longer wait for anyone

Why did you call?

I don't know. I wanted to know about your life

It works

- Simon works, the Karaoke... - Does it work?

The rich cousins, the bubble works

Today is Hanukah. This business about the candles...

Like last year

Like every other year

Today we light the last candle. Simon cooks, Estela sings

- What does Simon cook? - The usual

And what does Estela sing?

New stuff. Do you want to listen?