Original subtitles

Though this story is based on real events,

characters and dialogues have been fictionalized.

-Analía Basualdo. -Present!

-Pablo Contreras. -Present!

-Sebastián Salinas. -Present!

JUSTICE

The Criminal Court number 24

is prosecuting the defendants for gross negligence resulting in death...

The place should not have been authorized to open.

Three other fires had occurred at Cromañón before.

The emergency exit was locked with a padlock

and had an exit sign above it, which led people to it.

It led them to their death.

The venue was a ticking bomb.

It was later discovered that 60% of the venues in the city

did not meet legal requirements.

The kids were still blamed for what happened.

They called them "irresponsible" and "addicts."

We were irresponsible people who liked rock

and didn't have the ability to think.

The truth is, society turned its back on us.

CROMAÑÓN: THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE

Listen to this, listen to this!

Listen to this, listen to this!

It wasn't the flare or rock and roll

Corruption killed our kids

Come on, people!

-Cromañón's kids. -Present!

-Cromañón's kids. -Present!

-Now. -And forever.

-Now. -And forever.

AUGUST 2008

Good morning. Your ID, please.

Relax, everything will be fine.

-Shall we? -Yes.

Nerve-racking, isn't it?

Excuse me, witnesses aren't allowed to talk to each other.

I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Malena Guzmán.

We request the witness to state her full name.

Malena...

Malena Guzmán, sorry.

-Are you okay? -I am.

Please tell the prosecutor,

the district attorney and the judges

what you all experienced that night.

Tell us what you remember.

Can I say something first?

Go ahead.

I'd like to say that I'm here because someone saved my life.

His name was Javier Filgueiras.

If it hadn't been for him,

who saw me under a pile of passed-out kids and pulled me out,

I wouldn't be here, I'd be there at the back.

In one of those photos.

Like Lucas Binder, my boyfriend,

who sacrificed his life to save strangers.

All of us speaking here...

All those who are breathing, in fact...

Those of us still breathing have someone to thank.

I did not see Javier again.

But recently, the news of his death was shown on TV.

Javier couldn't take it because surviving is not easy.

Because at birth, life is given to you by your parents,

but when you're surviving, you have to create it yourself.

From scratch.

Because the world you knew does not exist anymore.

It doesn't exist anymore. It disappeared.

It disappeared in a minute.

And the only way that that won't affect you,

and drag you down,

is by holding someone's hand.

Just like we got out of Cromañón, by trusting in someone's kindness.

On a friend's back,

or a stranger's back, perhaps.

That's how we go on.

All right, Miss Guzmán.

The court has taken note of your words.

Whenever you are ready,

please tell us what happened on December 30th, 2004.

Hi.

So?

How does it feel?

It feels good.

It feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

-Love you. -Love you too.

-Hi. -Hi.

Hi.

We are Javier's parents.

Yes, of course.

-How are you? -Fine.

Malena, we wanted to thank you for what you said about our son.

No, I should be thankful,

eternally thankful.

Javier was a good, generous kid.

We weren't able to help him.

This is a documentary I'm making for college.

It's not finished yet, but I think you may like it.

It's about Cromañón.

And in a way, it also talks about Javier.

-Thank you. -We'll watch it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very kind.

-Bye. -Bye.

Mr. Binder, ma'am.

-Come in, please. -Thank you.

Of course.

Let me know if you need anything.

Lucas, my son.

We are not here to say goodbye,

but to honor the wish you once told your sister

of forever resting in this place that you treasured so much.

The people who love you immensely

are many more than those of us present here today.

We look up to you and will remember you forever.

I swear to God I'll honor your memory

till the day I die.

God bless you, my son, and may He keep you by His side.

I love you.

Here they are.

I can't believe it.

I thought I'd lost them.

Somehow they ended up in my backpack.

I didn't know they were there, but...

I had them developed thinking they were Javier's and...

It was crazy.

Look.

This was on Christmas Eve, remember?

I got the camera as a present.

No way...

This guy.

He lit a firecracker in front of the store that night.

He was so annoying.

Look at us here.

With Luquitas. He was always there for everybody.

Yes, I miss him a lot.

Do you want it?

Yes, thanks.

You're welcome.

VILLA CELINA'S PROJECTS

I'd get up every day...

thinking, I don't know, that Lucas

and my dead friends were going to call me.

Or ring the bell at home.

