Traditionally, the people from Madrid leave the city during the summer,
running away from the heat. The city tends to get empty.
Those who remain, tourists and some absentminded visitors
usually gather around the popular open-air dances
which are consecutively held during the first half of August
in inner-city neighbourhoods. These are
the festivities of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and the Virgin of la Paloma.
This film takes place during these days and evenings,
but focuses on a woman about to turn 33,
who has decided to remain in her own city as an act of faith,
and tries a new way to be in the world.
Go figure...
Everyone wants to be himself: and so do I.
Madrid Anthem - Agustín García Calvo
AUGUST 1
Come in all the way.
This is the oldest building in Ribera de Curtidores,
Circa 1890.
The best thing about the apartment is the light.
It has seven balconies, like in Casona's theater play.
Unfortunately I don't have air conditioning. In summer, it's a furnace.
I have this fan, it helps somewhat...
- That's OK. - But not much.
The sun turns around the house and sets that way.
And it's very hot.
I've got these blinds,
they classic type found in balconies.
What I also do when the sun hits hard
is closing the shutters a little.
Aha.
Because it's cooler when the room is dark.
Of course.
This is the coolest room in the house, that's why I placed the bed here.
Look, it's full of books and magazines
I don't have space to store them.
The door looks too close to the bed, but it closes perfectly.
Try it.
See?
Only the bathroom and the kitchen have been renovated.
The closet is the only one in the house, and it's packed.
- Sorry, there is no room. - It doesn't matter.
I find this piece of furniture funny, with the lightbulbs.
It looks like a dressing room.
It belongs to the lady who lived here, so here it stays.
The only thing you need to keep in mind here
is that this handle can remain in your hand.
But the boiler works perfectly, you don't even have to touch it.
Understood.
If you want to make a coffee...
I haven’t offered you anything. Do you want to drink something?
Just some water.
I need to disconnect a bit, to leave town and the heat.
Where are you going?
The first fifteen days of August, to Valencia.
My mother died recently, I have things to settle with my siblings.
I'm sorry, I didn't know.
She was very old and in poor health.
She went downhill when my father died three years ago.
And all of a sudden I'm an orphan.
But these last days I've kept myself busy
with an article I was asked to write for a magazine.
Actually, it was also an obituary.
About Stanley Cavell, an American philosopher.
- I don't know him. - He is very interesting.
He wrote a lot about movies.
May I smoke?
He became known with a book about comedies
of Hollywood's film golden age.
I think that was his first book translated here.
"Pursuits of happiness" is the title.
It pays particular attention to 1930s comedies.
Not in the social films of that era; which was the Great Depression's,
but rather in these popular screwball comedies
which, however, were very progressive regarding tradition and morality.
With those wonderful actresses,
strong, with a lot of personality.
Each so different from each other: Barbara Stanwyck, Katherine Hepburn...
I'd say they are the first actresses wearing pants in movies.
They are also films about female identity,
about the courage of being yourself
or knowing who one really is.
And he links all this to Emerson,
one of the fathers of American philosophy.
- His name doesn't ring a bell, either. - Right...
Anyway, the most important thing is your keys.
- I've made copies, and they work. - OK.
But you must be careful with this one.
Why?
Because the door is very old, and it gets stuck,
you have to turn it a bit while pulling towards you.
And that's all.
The other two are from upstairs. I only use one.
OK.
And that's about it.
I'm leaving tomorrow around 1:30 p.m. to catch the train,
so from that time on you can come whenever you like.
Great.
AUGUST 2
The introduction of the genuine characters
of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and the Virgin of Paloma's festivities, 2018.
Those people wore peculiar clothing
and displayed some specific social behaviour.
They differed in the colours and the cuts of their costumes...
AUGUST 3
Connection with the historic route near Platea.
...in the palace of the Marquis of Salamanca in the mid-19th Century.
Next stop, number 12
Archaeological Museum
Eva...
Holy... Luis.
- What are you doing here? - And you?
Initially I wasn't sure if it was you, as I saw you between the Roman busts.
And I was wondering what you were doing here by yourself.
- You're pitying me. - A little bit.
You fool.
How are you doing?
It's funny, you look skinny.
And with a lot of hair.
- Did you see the sundial over there? - No.
It's mind-blowing, look... look.
It's amazing.
The sun comes in through this little hole.
Then, of course, the light point indicates the hours of the day
which are the vertical lines, and it also indicates
the summer solstice.
It's mind-blowing.
Hey, what are you doing here?
Nothing, I'm writing an article
about a monastery in Palencia claiming some pieces to the museum,
a passionate controversy,
going back to the confiscation of Mendizábal, and so on.
I saw the manager, had a look around, and now I was about to leave.
That's funny.
And you?
What's your plan? What plan?
Well, I have none.
- I was just leaving. - Were you?
If you wish, we can both leave at the same time.
Last time we talked you had a full time job, right?
- Yes, but they fired me. - Oh...
Damn, let's move to the shade, please.
Well, me and everyone else who came later.
Although they also fired some of the long term ones.
Now I'm sort of a freelancer. It sounds like you own the world,
but in fact I do what I can, what they ask me to do.
Sometimes I suggest stories, and they buy them from me.
But normally I have to write them; and if I'm lucky, they sell.
I see.
It's fucking hot here, I can't stand it.
- Do you want some? - Eh, no
- How are you doing timewise? - Fine.
To you feel like drinking something?
- Do you feel like it? - Yes.
But to find a place around here, a cooler place...
And without air-conditioning, it makes me sick.
Look, over there is a terrace with umbrellas. Maybe it's OK.
Yes... let's go.
If we don't drop dead on our way.
Holy!
Over here it's 40 degrees in the shade, but now we're cooking.
I think it's better if you don't think about it.
How can I not think about it? Hell is passing through my sandals.
There use to be vending kiosks in this square.
Today's journalism is not precisely too rigorous,
but in the summer... forget about it.
