Original subtitles

IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED FRIEND AND DIRECTOR MOISÉS ORTÍZ URQUIDI

I'm still here. I don't know. 1 or 2 hours, it's not up to me, Alberto.

1 YEAR EARLIER

Give him something light for dinner.

Ham and cheese rolls, and send him to bed.

And Lucía?

Why isn't she there?

Yes, but you're the dad. You're the one in charge right now.

Gabriela.

I have to go now.

Bye.

Is there anything pending? Any calls?

No, Senator.

-Are you sure? -Yes, absolutely sure.

It's for you.

Go ahead. Open it.

I love it.

It's beautiful.

Not as much as you.

-Do you like it? -Yes, a lot.

We are alone, aren't we?

What do you think?

EVERY MINUTE COUNTS

3 HOURS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Seems like there wasn't a quake here.

It's like living in another world.

One where there are no problems.

We all have problems.

Just that they have the money to solve them.

That's true. This country runs on money and influence.

Do you know what time it is?

I think it's after 10:00 a.m.

And the tremor was at about 7:00, right?

7:19.

That's what they said on the news, while it was happening.

What time is it?

GENERAL HOSPITAL ÁNGEL

Thanks.

-It's still early for help to arrive. -Doctor.

We didn't get baby formula. We only have this.

We're still stuck. We can't get in.

It's too narrow and if we keep digging, it'll collapse.

Maybe I can fit. I already went in. I think I'll fit.

No. Don't even think about it. It's too dangerous.

-Okay. So what do we do? -Just wait.

Wait for specialists with tools.

-Mom! -Honey. What are you doing here?

How's your grandmother?

Fine, Mom. Almost nothing happened there.

That's good.

Here is fine.

Thanks a lot for bringing me.

-Do you want me to wait for you? -No, don't worry.

I'm sure my boss will help me. You'd better go see your family.

My family is fine. Don't worry.

I won't be long.

Hello, I'm from the senator's office...

Good morning, Senator.

What are you doing? How could you think of coming here?

One of the buildings in Tlatelolco collapsed.

I'm pretty sure it's mine.

But they blocked the entrances and I can't get my children.

That's strange. Nothing happened here.

-Are you sure it collapsed? -Aren't you listening, Miguel?

-Well, what do you want me to do? -Help me.

My children are there.

You could call one of your contacts,

ask them to send rescuers, support--

No, I can't do anything for you.

It's best that you leave immediately

because, sorry, but none of what's happening is my problem.

Okay? Come on, let's go.

You told me my building was fine.

And now my family is most likely trapped in there.

Okay, but my family will be here soon.

If they find you here, you'll really get to know me.

-Please, I beg you, help me. -Come on, leave.

You're a bastard.

Let's see what the press say when they find out you're fucking your secretary.

Let's go!

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IGNACIO

Come in.

Nacho.

We need to move attention from the Federal District.

Promoting beaches, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Zihuatanejo.

What worries me is FIFA will use the earthquake to take away the World Cup.

-They'll screw us. What do you propose? -Well, I don't know.

Deploy the army,

the entire Department of Public Works of the Federal District

to salvage what is salvageable.

To rebuild what's been most affected, such as the General Hospital.

That will take time.

Well, then give it a facelift.

Meanwhile, check that all the information from the disaster comes out slowly.

We have to inspire confidence in FIFA.

For now, no foreign press.

No images can be leaked abroad.

Let's see.

The earthquake is a tragedy,

but the only hope of economic recovery for Mexico

is the World Cup next year.

That's exactly what we have to say to the president.

Sorry, Rogelio. I didn't expect this to happen.

Me neither.

I know you heard everything, but it doesn't matter anymore.

What matters now

is my children, my family.

I'm no one to judge you.

My husband hasn't worked for over a year.

I'm the one paying for everything,

and I'm working overtime so that my children are okay.

I'm doing everything for them.

And well,

we started to spend a lot of time together,

and one thing led to another and...

I liked it.

I liked feeling desired,

I liked feeling young.

