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Little Miracles (1997)
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The evil in this world chases away the fairies. They don't want to see the destruction of forests, mankind's cruelty and selfishness. That's why it gets harder and harder to see a fairy. Whenever a child says he doesn't believe in fairies, one of them dies. That's why there are so few of them. LITTLE MIRACLES They are fantastic beings who show themselves in the shape of women and are given magical power and the gift of foreseeing the future. Their main mission is to help make the wishes of others come true. Mom, it's Rosalia. Please, call me. Signs of life in space, Lola. Don't get jealous... But there she is. It's her again. I have the same dream every night. I'm in danger and a fairy godmother saves me. Do you know - what that means? - No. Before being a mother... Did you dream of it? Did you dream of having a child? I don't remember. - Good morning. - Good morning. I'm leaving Lola with you. - Bye. - See you later. Argentine Institute for Radio-Astronomy. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Should we call Harvard? No, move the antenna. The signal is the same. It's an interference. During the trip, I talked about my recent exciting experiences in the ballrooms devoted to tango dancing... - I'll bring some tea. - I'll help you. No. Make yourself at home. You've got a new walking stick. Do you like it? It's for when I wear beige. Two, or have you gained weight? You have. How are you doing timewise? I'd like to try to finish this year. I have Don Francisco, but I think I still have time. Are we going to graduate this year? It'd be a miracle. Shall we try it? Shall I open this letter? No. Later. It must be the bank statement. What else? The electricity bill. A letter. Sent by P.P. It's a love letter. Read it. Go on. "My dearest beloved..." Alejandro Casona: "It's forbidden" to commit suicide in spring." It must be an older man. "I don't know what to do with this love." I did everything I could to get your address. I lied, I trembled, I feared. I don't understand why, if you don't see me, when you look at me, I feel something I haven't felt for a long time. So many people see without looking. You don't see. But no one's ever looked at me this way. I have an irrepressible desire "to hold you in my arms..." It must be a guy from the ballrooms. "To explore your body" as if I were the blindest of men. Pore by pore, with my hands... with my tongue... "with my breath..." Come on, don't be afraid. Go on reading. "I want to stay in your hills..." rest in your valleys... get lost in your forests... suffocate in your thickets... taste the forbidden fruit as long as you assure me that, "when I'm expelled from Paradise you will come with me." What a guy! Isn't it funny how he mixes geography and sex? Maps must turn him on. "If that doesn't happen," I'll be glad dancing with you. For me, your darkness is my heart's brightest spot. "I love you, P.P." He wants to act like a gentleman, but he is a pig. I like that. Who could it be? I'm going dancing on Saturday. I never go on Saturdays because men go with their sweethearts. But I want to try it. Are you coming with me? You haven't danced the tango lately. You must have forgotten how. Men are asking you to dance. You don't respond. They look upset. But how could I...? Today is Saturday, Rosalia. The guys from Saturday don't know me. Let's go to the rest room. Across the dance floor. I want everybody to know I am blind. Your attention, please. We'll now start dancing the canyengue tango, which enlivened Buenos Aires ballrooms during the 20's. Charge, my brave ones. I don't know if it was a good idea. I'm dancing. I was asked to dance. And now, a musical interlude. Pay very close attention, Lola. There's a behavior that repeats itself. She appears every morning, usually between 8:00 and 8:30. Whereas, in the afternoon, her appearances are more erratic. My question is, where do you think she goes every morning? Does she go to work? Does she go to the university? Who could she be, Lola? What does your female intuition tell you? What's going on? You're notjealous, huh? She has something that grabs my attention, but I don't know... Yes, I know you were an opera singer in a past life. Do not suffer. There are too many mysteries in life, Lola. Fairyland is a mysterious world that lives side by side with our own. There's access to it, safe from our noisy and savage times... To carry out their missions in the real world fairies can make themselves invisible to humans. The world is full of them. They may also appear in the shapes of humans or animals. I'm glad you're here. He's terrible today. If reading to me bores you, just tell me. Don't make me waste my time. I'm sorry. I'm late. Wait. Play track 3 of the disc that's in the machine. Alessandro Marcello. It's necessary to destroy the purpose of bridges... To cover the landscape with alien elements... To straighten by force the curve of the horizon... And to moan at experiencing the abrupt sound of the mountains... Very few people love sceneries that do not exist. Do you like it? I don't understand it, but I'm moved. Forgive me. As