MY CROMAÑÓN - A DOCUMENTARY BY MARTÍN "BICHITO" CARUSO

I think that on December 30th

everything disappeared.

I don't know who can be prepared for something like that.

A few days before, the tsunami had hit.

I remember we talked about it

as if it had happened on another planet.

Cromañón was a place that wasn't up to my sister's expectations.

Life wasn't up to my sister's expectations.

In my opinion, God tested me.

It was as if He said,

"Let's see if you can be happy after this.

"I'll give you four sticks and a piece of tarp

"and you'll have to build your happy house with it."

Come on, Luqui. Come this way.

I don't know if I built a house.

But I was able to build a family.

Luca saved me from the darkness.

Thanks to the fact that I wasn't able to enter the venue,

I'm alive today.

And now, every time something bad happens to me

I can't help but wonder,

"What if it's for the best?"

Guilt haunts you. Why me and not them?

It takes a while to stop wondering that.

But you need to let go, for them and for ourselves.

Girl, girl

Don't you see I'm a simple boy?

Girl, girl

If you leave me, I'm gonna die

I don't know why, I don't know why

I'm sorry, dude. What I said was uncalled for.

Yes, I'm sorry too.

I got very defensive. There was no need for that.

I don't know.

We are two fools, then.

Let me have some of that.

The band sounds good.

It needs a bass guitar. It sounds a bit rattly.

Don't get my hopes up.

It'd be nice, wouldn't it?

The Peces Chinos are back.

New members, new style.

You know I'm not good with words.

Since you mention it,

we'll get back together, but I'll write the lyrics.

But we keep the ones we have. They were very hard to write.

Bullshit, bro.

Last beer, guys. I'm going to the movies.

Come on, Bicho.

In American movies, judges wear gowns and beautiful wigs.

Or is it in English movies?

Thanks, bud.

In winter, it's fine. But to wear that costume in summer...

-Wait, let's make a toast. -Yes.

To the guys.

Male, what you said at the trial moved me. Hats off to you.

Thanks.

It made me feel closer to the guys.

-He's on his way. -Are they coming?

No, Tuca disappeared

and Cheti and Lucila couldn't find a babysitter for Luca. It's just Dani.

We'll meet him at last.

Are you nuts? You wanna freak him out?

Seriously, the movie is about to start. He can say hi and then we go.

I'm the only loser who's single then.

No, I'm joining that club too.

What?

I broke up with Tam.

Are you serious?

Yes, but we're good.

It was for the best.

We'll remain close, but in a different way.

I'll get the door.

-How are you? -How's it going?

-Fine, and you? -All good?

Martín told me a lot about you guys.

-He told us a lot about you too. -He did? I wonder what he said.

How did you meet?

At Colón Theater.

So fancy.

Bullshit. We met in a restroom at an awful party.

And despite the awful environment, we fell in love.

Unbelievable.

-I'll get you a beer. -No, it's late.

It takes half an hour to get there.

-Right. -So let's go.

We're leaving too.

No need, you can leave whenever you want.

-No. -No.

Leave the keys in the mailbox, I'll stay at Dani's.

Let's go out together another time.

Hurry, or we won't make it.

You have a light?

Yes.

What's that?

This?

My ticket to Rosario.

Leaving already?

Yes.

I might drop out of college.

Really? Why?

I feel I don't belong.

They spend hours talking nonsense because they live close by.

I have to take a bus, the subway. It takes forever.

That's why you're dropping out? Because it's far?

No.

I don't know what I want. What will I do when I graduate?

Be a writer.

Yes, but they don't teach you that.

They teach you to jabber about literature.

I'm not interested in reading Góngora or the Russian formalists.

Who are the Russian formalists?

Some guys from Russia.

I don't know. They teach you to speak nonsense

instead of what's important.

He's like a god

And she's like the Virgin

And the gods taught them to sin

And in eternity They both merged their souls

Like kissing the girl you like.

To bring life to this sad love song

To this sad love song

ROSARIO EXPRESS

My ticket! What did you do, asshole?

Wake up, come on.

If you're going, I want to enjoy you.

-Are you sure you're going back? -I am.

I want to end the year there.

Are you sure?

Yes.

What's college like? Is it good?

Nicolás, you're so intense.

Intense, me? You asked me a lot of questions yesterday.

"Who are the Russian formalists? Who's Górgora?"

I don't talk like that and I didn't say Górgora, idiot.

You're so beautiful.

We'll have enough room, right?

The boxes labelled "fragile" have to be handled carefully.