It must be the heat, melting our brains.
I don't know.
I think August is great for doing things
that we wouldn't be allowed to do at any other time.
Sure, everything is more relaxed,
There is less eagerness for perfectionism, and so on.
It's interesting that you are talking about perfectionism,
because I think summer is perfect.
I think perfection is easier to achieve during the summer.
Maybe because of that relaxation you're talking about,
or because both everyone's and society's expectations are lower.
False expectations, I mean, and all servitudes and obligations.
I'm not sure.
You only think about people's expectations when going on vacation.
Where to go, when to go, with whom, how much money will I spend?
Think of all the couples that split in the summer.
And in all the ones starting a relationship.
You're right.
I started with Laura in the summer.
I believe that actually summer is a perfect time to be yourself,
more than ever before, and to do things better than at any other time.
For instance, you right now.
You have the opportunity to write the best article for...
- For "El Norte de Castilla". - That's it.
But that's only up to you.
You know the paper will buy it because it has to fill space, and...
But maybe you shouldn't settle for that.
I think we should expect to meet our own demands,
without limiting ourselves just because others demand less from us.
- I'm talking too much. - No, no, no.
- Yes. - No.
It just annoys me because you are right.
But it's OK, it's nice that someone talks to me like that.
Shall we ask for another one?
OK.
- I'll have the same thing. And you? - Me too.
You too?
No, better a glass of wine... white wine.
- Cold? - Yes.
Excuse me!
Bring me another one of this and a glass of cold white wine.
OK.
Where are you going with that Manila shawl?
Where are you going with that Chinese dress?
To impress and to see the Verbena
My parents dressed me once as a chulapo when I was little.
- Really? - I have never forgiven them.
It suits you well, I can imagine you dressed as a chulapo.
- Really? - Very traditional.
Actually not. Because you need to have something to wear these costumes.
Something I don't have. And for this way of dancing...
I think it's one of the few dances in the world where the woman leads.
- Really? - Yes.
Let's see. Let's try.
- OK, lead me. - What are you doing?
- You're wrong. - No, I'm not wrong.
- No, no, no - Come on...
- No, no, no, no. - You don't remember, it was very clear.
How couldn't I remember it? Of course I do, but it didn't happen that way.
Am I stupid? Don't I see those things?
I think you didn't wanted to.
You didn't notice because you weren't interested.
You think so?
Of course. But it's cool that way, it's actually better.
I think I've never regretted not dating someone,
but dating someone... I've regretted that many times!
Well, that makes sense. It does.
No, but it's like being scared, isn't it?
About something that didn't happen, so..
I don't know.
Scared?
So we agreed that you're not in love, and you'd prefer not to.
- No, I didn't say that. - Yes, you did!
- I didn't say that, dammit! - You didn't?
No, I don't want to screw up again. I've screwed up a lot.
I've had too many setbacks. That's enough, it's over.
- Got that? - But that's like being scared, right?
Maybe it's not a bad thing to be scared every now and then.
Afraid of being hurt, afraid to hurt someone, afraid to screw-up.
They left their homes, and hungry people jumped on me.
To hack with knives the flesh off my bones.
- This is something quite heavy. - What's that?
I don't know, it's very heavy.
You have to read.
I was still alive, I hadn't finished dying.
But I knew these people from before.
AUGUST 4
They gave me blankets to protect myself from flies...
So I asked myself...
What a cruel indifference has possessed these people?
To become so completely dehumanized?
Help them!
Do it quickly!
If you don't, something you can't even imagine will happen to you.
Sofi?
Did I wake you up? I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
No, it's nothing, it's nothing serious.
I'm trying to open the door of my building
and maybe I'm stupid, but I can't.
I've been trying for half an hour...
It's an apartment I'm being loaned,
the neighbors don't know me and I don't dare to ring.
As you told me you were in Madrid these days... no?
Are you here?
Yes, that's why...
All right.
OK, great.
I didn't know who to call, sorry.
I'll be there in 20 minutes going by foot. Otherwise, I take a taxi...
OK
Damn, it still stinks.
Do you mind if I take your shirt and I'll return it washed?
- You can keep it if you want. - No, I'll give it back to you.
It's funny how he eats.
That's another way. We were given everything already chewed,
they stuck the spoon in our mouth. This is somewhat the opposite.
The idea is that they do what they want, and decide what they eat.
It's like a game.
But is he not going to choke?
At first I also found it stressful, but you get used to it.
You get used to it and relax.
- So he eats and then spits it out? - Yes.
How interesting.
What were you doing last night? I mean, before you ended up in the street.
It was a strange day, I was adrift.
But basically, I was with Luis.
- Luis... Luis? - Yes, the character Luis.
Yes.
How's he doing? I haven't seen him in a long time.
Well...
All right. Well, he's a bit pessimistic, you know.
He's in crisis with his job, but that's fine, and...
We had a good laugh, and at the end he got a little drunk.
Last time he was with Laura, but it wasn't right.
I think they broke up quite some time ago, but
he's not getting over it.
It's funny when you lose track of people and find them later.
Like you are faithful to the idea you had
of your relationship with that person,
but it's impossible to know how real is that.
I remain truly faithful to you, even if you don't call me.
Yes, I see.
Well, you don't call me much either.
When you have a child, you realize that you are not the same person to others.
Whether you feel like this or not, you're becoming a social plague.
- Don't exaggerate, Sofi. - I'm not exaggerating, it's true.
You have no idea to what extent.
Most people stop counting on you.
They look at you from the distance,
from their preconceived ideas or from whatever they have been told.
- Do you want to make me feel bad? - No, not at all.
But let me tell you, because it'll be worse if I don't.
You haven't called me in ages,
and all of a sudden, you call me at 2:30 AM
because can't open you new apartment’s door
and that's how I find that you had a new apartment.
Think about it, the last news I got from you was from Jorge.
First of all, it's not a new apartment, it's a loaner.
But I'm not looking for excuses, it's true that...