smooth as the touch of a mother, the afternoon sets. There is no rain yet, and the sky is like an imperfect smile and my awareness of being aware of you is like a prayer and knowing that you smile is like a wilted flower on my chest. May I borrow this book? I'll bring it back. Of course. I'm happy that you are beginning to like Pessoa. Mom... It's me Rosalia... Please, call me. Are you there... mom? I want you to come over for dinner. If you don't like my cooking, we can order a pizza. But call me. It's not true. It can't be true. They were just two coincidences. I know I have to thank God for this gift of being a fairy. But I'm afraid, because I wonder... Will I be able to fall in love and have children? Do you know anything about fairies? Until last year, our solar system was thought to be an exception. We were alone in the universe. But in 1996, eight other planetary systems were discovered. Frankly, did you ever feel alone? You shouldn't have. It is less and less likely that we are alone. Just in our galaxy, there are 500 billion stars. Can you imagine? Don't worry. Me, neither. Do you know what keeps me awake at night? Sometimes, I am certain that the signals are there but we don't see them as we should. - Who is it? - Rosalia... I don't have a philosophy; I have feelings. If I speak about Nature, it's because I love it. And those who love never know what they love, or what love is. To love is eternal innocence, and the only innocence, not to think. I'd like you to hear something that I wrote. In fact, I just adapted a text by Pessoa to music by Marcello. You will remember it, song, to love at an early hour, one night with closed eyes, your voice, your voice. It breaks my heart. For although you cry, you sing by my side and I am all alone. Can you see me? See you? I don't know. Suddenly, I thought of a miracle. Come closer. Don't be afraid. I want to make a confession. As I couldn't see you and you wouldn't dare tell me what you are like, a love has grown inside me so great and immeasurable that it hurts. If you don't know what I'm like, how can you love me? You don't even know the color of my hair, or how tall I am. With no definite shapes... with no limits... and without waiting for any reward this love has been growing with no boundaries and it has become a red-hot ember inside of me... and it hurts... This love has become the only love. Do you understand? And this is a love that only Christ could have felt. I am only a poor man who exaggerates his shadows. Why is God so good to me, Rosalia? Good? If I were able to see, I'd be distracted by shapes and colors. Things would be only one way, the way I'd see them. But like this, by not seeing what is outside, I can only see what is inside, Rosalia. You can't see the color of my hair, but you can see inside my soul? Do you know I'm a fairy godmother? I never doubted it. I don't want you to suffer. I am 5 feet tall. I'm small, I have brown hair... dark eyes and a funny-looking face. I'm dark-skinned. No man would ever find me attractive. I came to this world on a mission, and ended up trapped here. I have to find the way to return... How much? You shouldn't have listened to me. I am not ready for this exam. We should have waited a little bit longer. Calm down. Everything is going to be all right. I know it. Only a miracle will make me pass... Susana Fuentes. The balls are scattered all over the place... Our notes are all mixed up... If you believe in fate, maybe you'll understand what happened. In my 40-year career, nothing like this has ever happened to me. If you decided to study, you didn't do it to please your parents... So talk to us about whatever aspect of Criminal Law you like. Very well. I am going to talk about crimes against sexual honor. In point number one we'll see... honor as a value in criminal law. I would like you to talk to us about... Do you want to ask her anything? Let's give her a passing grade. Nature calls. What a strange day. Congratulations, Doctor of Law. Thank you. Thanks for your help, Rosalia. Oh, I'm so happy. You know, the best things in my life started to happen after I became blind. Life is very strange, isn't it? The other day, a man offered to help me cross the street. It was a voice that came from about 3 feet off the ground. A midget? No. A midget crossed my path once, but this one wasn't a midget. This one took my hand and placed it on top of something metallic. A wheelchair. I crossed the street holding onto his wheelchair. God is good to me for allowing me to enjoy these acts of kindness. People are good, it's just that they don't have the chance to show it. Maybe that's my mission in life... to make people discover how much they can love another human being. I know that after being kind to me, they feel better... Closer to God. Rosalia, Rosalia, you are... so kind to me, and I love you so much... Mom? Coming... Who are we mourning today? It's incense from India. Don't you like it? Is that all right? I can fix you an egg... It's not bad. You've learned something. What are you eating? You go straight for the dessert, right? Strawberries with honey. As a child, I used to say this was the meal of fairies. What are you doing now? Are you still working