Being away from my problems.

But, well.

SENATOR

Now I have this.

Actually, that was fun.

Are you up for it?

No, I'm not going in there.

I have a family.

I don't want to die.

-Relax, I'm fine. -Pepín.

What is it?

Hilda's trapped down there.

We're in contact with her.

-Is she alone? -No.

She's with Rosario, Toña, and some newborns.

-Are they okay? -For the time being, yes.

But...

Do you remember that I asked Hilda to swap shifts?

Yes, I remember. But what does that have to--

So, Chavela, you're telling me

if you hadn't swapped shifts, you'd be down there?

Exactly.

Please.

We need you to go into the tunnel, Pepín.

You're our only hope.

We have to give them fluids to keep the babies going

until help comes.

-Okay. -Wait.

Just don't mention José.

What happened to José?

-All right. -Be careful, Daddy. Please.

I'll be fine, honey.

Take care.

Take the bottles.

Get us out of here! Help!

TLATELOLCO BUILDING COLLAPSE ALBERTO

Help us! Get us out of here!

There are three of us down here.

Alberto, her water broke.

What do we do?

Katia, girl.

If there's light over there, then there must be another way.

Katia, are you awake?

Katia, promise me that you'll stay awake.

I promise to get you out of here. Okay, Katia?

-Stay with her. -I'm here, yes.

I'm going to look for a way out.

Look at me. Don't worry. Your dad will be fine.

My love.

Okay. Grab hold.

Your dad is tied to this hose.

Do you feel it? Anything happens, we pull it together.

Hilda? Hilda, can you hear me?

I can't hold up my arms anymore.

Rest a little, Toña.

I always thought I was going to die first.

And be buried later.

Now, it's the other way around. We're all going to die anyway.

Nobody is going to die here, Rosario.

Stop talking nonsense, please.

The doctor is going to get us out of here.

But alive?

How long have we been here?

Can anyone hear me?

It's Pepín!

Pepín?

-It's Pepín, isn't it? -Pepín?

-Pepín! -Pepín!

-We are here! -Here!

Here we are! I can hear you!

-Hilda, my friend! -We can hear you!

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me? Make noise!

I'm coming! Make noise!

I'm coming.

Pepín, have you seen José? Where is he?

No.

No, I didn't see him.

When I arrived they sent me in the tunnel with the serum for the babies.

-Charo? -You're doing great, Pepín!

I can hear you close by!

It's Toña!

That's it, Toña!

I knew you'd make it!

Hold on, I'm on my way.

Pepín!

We're here! Can you hear us?

I... I see you, my friend.

I found one!

She's alive!

5 YEARS EARLIER

Hey, do you know how this works?

Fatty.

Will you help me, please?

Do you think I'm fat?

You're very handsome.

Do you want a normal alarm clock or music? 107.9.

Go ahead.

Wake me up with your jazz and you'll get scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Thank you.

What's wrong, love?

We shouldn't have bought this apartment.

Don't say that. Why not?

I found out it's one of the largest projects

between the government and private initiative.

What does that mean?

They made a killing because they used second-rate materials.

They stole everything they could.

This apartment is all we have.

Are you sure?

I have to confront them.

I don't know. What if they get mad?

You know who you're messing with, right?

I can't keep silent.

I'm going to push until they fix the building

and reinforce the foundations.

Well, you're the engineer.

If you say that it needs to be done, I trust you.

Let's go to sleep.

We're here.

Thank you for everything, Rogelio. Really.

Glad to have been able to help.

I hope you find your children soon.

I know they're alive.

Ma'am.

You keep forgetting your bag.

Yes, that's true. How silly.

Give it to your wife. It's designer.

Chave.

-What is it, doctor? -Chave, the cafeteria.

-What about the cafeteria? -It's intact.

-What, it didn't collapse? -No.

But all the buildings are damaged.

But the cafeteria's fine. It's one level. We can use it.

So what are we waiting for, doctor? Let's go.

Lie down. That's it.

I'm going to get her out!

Be ready to pull! I'll let you know!

