Payaguala, a gaucho living in a desolate area of Patagonia, lives alone in a ranch raising sheep and chickens. As the story begins, we watch a small plane arriving at a desolate airport, then a van is seen traveling to an unknown destination. What is going on, one wonders. Well, it appears Payaguala is getting a box, but he does not even open the door of his shack-like house to receive the messenger.
It becomes clear Payaguala is a self-sufficient man who enjoys his solitude. The arrival of Felipe, a Chilean itinerant seller of all kinds of merchandise, serves as a distraction. Felipe is excited because he is going to be a father soon. Felipe is intrigued about the box, which he offers to take from Payaguala's hands, sight unseen. The gaucho decides to let Felipe open the crate. A television with satellite has been sent to Payaguala, part of the then government program.
As Felipe sets the television to work, Payaguala becomes hooked watching the many channels available through the outside antenna. His favorite is a corny 'telenovela' with ridiculous situations and trite dialogue. Payaguala is a loner, but one realizes he has been abandoned by his woman, who does not want to know anything about him. Payaguala's land is also the object of desire by some Canadians who purchased the land next to his ranch.
When the television goes on the brink, Payaguala's world comes crashing down. Nothing he does to repair his new toy seems to work. The bitter winter that is engulfing him and his life does not make it any better. As spring arrives, Payaguala is seen outside the house playing his guitar and his chickens have a new object where to roost.
A surprising Argentine-Chilean co production was shown recently on an international cable channel. Directed by Simon Franco, who co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Avila, the film captures the loneliness of a man that has been married to his small piece of land that suddenly is wanted by foreigners who do not realize the value of the place of Payaguala's ancestors. The arrival of modern life to his remote area is only temporarily distracting. In the end, Payaguala realizes his strengths as well as his weakness when he decided to accept a piece of the modern world that was not made for someone like him.
Oscar Payaguala makes an impression. He is probably a non professional, and yet, he shows in his quiet ways he is far from being lonely. He is surrounded by the land where he has lived all his life and has no desire to ever leave it. Nicolas Saavedra makes a good Felipe, the itinerant merchant who goes around peddling his cheap merchandise to people living isolated in remote areas.
Simon Franco is making his film directorial debut. One looks forward to his future work and wishes him good luck in his future endeavors.
It becomes clear Payaguala is a self-sufficient man who enjoys his solitude. The arrival of Felipe, a Chilean itinerant seller of all kinds of merchandise, serves as a distraction. Felipe is excited because he is going to be a father soon. Felipe is intrigued about the box, which he offers to take from Payaguala's hands, sight unseen. The gaucho decides to let Felipe open the crate. A television with satellite has been sent to Payaguala, part of the then government program.
As Felipe sets the television to work, Payaguala becomes hooked watching the many channels available through the outside antenna. His favorite is a corny 'telenovela' with ridiculous situations and trite dialogue. Payaguala is a loner, but one realizes he has been abandoned by his woman, who does not want to know anything about him. Payaguala's land is also the object of desire by some Canadians who purchased the land next to his ranch.
When the television goes on the brink, Payaguala's world comes crashing down. Nothing he does to repair his new toy seems to work. The bitter winter that is engulfing him and his life does not make it any better. As spring arrives, Payaguala is seen outside the house playing his guitar and his chickens have a new object where to roost.
A surprising Argentine-Chilean co production was shown recently on an international cable channel. Directed by Simon Franco, who co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Avila, the film captures the loneliness of a man that has been married to his small piece of land that suddenly is wanted by foreigners who do not realize the value of the place of Payaguala's ancestors. The arrival of modern life to his remote area is only temporarily distracting. In the end, Payaguala realizes his strengths as well as his weakness when he decided to accept a piece of the modern world that was not made for someone like him.
Oscar Payaguala makes an impression. He is probably a non professional, and yet, he shows in his quiet ways he is far from being lonely. He is surrounded by the land where he has lived all his life and has no desire to ever leave it. Nicolas Saavedra makes a good Felipe, the itinerant merchant who goes around peddling his cheap merchandise to people living isolated in remote areas.
Simon Franco is making his film directorial debut. One looks forward to his future work and wishes him good luck in his future endeavors.