I haven't called you much
and we don't see each other much.
But maybe it's because... you had a child.
It's true that I had a child, that it's an emotional upheaval,
but it's something very personal.
Clearly, you decided to become a mother,
and it's wonderful that you were able to do it.
That was your choice, right?
I may have moved away from you in certain way,
but it wasn't because of Julen
or because you became a mother and not me, but rather...
I think we had already distanced from each other before Julen was born.
If you think about it...
Actually, I envy you.
I envy the way you see things, so distant and cold.
I'm neither distant nor cold, Sofia.
I'm just trying to express it and I think it's good to admit it.
- It's weird, but it's good. - What exactly are you talking about?
Well, I don't know anything we both already didn't know.
I think life has changed us
and many things have happened.
And now we're at that, point and I think...
Well, I think it's good to be talking about it.
It could have been worse.
I think we might have never seen each other again. Right?
It has happened to me with many people, and surely to you as well.
Well, last night, I found myself there
and I called you instinctively, without giving it much thought.
To me, you are like form the family.
Look at Julen, he's so focused on what he's doing.
He is a man.
He is like an adult man.
He's very serious, isn't he?
He is both serious and likeable.
- He is very primitive - That's true.
He's super-primitive. He's come to be primitive!
- Hello? - Hello?
Hello. Look, I'm the neighbour of the first, right.
I'm new, and I can't open the building door.
Can't you open?
No, I can't manage to do it with the key, I don't know why.
That door is crap.
- I'm going down. - OK.
Hi, sorry for bothering you. I couldn’t open, I don't know why.
OK, may I?
The same thing happened to me, and...
You see? There's some kind of a stop, but you have to keep going and...
- The key works, you try. - Dammit, OK.
I tried for two hours the first time.
- And... - Oh, it works.
I ended up calling my landlady, a Russian girl who lives in Holland.
In the end a friend of hers came,
another Russian woman who lives in Madrid.
I rang all the bells, but I think all the flats are empty.
Excuse me, were you the one doing yesterday a performance with signs?
- Yes. - Was it you?
- Was it in German? - Yes.
- Holy cow! - Did you see it?
Yes, yes.
Oh. And did you like it?
Yes, yes, I found it surprising, I liked it.
Great. That makes me happy, because I don't know too much...
- I'm Olka. - I'm Eva.
Oh...
Have you just moved in?
Er... no, a friend has loaned me his apartment for a few days.
On vacation?
Eh...
I don't know. Actually, I'm not too sure of what I'm doing.
I'll be here those days, if you need anything...
Fifth left.
OK.
- Are you going up? - My pleasure.
No, since I'm here I'm going do some shopping.
Oh, OK.
- Thank you so much. - Bye, Eva!
I don't know why, when I saw you two,
I remembered a rather weird idea I had.
Suitable for a street play
It was sort of a tour through the city's churches,
Well, through the churches' doors.
I envisioned some sort of a tour guide taking people to the doors
and explaining to them the church's architecture,
the history of religion, like technical stuff.
And suddenly, with the same intonation,
he would start talking about his own relationship with the idea of God
or with faith, if he is a believer, and...
I was imagining a play about the difficulty of believing,
and why we no longer go to churches
and why it is so difficult to keep any kind of faith.
Something like that.
But... where do you come from?
What do you mean?
What do you do for a living?
I was an actress.
- Something like that. - But... what do you mean by 'you were'?
I said I was because I am no longer an actress.
That is, I don't want to be one anymore.
But you can't stop being an actress.
- It's a vocation. - Why not? It's like any other job.
No, darling. Something is nor right.
- Yes, everything is fine. - No way.
So, what are you now?
Well, I'm looking. I'm working on it.
OK, I won't insist any more.
Let's go and dance a bit, OK?
AUGUST 5
...at home. Of course, the whole family was listening to the radio and...
and I didn't know how to...
He wasn't a bit stupid, he was super-idiot.
Of course, you left annoyed.
- Hi. - Hi.
- How's it going? - Very well.
- Fine? - Yes.
Cool!
- So are we. - Great!
Yes. We're a little drunk, but that shouldn't be a problem. Right?
I don't think so. Everybody's drunk.
Correct. We have to keep the context in mind.
Er... yes.
And this is the context, so everything is fine.
- They're English. - Really?
Yes, yes.
Hey, hey, sorry, I'm not English.
No, no, no. He's the Englishman. I'm Welsh, which is quite different.
Ok. Sure, of course it's different.
He's my cousin Will, he came to visit me for a few days. So here we are.
I'm Will, from Manchester...
- OK, I'm Eva. - Eva. Hi, Eva.
- Hi! - So leave the Spanish things.
Two kisses.
Oh, OK.
- My name is Joe. - Hi, I'm Eva.
How are you?
- Nice to meet you. - Joe.
- How are you? - Olka.
Olka...
- So what's the plan? - What plan?
The plan, now. What's the plan?
- We were just talking about it. - Yes, we're thinking about it.
- Thinking about it? - Yes.
Well, we could all go together to a different place.
They are closing this, right?
In ten minutes, the music is over in ten minutes.
- We like to dance! - We want to dance.
I know some great places to dance.
- OK, but are they far? - Two minutes away.
But there's people, I don't know.
Why don't you knock at the door?
I can't knock at the door,
because the guy gets angry, the neighbors show up, and...
I'll call him again, wait.
Look, he's opening us up.
- How's it going? - Come in.
So you, when you approached me, or whatever you did on the street...
OK, yes.
Did you really think something was going to happen?
No. You didn't care!
That's what I'm saying, that you didn't care, and...
You enjoy yourself a little while, the cynical way,
which is probably what you are.
And you like to see everything from some distance, don't you?
All right, I admit everything you said.
But it hurts me a little your belief that I'm a cynic.
Does that hurt you? Well, the other options are worse.
I'm willing to accept them.
Not only that, you have already accepted them,
you have accept a behavior that you are now perpetuating.