Please, guys, careful with the boxes.

Loving you like this

Made me understand

That our love was just an idea

A drawing on the sand

Excellent.

Thanks.

It's just a draft.

When will we listen to the final version?

I don't know.

When the time comes.

Darling, I left some bags here.

I'm coming.

Let's put the TV in the car. It won't survive in there.

It's already loaded in the car.

Great.

I never thought this day would came.

I'm leaving this place.

It's going to be fine. Come on.

Yes, I know, everything is great, but I'm nervous anyway.

But it's going to be fine.

Besides, a drugstore in the city? You'll make a ton of cash.

Of course, a new Betty.

In the city and with cash, I'll go all out.

Well, we're ready, ladies.

-I'll go with the truck. -Yes, great.

I'm taking Male to the bus station and then I'm going...

Where? You're going...

-Home. -Home, of course.

-I wish you the best. -Bye, Juan Carlos.

-Take care of her. -Of course.

-I hate goodbyes. -I know.

-Besides, I'm not properly parked... -Go, it's fine.

-Call me when you get there. -Yes, don't worry. I will.

-Good. -Love you.

I love you more, darling.

I'm so proud of you, you know?

I know.

Off you go.

-Bye. -Bye.

Loving you like this

Is hard to understand

FOR LUQUI

This is the third time

I've thought of going back

I never learn, no

I never learn the lesson

It's so hard, it's so hard

When you leave, my love

One second, please.

Once again, we are here together on another December 30th, as every year,

to remember those who are still alive in all of us

and give us strength to demand justice.

ANNUAL GATHERING OF CROMAÑÓN SURVIVORS

Let's have a good time. That's what rock and roll is about.

That's why we went to Cromañón.

Thank you for coming, for the support.

We know how much it hurts and what it means.

Let's play some music.

Loving you like this

Made me understand

That our love was just an idea

A drawing on the sand

JUSTICE FOR THE CROMAÑÓN KIDS

Loving you like this

Made me understand

That our love was just an idea

A drawing on the sand

Come on!

When I wake up

I can hear your voice

MUSIC DOES NOT KILL

My heart looks for you

Beyond this pain

I never learn, no I never learn, no

I never learn the lesson

It's so hard, it's so hard

Not to pay attention to you

THERE WERE FOUR CROMAÑÓN CRIMINAL TRIALS, 21 PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED,

AND 1,200 CIVIL LAWSUITS AGAINST THE STATE,

WHICH, IN MANY CASES, ARE STILL AWAITING A VERDICT.

OMAR CHABÁN WAS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON.

HE DIED FROM CANCER WHILE UNDER HOUSE ARREST.

THE MEMBERS OF CALLEJEROS SERVED SENTENCES

RANGING FROM THREE TO SEVEN YEARS.

ANÍBAL IBARRA, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT, WAS REMOVED FROM OFFICE

THROUGH IMPEACHMENT BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE CITY.

A YEAR LATER, HE RETURNED TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE.

AFTER A LONG STRUGGLE, FAMILY MEMBERS AND SURVIVORS MANAGED

TO TURN THE BUILDING WHERE CROMAÑÓN STOOD INTO A MEMORIAL SPACE IN OCTOBER 2022.

EVERY YEAR, ORGANIZATIONS MEET AND MARCH

TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS AND KEEP THE SLOGAN "NEVER AGAIN" ALIVE.

-Cromañón's kids. -Present!

-Cromañón's kids. -Present!

-Now! -And forever!

-Now! -And forever!

THIS SERIES IS DEDICATED TO THE 194 VICTIMS, FAMILIES...

The kids are here more than ever. Let heaven hear it. Let's go on.

...AND SURVIVORS WHO BRAVELY OPENED THEIR HEARTS AND SHARED THEIR STORIES.

This is what I'm like

The street lives in me

I saw it coming

And I didn't want to say it

The neighborhood sings at night for me

She is happy

With her gray handkerchief

I don't know how to say

What she wants to hear

Life always has something else to discover

And I think that with you My fears may disappear

I'm always somewhere else

Imagining something else

I know today

My time has passed

But I always want to be with you

This is how it is

I know you saw something in me

I don't know how to say

What you want to hear

Life always has something else to discover

And I think that with you My fears may disappear

I'm always somewhere else

Imagining something else

I know today

My time has passed

But I want to be with you

Bravo!

Thank you very much.

For the Cromañón's kids.