Short film criticizes life without water in the Guaranà aquifer
-
Loading... - Benjamin Rogers
- 22 Apr 2022
- 315 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
This is how ( water in Guaraní) begins , the new short film by Paraguayan director Cristina Arana and starring Jork Aveiro, where water cuts are denounced in one of the countries that is home to the third largest aquifer in the world: the Guaraní aquifer .
"The goal is for people to wake up a little and see what is really happening not only in Paraguay , but in the world. Because this happens in many countries around the world," the filmmaker explains to EFE.
Based in Spain for 18 years, the thirtysomething Arana found the inspiration for this twelve-minute piece in the 45 days she spent in her native country, with her father.
"I woke up with him at half past four or five in the morning to drink mate and then he reheated the water from the day before because there wasn't any. He opened the tap and it didn't come out," he says with indignation.
However, Arana has no qualms about admitting that part of the genesis of the work was the product of a day of wine with his friend and star of the short film, Jork Aveiro.
"Jork told me: Hey Cris, what if we do something together? The next day I woke up and saw a message asking me if what we talked about yesterday was still standing. I said yes and started writing the story," they admit to EFE between laughs.
NORMALIZE CORRUPTION
For the director, it is "contradictory" that Paraguayans suffer from water shortages, while the Guaraní aquifer irrigates the fields and quenches the thirst of their Uruguayan, Brazilian and Argentine neighbors.
"For this to happen in the capital of a country is quite harsh and shameful," Arana denounces, while pointing to "bestial corruption in administration" and "disastrous infrastructure" as the main reasons why the situation is not reversed.
"We know that politicians and rulers have to invest in roads and infrastructure for water and electricity and there is none. There is a bestial corruption in that sense and people ended up getting used to it," reflects Arana.
For his part, Aveiro assures that, unlike "other peoples and countries," Paraguayans are satisfied with "the crumbs" that the government gives them, while their electoral programs "end up as mere promises."
"We live in a constant state of passivity," says the actor, adding that "Paraguay is a country in which we constantly continue to wait."
PAYING FOR AN INEFFICIENT SERVICE
Beyond playing the role of Basilio, the actor is also a victim of the water and electricity cuts that shake the Guarani population and, especially, those who cannot access the purchase of motors or water tanks. Read More…