Deep inside yourself you know that's terrible, but you pretend not to notice
and you make out of seduction something absurd and cowardly.
- That's it. -Okay, I'm willing to take that, too.
You are now condescending, and that's worse! I'm going to get mad!
"Condescending" is a very nice word. I've used it sometimes in class.
- Are you teaching? - Yes.
I'm an English teacher in a crappy academy. What did you expect me to be?
I don't know.
I keep disappointing you.
No, I like that you're a teacher.
Are you surprised?
No, no, Actually, not.
Well...
It surprises me.
Yes, I know. I started...
I started teaching by chance. I came here one summer, and
I've stayed, and I've been here since then.
- What were you doing before? - What was I doing? Well...
I was doing... nothing, I was 20 years old and...
I loved to sing.
- Really? - Yes.
Will and I had a band with friends.
- Really? - Yes, Will was the bass and I sang.
OK.
We used to sing songs from the International Brigades.
- No. - Yes.
Yes, we came here on tour, with a van, shabby style.
We stayed one summer and, when we were done, Will left and I stayed.
Our great success was to make the opening on the Communist Party parties.
OK. So, why Brigadist's songs?
We had a brigadist great-uncle and we grew up with those songs.
-That's not true. - Yes, it is.
- You're making it up. - No, I'm not.
It's a very cheap seduction technique.
- Really? - Yes.
That can't be
There is a valley in Spain called Jarama.
It's a place that we all know so well.
for 'tis there that we gave our manhood,
And most of our old age as well.
That one, "The Jarama Valley", is one of the most mythical ones.
The one he was trying to sing is about Madrid.
And it's beautiful.
It was written by Alex McDade, a worker from Glasgow,
in 1936 or 1937, and it was released in 1938.
But he had already been killed.
He died in 1937 in the Battle of Brunete.
And in 1939, the surviving veterans wrote this,
with the reference to Madrid and all that...
And you explain all this in your classes? Or not?
No, in class, I'm using stuff like "Help" and "Yellow Submarine."
No, I don't smoke.
OK.
It was... How did you say that?
"The classic cheap seduction trick."
Cheap, yes.
No, no, actually I would like to smoke, but I can't.
I try, but I always fail, it's not for me.
- Yes, it doesn't suit you. - Why not?
I don't know. Many things don't fit you.
You're... a little weird.
I'm weird too, that's nothing wrong.
I don't know...
Damn, now that I think about it,
I haven't asked you anything about yourself in the whole all evening.
Well, it's OK. It's better that way.
Don't you like to talk about yourself?
Right now, I wouldn't know very well what to say.
However, you can tell us things about others, right?
For instance, you've called me...
coward, cynical, stupid.
I didn't call you 'stupid'.
You're right, but it was implied from the rest.
No, actually, I think...
You're a cool guy.
It's not so easy to be a cool guy.
And you, at times, look pretty cool.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Hello, darling.
How's the hangover?
Listen, I was thinking that...
we could call the English-Welshmen
and... we should go to the river.
What do you think? Is that something crazy?
And...
I didn't take their contact numbers, but maybe you did?
And if possible, I would like to bring a friend and her baby.
OK, hopefully I can do that.
OK, a kiss and courage. Bye!
The guys are up for it.
If we take our van, we all fit. If we're six, that's great.
A big kiss. Bye.
My darling, that's great!
Fine. So I'm going to call my girlfriend Sofía, OK?
So, I see you tomorrow. Thank you.
Sorry, one last favor.
Could you lend me a swimsuit?
AUGUST 6
¿Shall we go into the water?
- Last year, we swam in the sea. - Yes?
- Yes. - Did he like it?
- Yes, in the sea. - Have you ever swam in a river?
This one's great!
- Shall we going to the river side? - Come on.
- Let's go. - Bye!
How nice!
Wow, you're a great swimmer.
- I already gave it up. - Really?
- Yes, I used to swim when I was little. - Oh, nice.
- You aren't swimming? - Maybe later.
- Yes? - Yes.
- You're not very Spanish! - Why?
You're very covered.
- Do you think so? - Yes.
So, don't you like the swimsuit?
Yes, it's great.
It's a bit open here, but OK...
- It's my favorite swimsuit. - Is it?
- Yes, it's my grandmother's. - Oh, how nice.
- I wouldn't lend you just any swimsuit. - No, I didn't think that.
It's not the swimsuit, it's me.
Are you modest?
Yes, a little.
But don't you find that embarrassing being an actress?
A little, yes. Sometimes.
But I think modesty is an asset to acting.
- What a paradox! - Why?
Because... you are funny!
Where did you know her?
- Sofía? - Yes.
We've been friends for many, many years.
An old friend.
In fact, when we lived together, we were about twenty years old,
and we were ranking the men, dividing them into four types.
OK?
"Primitive" men,
"agile" men,
"comics" men.
And the "smoke" men.
It was infallible, they all fit there.
Joe... which type do you think he is?
- He'd be "agile", right? - Correct. That's Sofia's type.
- I think I also like the "agile". - Yes, they are OK.
And maybe the "comics" as well.
But when it comes girls, I would choose her.
I like girls like her.
Yes, Sofía is great.
Do you want children?
In the past, I did.
I've always wanted to have children. But... I don't know.
I'm not so sure anymore.
How about you?
I froze my eggs four years ago.
- Really? - Yes.
It was right after I arrived in Denmark
and I knew I needed time for myself,
and that I couldn't think of children yet. And...
I didn't want to miss that chance. So I froze them.
Same as of froze that decision.
In fact, it's not really a frozen decision, it's like...
delaying it.
- Yes. - I'm due to pay the second installment.
To keep them frozen, you have to pay an installment every two years.
- Is that so? - Yes. And...
All of a sudden, it seems to me so weird
that something mine is frozen in another country, so far away.
I don't know, four years ago... I was different woman.
Now I don't know if I like paying that installment.