What's your name?

-Andrea. -Andrea, I'm going to get you out of here.

-Where's my baby? -Your baby?

Look, right now, what matters is I'm getting you out of here safely, okay?

Don't worry.

-What's your baby's name? -Ricardo.

Ricardo. What a nice name he has.

I'll get you out of here so you can join Ricardo.

Stay calm, okay?

I'll pull you. Hold on.

Hold on, okay? Hold on.

There's no entry, but if you name the right price...

They're corrupt.

You cannot pass.

I think I can.

I'm here on behalf of Senator Tello.

No entry.

They're shameless!

Hey, officer, why'd you let her through?

-That's how the country works. -I've been here for an hour!

My God, please let them be okay.

Please be okay, be okay.

Your foolishness again.

Look, I just filmed you taking money and letting people with influence enter.

You decide.

-Go through. -Thanks.

Hey, hey.

She's coming with me.

Please take care of the girl. Luis! More sacks!

It's very ugly back here.

Come on!

More buckets!

This way. Pablo, follow me. Help me.

It will be okay, honey.

-Does it hurt? I know it hurts, honey. -My God.

You will be okay. I swear you will be able to see again.

1 YEAR EARLIER

Hey, did you talk to the engineer?

Yes, don't worry. I spoke with engineer Padilla

and he said yes, indeed, there was a corrupt employee

who skimped on materials to take a cut for himself.

But they found out what he was doing

and now the guy's been fired.

So my building is still unsafe.

Not if the foundations are reinforced.

Well, they were only reinforced

because Alberto made the engineer see that it was needed.

But he says they didn't do a good job, that we're still at risk.

Look, your husband is paranoid.

Do you think the company would get everyone out of their homes just for show?

It's one of the most important companies in the country.

Do you think they would risk their reputation that way?

Right.

No, no, no.

What they did was criminal.

They built a poor construction that endangers many lives,

including our own.

No, Beto, you're paranoid.

Do you think the biggest construction company in the country

would jeopardize its reputation for something like this?

If they said they fixed the building, then they did.

You should have listened to them and left it alone.

No, I couldn't keep silent.

And when the problems return, everyone will just wash their hands.

The builders will blame the government, the government will blame the builders.

In these deals, everyone gets rich and no one's responsible.

Well, sure.

It's easy to be morally superior to the builders and the lawyer,

while at home there are bills to pay, there's food to buy.

And the mortgage? How are we going to pay it?

Talk to me.

What if he dies?

He's not going to die.

He's moving, look. Can you feel him?

And your family, honey?

My parents live in Puebla.

They don't like the idea of being grandparents.

But I don't need them.

I have my grandmother here.

I know that we'll get out. I promise you that we'll get out.

I know it seems impossible,

but things happen in life, that seem impossible.

Katia?

Katia. No. Katia.

Hold on. Please hold on. Hold on, hold on.

It's nothing. I've got you.

-Dad. -How are you? Are you okay?

I'm fine. I'm fine, Chavela.

Good thing the tunnel was safe. Right?

Doctor, you have to take her, quickly.

-Take her. Let's go. -We'll take her to the cafeteria.

Quickly.

Is anyone there?

We're here!

-Is anyone there? -We're here!

Excuse me.

What?

Do you have any relatives working in the government, with influence?

No. Why?

There are a lot people who've been waiting for hours

and they let you through.

I don't think it's fair that only some are allowed in.

Nothing is fair.

I'm here, my whole family is there, buried.

And my husband warned me.

He told me that this could happen, and I didn't listen to him.

-What did your husband know? -Everything.

Everything, because he worked

for the construction company that built this entire housing complex.

-But he was fired. -Why did they fire him?

They're powerful people.

He wasn't just fired.

He was blacklisted everywhere.

Would you like to make a statement?

I think this is very important.

Yes. All right.

Hilda, Rosario, can you hear me?

Hilda!

Doctor.

Rosario, Hilda, Toña!

-Doctor. -What?

You're putting people at risk.

Pepín went in. And Andrea before him.

