Water wars. In particular, this one: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Cochabamba_protests
Some say it’s the future. And not just in California. Though the continuing drought there generally gets all the press here in America. Instead, these conflicts will sprout up more increasingly across the globe. Some link it to global warming. Others link it to climate change in general.
And some link it to…imperialism.
The perils of imperialism. And the profits. And here it goes all the way back to Christopher Columbus. So basically we get to observe just how imperialism is able to link the present with the past; and how in attempting to shed light on it you can find yourself smack dab in the middle of its [still] brutal legacy.
Yes, there actually are people who think of “imperialism” as something that happened way back then. Way back in history sometime. When of course the rich and the powerful still sustain it in any number of ways today. You don’t have to enslave people to be imperialists.
Here though one might be idealistic about all of this [Sebastin] or one might be cynical [Costa]. Along the way however they tend to shift back and forth. It just depends on what is actually at stake.
Or [sure] one might just leave it all in the hands of God.
Look for crony capitalism in its most blatant and flagrant form. Only rarely does it go that far in the more “civilized” nations today. It doesn’t have to. In part because the citizens are themselves just plain cowed.
This film was dedicated to the memory of Howard Zinn, who had much to say about the legacy of imperialism. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Zinn
IMDb
The scene where the little girl sees herself on screen was kind of a self homage by director/actress Icíar Bollaín. She wanted to transmit her first impression when she saw herself on screen being a teenager.
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Even_the_Rain
trailer: youtu.be/3JKs8aSb7eo
EVEN THE RAIN [También la Iluvia] 2010
Directed by Icíar Bollaín
[b]Costa: We’ll just see the ones here. The rest can leave.
Sebastin: No, Costa, wait, we can’t do that.
Costa: Shit, we can’t see them all, Sebastin. If you prefer, pick the ones you like and get rid of the rest. But do it now! Come on. Come on. Come on. Choose the ones you like.
…
Costa [after the people in line refuse to leave]: What’s wrong?
Daniel [holding up a flyer]: “Everyone gets a chance.” That’s what it says. And my girl wants to act.
Costa: Yeah, her and 200 others…but we can’t see them all, understand?
Daniel: You don’t understand, white face. We’ve been waiting for hours. Some have come from very far on foot. Now you tell us to leave. You have to see all of us. We’re not leaving until you see us all. We’re not moving from here![/b]
And all to get $2 a day.
[b]Maria: Sebastin, tell me something. We’re in Bolivia. It doesn’t make much sense. Because we’re 7,500 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountains, and thousands of miles from the Caribbean.
Sebastin: Well, Costa thinks Columbus landed by parachute.
Costa: No, Costa knows this place is full of starving natives, and that means thousands of extras.
…
Sebastin: No, Costa, no. This could be a mess, really. Have you seen their faces? Please, they’re Quechua.
Costa: So?
Sebastin: What do you mean, “so?” They’re from the Andes! What’s Columbus doing with natives from the Andes?
Costa: From the Andes or wherever, they’re natives. They’re all the same.
Sebastin: No.
Costa: You can negotiate things here – hotels, transport, catering, whatever.
Maria: So, it’s about money.
Costa: Yes, yes! It’s always money, always, always. Well, in this case, very little money, right?
…
Anton [playing Christopher Columbus]: I, Christopher Columbus, humble servant of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the one true God, take possession of these lands and seas and all they contain. And with this act I proclaim sovereignty over these lands and seas on behalf of their most gracious Majesties.
…
Anton [playing Columbus to a member of his crew]: Mingle with them. The first man to find gold will be rewarded. Captain…treat them well. We need their food. And find out what arms they have.
…
Admiral [in the film]: I spoke personally with their Majesties, who instructed me to treat you with respect and cordiality. We ask that you recognize the Church and the Pope as rulers of the universe. And also that you accept the King and the Queen of Spain as rulers of these lands. In exchange, you will receive our love and our charity.
Native: And if we do not?
Admiral: Captain…
Captain: If not we will enslave you and dispose of you as we wish. We will seize your possessions and we will do you as much harm as we can.
Native: What do you want from us?
Captain: Taxes.[/b]
Gold, in other words.
[b]Maria: Alberto, can you tell us about your character?
Alberto: Well, my character is Bartolome de las Casas. He came to the lndies when he was 18 to take charge of a plantation and the Indian slaves who worked there. But later, traumatized by the massacres he witnessed, he devoted his life to the Indians. He became a Dominican. He was nearly murdered twice. On his deathbed – and I’m quoting verbatim. Don’t laugh, listen. He said, “I condemn the blindness of those who ignore the genocide and give orders to the world”. This guy was the father of international law, and I’m only in eight scenes!
…
Anton: He never, Beto. Christopher Columbus never questioned Spanish authority over the New World or royal authority. In other words, he was a conservative.
Beto: He was a radical! A radical! He demanded that Indians be treated equally as Spaniards!
Anton: Under the Crown!
Beto: But with the Indians’ consent. He was ahead of his time.
Costa: How the fuck did Disney pass on this?
…
Village woman [to the company cops]: What are you doing to the well? We dug this well with our own hands so our children could drink. You’ve got no right to close the well! How can we live with dirty water? You take our lands, you take our wells. Are you going to take the air, too?
…
Priest [acting in the film]: The Pharisees sent someone to ask John the Baptist who he was. And he replied, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness.” The Indians mine the gold which builds our cities and even our churches. Gold finances our conquests in far distant parts and so the great wheel of commerce turns. Not one of us is untouched by Indian sweat, least of all His Majesty and his bishops!