Well...
In fact, I don't think I want to.
I don't know.
But I know that if I don't pay, I probably won't have children.
Because after turning 40,
the chances of getting pregnant naturally
are less than 5%.
So...
But you know what? I think I'd rather keep that 5% chance.
At this time.
How old are you?
I'm going to be 33.
Bridge of the French
Bridge of the French, my dear mom,
nobody crosses you, nobody crosses you.
Because the people of Madrid
They guard you so well! They guard you so well!
By the Casa de Campo.
By the Casa de Campo, my dear mom,
and the Manzanares, and the Manzanares.
When I left the North, I was a teenager.
What do you want? Some corn?
Somehow I feel,
it's like it helped me. I feel that, hadn't I left,
it helped me to be myself, to become myself.
And even if I think of returning to my land,
even to return in a better way.
Leave Manchester.
- I don't know. - It's funny what you say...
that it helped you to become yourself.
I was just thinking about that the other day, because
in six months from now, I've been in Madrid for ten years.
- Ten? - Ten years. I'm now 30.
- That's 33% of my life. - After all...
I don't know...
My parents are still in Wales, and so are my friends.
But this thing, I don't know...
if I left Wales because that's the way I am,
or I am the way I am because I left Wales.
Which was the first thing, right?
I suppose there's a bit of both, like in that Spanish expression...
- The egg and the chicken, right? - Egg and... fish.
The fish that bites its...
I understand what you say.
You don't know if you're that way because you left,
- or if … or because... right. - So that's why you left.
I feel like having changed countries several times,
and every time, it's... like starting all over.
Which is beautiful, because not knowing anyone, you're like a blank paper sheet,
so you reinvent your life.
And you change...
That change frees you, but it must also be scary, right?
I think it's a chance.
And that energy from the beginning is super powerful and beautiful,
and... and you can do many things.
Meanwhile, I also admire a lot those people who never left,
and who had the courage to take that liberty in a familiar environment.
Because I think it's easier to be free when no one knows you.
- Of course. - To reinvent yourself again.
But doing it while remaining in your environment.
I think it's an act of courage as well.
In some way.
You've never left?
- Have you lived abroad at any time? - I am the only one from Madrid.
That's a fact.
Se has adapted, right? Ten years in Lavapiés.
You've traveled a lot, but you've never lived like...
No.
Abroad.
No, and I don't know why.
What do you want?
I envy all of you... a little.
I guess it's very difficult to become a real person if...
if you haven't really emancipated from your parents
or from the place where...
What a sentence...
- Why? - "Being a real person"
How does one become a real person?
Long live the modest actress!
Becoming...
a real person.
How do you become who you are...
in real life?
AUGUST 7
- Long live Saint Cayetano! - Long live!
- Long live the Virgin of the Paloma! - Long live!
AUGUST 8
Hello, how are you?
Look, I'd like a seat for the first session. It's a 4:30, right?
Thank you.
- Hi. - Hi.
- Remember David? - Yes, of course I do.
- Hi. - How are you?
- How are you doing? - Very well, David.
- How are you. - Fine, thanks.
- Are you going to the movies? - Yes.
- You too? - Yes.
- Shall I get the tickets? - Yes.
Excuse me. Two tickets for 4:30 p.m., please.
I thought you weren't in Madrid.
Well, I've been abroad, I told you I was going to Italy.
- Yes, I knew. - I came back a couple of days ago.
All right.
- You've tanned. - Yes, look at my tan.
In the end, did you stay or did you leave?
In the end I stayed in Madrid.
- Are you OK? - Yes.
- And you? - Yes.
You won't believe me, but I told David
"Imagine we're bumping into Eva at the movies."
- That's normal, considering the movie. - Yes.
- Well, do you have them? - Yes.
- It starts now. - Yes...
Of course.
- I'm going in. - OK.
- I'll meet you right now. - Bye, David.
Do you want us to go in or...?
No, no, you can go in.
Go, David is waiting for you.
But are you going to come in, or...?
We hadn't seen each other for three months.
Everything went very fast.
But it's like it lasted much longer.
He looked well.
He admitted he had expected to meet me there, in that very place.
He was about to invite me for a drink, but he didn't.
And... I don't know, it has been better that way.
I stood at the door like an idiot.
I don't know why, actually.
I really wanted to see the movie.
I intend to go back tomorrow.
AUGUST 9
Thank you.
And when I came back to Madrid, doing the calculations,
I realized that my ovulation coincided with the eclipse.
- With the eclipse? - Yes.
You know...?
It's all connected.
You know? I could give you a session, it would do you good.
I don't know.
The other day, I gave one to your friend Lucia.
- To Lucia? - Yes, I went to her place.
It went great.
She said it was the first time she's had it without pain.
- Really? - Almost without realizing it.
You could give it a try. You have nothing to lose.
Well, I'll call my doctor first
to arrange an appointment with a specialist, because otherwise...
One thing doesn't rule out the other, but... it would do you good.
I don't know, I'll think about it.
You can do it to me the next full moon.
On August 26.
You're crazy.
I like open ends.
But if you leave everything open...
Hi, excuse me.
Hi, sorry to bother you.
Hi.
I overheard you talking about...
Before the movie started...
What were we talking about?
Oh, it was about...
Well, about...
I couldn't help but listening, I was right in front, but...
But... well... I'm interested.
Okay, that... she does that.
I know nothing about it.
- So... are you interested? - Yes.
Yes. I don't know how it works, but...
It's very easy. If you wish I can come to your place and...
- Oh, OK. Is it done at home? - Yes, yes.
Great.
- We give each other our numbers. - Yes.
- I am Maria. - OK.
- I'm also Maria. - The two of you Maria!
- I'm Eva. - My pleasure.
- How are you? - Nice to meet you.
- Well... I'll be here the whole August. - Really? Me too.
OK, then one day that suits you.
AUGUST 10
- Hi. - Hi.