in the supermarket? Yes. I also read to blind people. Read to blind people? Is that a job? Reading to people? Do they pay you well? Nothing. I'm a volunteer. Volunteer... Of course, because you're rolling in dough... You're just like your old man. I saw Aunt Cata yesterday. Your father phoned her. He's living in a village. He must've found some other foolish woman. It seems the bastard has a kid. What's so funny? Nothing. I'm just glad he's okay. You sure are crazy. I hope it's taught you a lesson. You know what to expect from men. Enjoy them. Don't let yourself be fooled. They get you pregnant, have a good laugh, and then they leave, and from then on you're the slave of your child. They keep on having fun and you're stuck with the kid. Mom, I have something to tell you. Your daughter's a fairy. Ask for a wish. I'll make it come true. I may be able to repay you for all the trouble I've caused you. Mr. Bermudez, please? His daughter. Hello, Bermudez? Do you remember me, you bastard? You abandoned me when I was 8 years old. Hello. Dad. It's Rosalia. Your daughter. No, I'm not calling you to fight. I just wanted you to take me out for some ice cream. Dad. There are times and places where the two worlds meet. There are doors to that magical world. Between the earth and the sea. Between one place and another. Between two blinks of an eye. - Shall we take some cold milk? - Fine. Another letter from P.P. Read it to me after tea. Rosalia, tell me... When the fairy saves you, does she always say the same thing? I don't know. I can't hear what she says. And what's that about a song? When I awake I sing a song I never learned in a language I don't know. Could you sing it now? No. I can only sing it at that moment. Are you sure you're awake when you sing it? Do you mean that I think I'm awake but I'm really still dreaming? Did you ever sleepwalk? Yes. When I was a little girl. But my mom cured me by slapping me when I was sleepwalking in the house and mumbling things that no one understood. How do you know when you're really awake? How do I know if I'm talking to you, or I'm dreaming it? Do you have to go pee? Yes, a little bit... Then it's not a dream. I'm intrigued by that stuff about the song. I'm going to lend you my tape recorder. Remind yourself that you must be sure to turn it on. Carola Jalife, 717-1211- There's something that fairies cannot stop doing. Dancing. Fairies who live in groups wear green. Sometimes, they wear a red cap with a green feather. Lone fairies always wear red. Maybe I'm not alone here. Maybe there are other fairies. I'm stupid and vain. How could I be the only one? But would they know? Did you study languages? But you must've learned a song... in English maybe? No. Why? What you were singing sounded like. English to me. So I called a friend who is a language teacher and knows a lot... And well... it's not English. What is it then? It could be a Celtic dialect. She's going to check it out, but she thinks it could be a language that was spoken in Ireland hundreds of years ago. Now tell me where you learned that! Thank you very much, dancers. And now, a musical interlude. Do you want to have a drink with us? Champagne? No, thank you. I have my orange juice over there. We'll order another one. Don't break the atmosphere. Waiter! How would making love feel to a blind girl? I don't think it'd be much different. Just think... How long do you keep your eyes open when you're doing it? Looking is the least important thing, right? An orange juice, please. And for a guy to do it with a blind girl? The unpunished surprise of the hands... No, you idiot. She is the one who makes love in Braille. A ball over here, another ball over there, and... Oh, my God, what have we got here? Forgive these freaks. What's your name? The blind woman is related to you? She's my best friend. I read for her. We've just graduated as lawyers. I mean, she has. Isn't that great? A lawyer? That's interesting. There are so many lawyers who don't see shit. At least she won't hide the fact. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She's a good woman. And she gave her best. Just try to imagine studying and being blind. Could you do it? I didn't mean to make fun of her. It's the champagne. Let's dance. We're nice girls. A little wacky, but nice people. I know. Really? Do we look like good girls? You probably won't go to heaven, but you won't go to hell, either. What do you do? Whatever we can. I'm a secretary. My name's Gladys. I say my name's Gladys, but my real name's Selena. Of course. Fairies are very careful about revealing their real names. If people knew your real name, you could be the victim of a spell. Is there vodka in yourjuice? What are their names? Marisel and Natalia. They're actresses. Actresses? They work on TV? They work wherever they can, but they're not famous. Not yet. And you? I'm a good fairy. I work as a cashier at a supermarket. We're going out for a drink. Do you want to come? I'm working tomorrow. Me, too. Come on! Sure you'll be okay? The engineer will take me home. Pino Paparella, engineer, nice to meet you. Rosi... Pino Paparella. P.P. I think he's the one who sends the letters. You look great. I wish I could bite your lips. I'll