-You're making decisions while tired. -What do we do? We have to get them out.

We have to work as a team.

It's great you want to rescue your people, you want to help,

but are you listening?

Or do you listen to just yourself?

Look.

We will do whatever you say.

We'll fully support you.

But we have to work differently.

After '81, we were all taken out of the building.

And this was only because my husband, Alberto Sánchez, pressured them.

-But it was pure pantomime. -Why pantomime?

They did nothing.

When my husband realized and confronted them, they fired him.

God only knows how much richer they got with the first construction,

and then with the supposed repairs.

All those people are criminals.

They are.

Anything else?

Only that I was wrong.

He tried and tried to convince me

that we should move somewhere else,

and I didn't listen.

I said he was crazy.

But he was the only one who took all of this seriously.

It's fine. Keep giving it to him. We have to check that, okay?

-If it continues-- -We've cleared that area.

-Right, we have to clear all this. -Yes, doctor.

And we have to help them take all that out, okay?

-Yes, doctor. -Thank you.

How are you? Okay? Yeah.

We lost her.

Her son, Ricardo, is with Hilda.

Who organized all this?

Carlos?

Friends listening to us,

we are witnessing one of the saddest events

in our city's long history.

We are unable to estimate the number injured of at this time,

we cannot estimate the number of deaths.

But from what we have seen on our tour,

we are facing an event that needs the solidarity

of all the city's inhabitants and of all Mexicans.

First, we need discipline.

I request everyone kindly not to leave their homes.

Those listening in the provinces,

we will keep you informed for your peace of mind.

We'll talk only about what we are seeing'?

It's reported the Ministry of Communications and Transportation

has partially collapsed and is on fire.

It's reported that Hotel Romano...

I don't know, I thought that at least...

Is anyone there?

-Did you hear that? -Help!

Yes, can you hear me?

Yes! Help, get us out of here!

-Are you okay? Hold on. Wait a second. -Yes, I'm okay!

Someone's here!

There's someone down here!

Someone's there!

Someone's there.

-What's your name, sir? -Víctor Manuel Fernández.

What is it, sir? Why are you so overwhelmed?

Here I was, in my store...

Let's see... Let's see how... Hand it to him.

Watch your fingers, like this.

Knees, arch your back.

Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine! Get me out of here, please!

-Alberto, is that you? -Gabriela!

-Darling! -Yes, it's me!

It's my husband.

-Are you okay? -Yes, I'm okay.

We'll get you out.

Are the children with you?

No, they're not with me, but please get me out of here.

There are still people alive down here.

Don't worry, we'll get you out.

-From there and there. -Watch your fingers.

There's a large rock. We'll move it on the count of three, okay?

We're ready.

-Okay, one... -...two, three.

Sweetheart. Here you are.

This is Dr. Zambrano from the hospital that collapsed this morning.

Approximately 150 people are trapped, including newborns.

Hey. Shut up.

Family members, colleagues, doctors.

We urgently need baby formula, bottles,

all kinds of tools, buckets,

blankets, water.

Any kind of help is needed.

Urgently, please.

-My darling. Slowly, slowly. -Yes.

Darling. I love you, I love you.

-Are you okay? -I'm fine.

-Really? Thank goodness. -Yes.

Over here. Here.

Give me water.

What's wrong?

Down there, there's a lady and a pregnant girl waiting to be rescued.

My children are buried there too,

as well as family members of each one of you.

Please, it's urgent. There is no time to lose.

-Is the pregnant woman's name Katia? -Yes, Katia. And Regina.

That's my teacher.

I also heard cries for help, so there are survivors.

Were any of those voices our children?

No, but we'll find them. You'll see.

There are survivors.

That's the only thing we know so far, and that's a lot.

All right.

-We have to get them out, please. -Yes.

Flashlights, lamps, tools.

TLATELOLCO BUILDING COLLAPSE LUCÍA AND PABLO

Pablo.

Pablo?

Pablo?

Pablo. Pablo, please, wake up. Please.

Pablo!