How's it going, Maria?
- Very well. - Come in.
Thank you.
Thank you for coming.
Nah, it's a short trip by subway. It was a bit hot, but no problem.
I see.
You have a beautiful house.
Do you like it? - I love it.
It's not my apartment, an acquaintance has lent it to me for a few days
but it's pretty, indeed.
How do you feel?
Fine. A little anxious, as I don't know what to expect.
- It won't go wrong for you. - OK.
I mean, I won't harm you.
Where do you want us to do it?
I thought right here, if that's OK with you.
- I think it's perfect. Yes. - OK.
I'll leave this here.
Perhaps we should take that chair and put it...
- Do you want something to drink? - Sure, I'd like some water.
Thank you.
Close your eyes.
You can open your eyes anytime you want.
How are you doing?
Fine.
- How do you feel? - Good.
- Shall I blow it off? - Yes.
- Do I have to drink it all? - As much as you want.
Just in case.
Hi, how did it go?
It went well, right?
I think it went well. Now I am ...like hovering a little.
It has left me a bit absentminded, but I think it went well.
I felt warmth at one point,
and then that thing you were doing to me, like...
Like if I was blowing.
Yes, I felt like a puff here...
Yes, because... how was that?
I work with female's three energy centres, which are...
these two, which are related to the chakras.
And the ones from the forehead and the skull, the heart and the uterus.
- Then what I do is, basically, reiki. - OK, OK.
That’s why the warm puff, to focus energy
and it's about to regulate our chakras,
especially those related to women.
Right.
I also place my hands forming a cup, which represents our uterus
it can contain life and has a lot of strength and power.
We all come from a uterus.
- Yes, from a bowl. - From a bowl...
Besides, it was something hidden. Our grandmothers didn't talk about it.
They'd say "Don't make mayonnaise, for it will curdle"
If you had your period, then...!
Yes, "don't shower, don't bathe, don't..."
- Your period would stop. - Stay away... stay away from society.
Now it's more like:
"Stay normal, so nobody notices. Like if you are not having your period."
Why shouldn't it be noticed?
Yes, it's seen as a weakness to stop doing things during a painful period,
it looks like if we can't do anything.
You must prove that it doesn't affect you,
that you are not weaker during your period,
when in fact you are not weaker for saying "I'm taking a small break".
- I'm finishing my drink. - We'll ask for another one.
- Sure. - Ask for another one.
- We are blessed! - And very resentful!
It's affecting me more than usual. Is that normal?
- I'm glad for you, Eva. - I feel very open.
I'm glad!
- I'm not blessed. - Yes, you are.
- Because you don't want to. - Well, not quite...
Hold on...
You really can trick me!
- No! - Yes, that was a gibe at me!
She's also laughing.
She thinks I'm skeptical about all this, but that's not true.
- Yes, sure. - I think that part of it...
well...
We're connected to the moon.
- And we are made of 60% water... - 80%.
- 80? - 80.
OK, 80.
If tides have an influence, they sure influence us as well.
Of course, that's obvious.
But what worries me a little about all this is...
thinking that if someone hears us talking about the ritual,
the blessing of the uterus, you know...
Right?
- You're laughing, but... - Because I understand you.
What worries me is that, if someone overhears us, may say
"Here's this bunch of lunatics, who have nothing better to do"
"and can only solve their aches and problems with the help of the Cosmos,"
"by looking at the Universe and the horoscope..."
- That's the case. - Sure.
- And what do we do? - That's not it.
- And what do we do? - I don't know what we should do.
But I'm also telling you that if a man were to suffer
chronic pain like we endure during,
say during several days a month...
- That's complicated. - No, it's not!
A sick leave would not be questioned, it just would take place.
Sure.
- Each one at home, and that's it. - Correct.
- I have no doubt about it. - Right.
AUGUST 11
These are "The Tears of St. Lawrence".
The night from the 11th to the 12th,
is perhaps the best one to see the meteor shower.
There is no need to gaze in any specific direction.
You just need to have a wide view of the sky,
to get your eyes used to the dark
and wait as long as necessary.
AUGUST 12
During a moment, I thought I saw Luis.
- Luis... Luis. - Yes.
With the tourist.
- And she's explaining to him... - The comets...
where the shooting stars come from.
...don't move very fast in the sky.
But some of them can travel a good stretch in a single night.
Shooting stars are fast.
They are comet dust when approaching the sun.
And Earth keeps moving
and stardust comes into contact with the atmosphere,
and it heats up, and then it burns.
Hello.
Hi, excuse me.
Do you hear me?
Hi.
Are... are you OK?
I'm sorry, but I don't think you should be there.
They put this as a safeguard for people not being there.
Yes, I know, don't worry. Really, everything's fine, OK?
Hi.
Sorry to bother you, but
I saw you here and it worries me a little.
I went under the barrier.
How did you make it here?
That way.
I see. OK.
It feels good here, right?
The air seems... cooler.
It's...
because of the mountain range, it's over there.
Now you can't see it.
Well, and the Casa de Campo.
I just came back from Debod.
and I have been watching the meteor shower.
There were many shooting stars, it was very pretty.
- The Tears of Saint Lawrence. - Yes.
Have you seen them?
Yes.
- Did you? - Yes.
Actually, I'd never seen them before.
I was always partying.
Partying?
Yes.. I happen to be from Huesca.
The local festivities are taking place right now.
St. Lawrence is the Saint Patron.
My phone is full of messages.
Would you like to be there?
The fact is, I'm never where I want to be.
I see.
I understand, it's a terrible feeling.
Are you from here?
Yes.
Yes, I was born over there, across the river.
In the Quinta de Goya.
Do you know it?
Yeah.
It seemed quite far away.
Then I moved to downtown with some girlfriends.
I've moved several times, and..
I'm now in a loaned apartment, nearby, for a few days.
After that I'm not too sure where I'm going to live.
And you?
I live at the other side of the river, close to the Puente de los Franceses.