…
Priest [in film]: The truth has many enemies. The lie has many friends.
…
Daniel [at a political rally against the privatization of the nation’s water supply]: They sell our rivers against our will. They sell our wells, our lakes and even the rain that falls on our heads! By law! Friends, it’s incredible! They don’t allow us to collect the water that falls from the rain, by law! And who takes even the rain? A company whose owners are in London and California. Friends, what are they going to steal next? The vapor from our breath? The sweat from our brow? All they get from me is piss!!
…
Maria: Costa, they say that they want to mobilize thousands.
Costa: So?
Maria: From the countryside…from the city, the unions. People are furious. Imagine a documentary about this. Costa, let me do it.
Costa: No, I’m not spending another penny.
Maria: Costa, they’re going to raise hell. And if we don’t tell the story, we’re going to let a great chance escape.
Costa: I said no! I’m not a fucking NGO! This story has nothing to do with me.
…
Costa: Daniel, we’re going to make a fantastic film, you’ll see. No, really. Sebastin is preparing some amazing scenes – hundreds of guys in the ravine panning for gold.
Daniel [parroting back Costas on the phone in English]: “Fucking epic, and you’re there! You’re there, man! What? Two fucking dollars, right? And they’re happy.”
…
Sebestin [explaining the scene to the native actors]: It’s a horrific choice…heartbreaking. You can’t bear the idea that the dogs will eat the babies. We’ll see you talking to Hatuey and how you understand that there’s no other solution, that you have to make this decision and you have to make it together to give each other courage. So you’ll take the babies…slowly, wade into the river, put them in the water, and drown them.
Daniel: They won’t do it.
Sebastin: Look, I know it’s difficult, but we have to get them to do it. We need it for the film…
Daniel: Sebastin, they can’t even imagine the idea of doing it.
Sebastin: I’m not making this up. It’s what happened. We have to show it. It’s important for the film. Please.
Daniel: Sebastin, some things are more important than your film.
…
Man [to government official]: They’re burning the water bills.
Government official: Excuse me, a little domestic row. Nothing for you to worry about. Don’t worry.
Man: “Let them eat cake,” as Marie Antoinette said. It’s only an excuse for some fanatics to stir up the desperate and gain a name for themselves.
Sebastin: Forgive me for saying so, but I think their demands are reasonable.
Government official: Perhaps if you were better informed…We’re a country with few resources. It’s hard to maintain a water supply without major foreign investment. These people think that government money grows on trees. Very good. Given their long history
of exploitation, Indians’ distrust is embedded in their genes. It’s very difficult to reason with them, especially when they’re illiterate. But that’s how it is. We have objective reports from Harvard professors, the IMF…
Man: I’d love to see those bastards feed their families on 40 fucking dollars a month!
Government official: Anyway, in this globalized world…
…
Costa [after Daniel has been beaten up at the demonstration]: Can no one else do this water stuff? Are you listening? Ah… playing the silent, dignified Indian? Fucking great.
[pause]
Costa: If we catch you at another demonstration, you won’t get a fucking penny. Is that clear?
[Daniel says nothing…just stares at him]
Costas: I’ll tell you what. We’ll give you an extra $5,000 if you stay away from demonstration until we’re finished. Okay? What? Forgive me, it’s beneath you? Or not enough? Eh, Daniel? Not enough? $8,000? $10,000? $10,000, Daniel, $10,000. $10,000.
Half now, half when we finish! You’ve never seen so much money in your life! It’s your only fucking chance to get out of this shithole where you live, and you’re smart enough to see that! Or not?[/b]
He takes the money. But that’s all he does.
[b]Sebastin: What if he’s beaten up when he comes back? If he’s tortured, killed, or disappeared? These bastards can do anything. I don’t want that on my conscience.
Costa: But he’s in jail already! We didn’t put him there. And the bastard tricked us. Without the scene, there’s no film. You fucking know that.
Sebastin: Okay, but we tip him off.
…
Costa: Daniel? You promised me. We made a deal. You broke your word.
Daniel: Water is life. You don’t understand.
…
Priest [in film]: I beg you, Commander. This will turn the Indians against us for generations. The Crown will prosecute you!
Commander: I doubt it, Father.
Priest: This isn’t Christian!
Commander: Choose 13, and the rest go free. One for each disciple and one for Christ Himself! Want to choose them, Father?
Priest: This is a sacrilege.
Commander: No, Father. It’s an example.
…
Costa: I’m taking Belen to the hospital.
Sebastin: No, no, you’re crazy! No, Costa, listen to me! This confrontation is going to end, and it’ll be forgotten. But our film is going to last forever. Please, come with us. If anything happens to you, we’re all fucked!
Costa: Listen to me for once in your life! If anything happens to that child, I’ll never forgive myself.
Sebastin: The army is on its way! They’ll crush everyone! You too!
Costa: I can’t leave the child there! I can’t leave her there. Help me out, man, please.
Sebastin: Fuck!!
Costa: Help me, Sebastin, please! You go with the crew. I just can’t leave that child. I can’t.
…
TV reporter: The army is firing with live ammo! I’ve seen a dozen drop, but the demonstrators still charge. Rocks against bullets!
…
Costsa [showing Daniel a news story]: You’re in the news everywhere. “Multinational pulls out of Bolivia after water war.” That’s you.
Daniel: It always costs us dear. It’s never easy. I wish there was another way. But there’s not. And the toughest bit is still to come.[/b]