My name is Eva.
Agos.
What?
Agos. From Agostino.
Agos...
One gets used to it.
I see.
I was told a story about this viaduct,
it's some sort of a legend.
I remember liking it when I heard it.
It's about a girl from a very wealthy family
who...
who fell in love with a poor boy from Carabanchel.
When the girl's family learned that they were in love,
they forbade the girl to see him.
And...
then she became crazy from love, and she came to this viaduct
and she wanted to jump.
And when she jumped,
it looks like the girl wore a very long skirt,
and while she fell,
the skirt had some sort of a paraglider effect,
inflating like this.
She ended up landing slowly on the ground
and she saved her life.
Other versions say she got snagged by a tree.
And when the girl's family realized what she was willing to do for love...
they lifted the ban, and then the lovers were able to be together
and...
they lived happily ever after.
More or less.
I don't know why I told you this.
I'm a bit...
I'm about to have my period.
Well..
OK...
I don't know.
I won't bother you any more.
I'm leaving.
- That way, right? - Yes, that way.
OK.
Goodbye.
How's it going, gal? It's hot, isn't it?
I've seen that Soledad... Soledad Morente is playing today.
at the La Paloma festivities, which are in Plaza de la Paja.
We're going to go, do you feel like coming?
Cheer up, let's go out for a little while.
A bit later, okay?
Kisses.
Everybody says she's a delightful person.
Last time I saw her in concert was at El Puerto, in a festival,
in a castle, super-awesome...
Hi!
How are you doing?
- Hi. - Olka, Maria.
Nice to meet you.
How are you?
- Hi, girls. - We're all here.
What are you going to drink?
- What's that? - It's sangria.
Double half a sleeve... half sleeve?
- Sangria for both? - You gave me a 10, right?
- Yes. - OK, are you sure?
Maybe gave you a 50, but I don't think so.
I was telling Eva that the last time I saw Sole in a concert...
- Asier! - In a festival...
Asier!
- What are you doing? - Here, going for a stroll.
Going for a stroll?
Never mind, I think she has a song called... "Suelo Español".
Yes, I love this song. Let's go!
I’m wearing my best dress
I'm sorry if I offended you.
But when you talk to me I only hear a buzz
I just want to dance
You only dance with me.
AUGUST 13
Thank you very much!
We are going to...
Thank you very much.
That's a new one.
We're going to sing a song called "Todavía", composed by La Bien Querida.
- Here we go! - Todavía!
It was an April evening
It was your black eyes under an ivory sky
I felt your hand in mine.
I dreamed you were dreaming, with you I was leaving.
Who rules the universe?
Who's listening to me?
Tell me how you do it.
How can I go.
I still have time
I'm still here.
I still have time
I'm still here.
Who rules the universe?
Who listens to me...?
Tell me...
how you do it
How can I go.
- How are you, David? - Hi.
- Good evening.
Thank you.
Hi.
How are you doing?
- Fine. - Fine?
That's strange.
What's strange?
Seeing each other again, that's strange.
Isn't it?
Sure. Sometimes that happens, right?
- But do you recognize me or not? - Yes, of course.
Eva.
So... are you on your own?
Yes.
Actually, I was following you.
- Are you still worried about me? - No.
No, this...
It's like a ritual, isn't it?
What?
Well, first you go to work, then to the viaduct,
you smoke a cigarette, you come here.
Right? Isn't that so?
Well, yes. I’m here for one last drink because my friend Lucía works here.
So I'll keep her company.
That's quite something!
What?
Well, the guy who's now paying your girlfriend,
he just performed at a concert in Plaza de la Paja.
It was great, I loved it.
And he was with these two girls,
and it was like they were talking to me.
I felt it... it was super-moving, super-beautiful.
I really enjoyed it. It was quite something.
- Why don't you tell him? - Tell him what?
That you liked the concert, how they played....
That... that you felt...
Well, what you just said.
I don't know, that would look weird. Maybe they're now...
Maybe it's also a little childish.
Well, I don't think it's childish.
But... we are becoming more and more cynical.
It's difficult to know how to admire people.
- And admiring them well. - Yes.
- It's true, it's not that easy. - It's not that easy.
Shall I go, then?
OK, I'll do as you say.
- But don't make fun of me, OK? - I promise I won't.
Look at the beginning. I think it's much better than...
There was a lot of noise at the end...
It's way more exciting when she is alone.
Hi.
Sorry for bothering you, but I saw your concert
and I saw that you were here,
so I wanted to tell you that I liked it a lot.
- Thanks a lot. - Thank you.
That's nice, because right now we were debating
one likes one thing, another one a different thing...
- But if you liked it, that's great. - I liked it a lot.
Thank you for coming.
Well, I don't bother you any more. Thank you.
- Thanks. - Thank you, bye.
Bye.
Gosh, that's cool.
But it's even nicer when she...
Indeed, I made an ass of myself, but I think...
I think they liked it, they were very pleasant. It's all good.
Yes, of course. They're just like us.
Well, perhaps they've done a little better than us,
but they're not that different.
Sure.
- You want something to drink? - OK.
Lu...!
- Yes? - What would you like?
- A glass of wine. - A glass of wine.
- Red or white? - White.
OK.
- Sorry, but nobody ever asks for it. - Oh, OK.
So, you feel you haven't done well...
Well, I could have done better, frankly speaking.
You're an actor...
Yes.
Me too.
Let's do something,
it's a very good exercise that my performance teacher taught me.
It's based on the theory that performing is
like jumping from reality into something else.
So it's like it's always a violent act.
- What will you do to me? - It's very easy.
I walk away, I approach you, I slap you, and then we trade places.
So then we cross boundaries... It's neat, I'll start.
Wait, tell me... where did you study?
Shall we do it? I'll start.
One, two, three.
She slapped him hard!
Now is your turn.
One, two, three.
Now he slapped her.
- Did I hurt you? - No, I'm OK. I'm fine.
Now the script.
What script?
What do you regret the most in your entire life?
Without giving it too much thought.
Not having been a good father.
Do you have children?
Yes, a seven-year-old girl.
Well, eight. She turn eight recently.
But she hardly lived with me.
She's always lived with her mother and her boyfriend,
who is virtually like his father.
I've always been a hopeless case,
been sort of a kept man...
But I thank them for that.
What's her name?
Violeta.
Bye, David.
- See you. - Bye.
And so...
How do you go back now to your loaned apartment?
By foot, it's nearby.
I was thinking, and...
where I live, an apartment has become vacant.
Well, it's not an apartment, it's a room.
Our female roommate has left and I was thinking...
We're starting to show it and...
maybe you might be interested. I don't know.
- In the room? - Yes.
Maybe.
If you want, I'll give you my phone number and...
you call me and see the apartment.
- Yes. - OK.
- OK, I'll take your number. - Yes.
I suggest you should come soon, because...
you know how things go with apartments.
Yes.
But can I see it today, or...?
Well, I work all afternoon.
I mean, I sleep all afternoon and then I have to go back to work,
so I don't know if...
Today is not possible...
- Well, I don't know... - Of course, you work there.
I don't know if I can timewise, but if you want...
you can come and see it now.
- Right now? - Yep.
I mean, if you want to.
- I'm OK either way, as you wish. - I see.
All right.
Just one thing, I'm walking home.
It takes about 30 or...
35 minutes, depending on the pace.
Sure.
Well... walking is OK.
I like to walk at this time.
- OK. - Yes?
- But I don't know... sorry. - What?
I was thinking now that you may not like the apartment.
- Why not? - It's a bit distant from downtown.
That's not your style.
Why do you say that? I want to see it.
OK, so...
shall we go?
It has a very bright room. A nice one.
OK
- One can see the Casa de Campo. - With cool air, very well.
So you, after leaving the bar,
walk this way and go on with your ritual?
You're a man of rituals.
And how long do you say it takes? 30, 40 minutes?
They're going on a trip to India,
to do mountain climbing in that area.
Apparently, he's sort of a mountain climber.
Yes...
They leave on the second fortnight.
I told them I was working until the 15th, that it was fine with me,
but only if I could have it from the 16th onwards.
But apparently, the tickets were more expensive, and...
The fact is, I don't know what I will do tomorrow.
- That is, the day after tomorrow. - Yes.
I'll leave Violeta with Gonza, my other roommate.
- His name is Gonzalo? - Hm.
Yes.
But are we going to wake him up now?
- Yes, well, we won't, don't worry. - Won't he get angry?
No, he sleeps quite deeply. He's a musician, you know.
But he now makes his living the same way as I do,
He works in a bar during the night.
Well... that's my place.
- On what floor is it? - On the fifth.
- Well, this is the kitchen. - Could you give me a glass of water?
Of course.
The bathroom is over here.
And a bit closer is my room, which is a bit...
Well, with the heat, I'm sleeping in Carla's room.
It's larger and there is more air circulation.
That would be your room.
And...
- Do you want to see the living room? - Yes.
It's nice to have so much light.
Are you OK?
Yes.
I was a little dizzy, but now I'm fine.
Do you want to see the room?
Yes... yes.
Well, this is it.
It's a bit of a mess.
And this?
It's Carla's.
Well, she's left behind a few things.
Why don't we make love?
Was it good?
Yes.
- What about you? - Yes, very good.
I think what's happening to me...
I'm thinking...
what's happening to me...
is that I'm pregnant.
But...
That can't be
Are you awake?
Next stop: Puerta Cerrada
It's 11:33 AM, August 13, 2018.
I know it's hard to believe.
AUGUST 14
The Mass I'm going to, The Mass I'm going to
Neither you nor I do pray,
Neither of us has any devotion.
Neither you nor I do pray,
Neither of us has any devotion.
AUGUST 15
- Hi. - Hi.
- How's it going? - Fine.
Well? I'm Eva.
- Hi. - How are you?
- Shall we kiss each other? - Give her a kiss.
- Pleased to meet you. - She's the friend I told you about.
All right.
- All good? What are you doing here? - Fine.
Not much. I was going to invite Violeta to a cotton candy,
but I just found out that she has braces.
- Really? Do you have braces, Violeta? - Yes, I have braces up here.
Where is it?
Ah, OK. So you can't eat because it sticks to it?
Yes, it sticks there.
But they've put elastics to keep it in place.
OK, great.
- Then we have an ice cream or something? - Yes.
- Can you eat ice-cream? - Yes.
- OK. - Of course.
- So... what shall we do? - I don't know, are we going for a walk?
- Do you feel like it, Violeta? - OK.
- OK, let's go. - Fine, good idea.
So...
Great. So we'll get an ice cream. Or some juice?
- No. - An ice cream, then?
- Yes. - OK.
Wait a minute.
And with this theme we'll remember the Caribbean empanadas.
Agos told me that you're going to live with him.
- Did he? - Yes.
Yes, that could be. I'm thinking about it right now.
He also told me that you are pregnant.
- He told you that? - Yes.
From whom?
No nobody.
Oh...
Like the Virgin.
Yes.
Yes...
- I've just finished. - Oh...
Awesome, it's very nice. You even signed it.
- Shall we go for the walk? - OK.
- Yes? - Yes.
Super.
Shall I take your ice cream or are you OK?
- I'm fine. - You OK? Very well, then.
- So let's go to... no, better that way. - OK.
THE VIRGIN OF AUGUST
English subtitles by O Cangaceiro
Sometimes I get tired of myself
And I would like to exchange myself
with anyone from here.
You!
Love me that way!
How wouldn't I give you
what you want from me?
Sometimes...
I get tired of myself.
And I would like to exchange myself
with anyone from here, today in Madrid.
I still have time!
We're still here!
Who directs the Universe?
Who's listening to me?
Olé!