kick you so hard in the balls that you'll regret it, asshole! You are a real pig, Selena. Selena is the name of a fairy. Yes, of a bitchy fairy. What are you drinking? An orange juice. How boring. Have champagne with us. Do you always drink champagne? I haven't read that in any book. Rosalia, how do you like guys? - Guys? - What kind of men do you like? Young blokes... older guys? Intellectuals? Athletes? You must like the intellectuals, right? Those who don't start petting right away. I like those, too. Come on! You like them all! Do you like those two guys over at the bar? You don't like men? Listen, it doesn't matter to us. That's not it... I've never had a boyfriend. You've never had a relationship? Well, once a boy invited me out. We went to the movies but then he sort of got on my nerves. I don't think... he was an intellectual guy. This can't be true! You're still a virgin? No, a girl. No, a girl, what a scoop! Any TV station would take you: "A virgin in Argentina". Don't pay any attention to them. You never wanted a man to grab you like that? I don't think I'm the type of woman that attracts men. What do you mean? You're so pretty! - No... - Yes, you are! You are very pretty. But you still don't realize it. Let your hair down. May I? There. Look at those lips. You know what you need? Do you have any dough to spend on clothes and a new hairdo? I've got some money saved up. - What for? - I don't know. Shall we make a babe out of her? Don't be stupid. You'll love it. They don't know they're fairies. Many die without knowing it. Not daring to know it. Does it matter? They behave like fairies, the way they helped me. We fairies are here to help make other people's wishes come true. Oh, my God! What if I'm punished for being so vain? And what if from now on, instead of being a fairy, I become a whore? Ah, you... Are you still having those strange dreams? No, not anymore. Grandma. What do you want? You forgot this. It's not mine. That would cost half my pension. How could I ever buy it? Grandma... Take it. Do you want me to pinch it? Here's your sales slip. Is she the same one? Yeah. What did she do to herself? She looks super. To live is to belong to someone. To die is to belong to someone. To live and to die are the same thing. To live is to belong to someone on the outside and to die is to belong to someone on the inside. The two things are similar. Life is life, and death is death. Life is the outer side of death. The outer side is always more real than the inner side. Therefore the outer side is what you see... Now wait... What else are you wearing? Is that a cotton skirt? It's cotton, and it has a flower pattern. How pretty! I've got a surprise for you. You finished knitting it! Yes. I hope it fits you. Wear it when you go dancing today. You look beautiful. Now you have to act up a little bit, play... Be different according to circumstances. Just as when you choose a dress or a hairdo, you choose a personality, depending on the situation. Let's say you want to look intellectual, as the guy you like might notice you that way. How would you act? I'd buy a pair of glasses. Try these on. You look like a bore like that. Intellectual, but... New age. You believe in fairies, reincarnation and all that bullshit. Now, the opposite. You're in a dull place full of intellectuals. In that case, what you would need is to look more seductive. Seductive? You don't charge for doing it, but it shows that you like it. That I like what? That you like men, Rosalia. How do you make a guy you like pay attention to you? This never fails. Look, eyes half open. Very subtle. No need to exaggerate. But take advantage of your pretty mouth. Come on. You'll soon see how easy it is to pretend that you like it. I think our missiors over, girls. Now you'll go back to fairyland? - Nothing. - You're ready now, girl. Ready for what? Drinking won't help you get ideas. Helping a writer isn't easy for a fairy. I'll tell you a story and you'll write it. Come closer. That woman is interfering. She must be a bad person. They want to fire you. Maybe I'm not a good fairy. Maybe I'm a witch. My card's not there. Mr. Garcia Cozzi wants to talk to you. Aunt Cata, how are you? Fine, I'm okay. Well, I was fired today... Well, yes... No, but I'm fine. A boyfriend? Not yet, but soon. Auntie, Mom told me you talked to my dad. Didrt he tell you where he lives? In La Pampa? Did he give you a phone number? Mr. Bermudez, please. His daughter. Gin, please. You are a woman. Did you forget what I am? What can you say in a case like this? "I'm sorry?" Come on. How do you defend yourself from the passage of time? I don't know, and besides, it's useless. I run and run but always end up in the same place... where things are waiting for me to get old... And I love life so much, Rosalia. I can't stand the idea that everything's always dying. One day you notice that you no longer love the person who's beside you. And the other one can see it and you're like a trapped animal. And all you can do is get older and more decrepit day by day... And that's what frightens me... I'm not a bad guy. I just get frightened, that's all. And then you have to run away. What can you do when everything around you is falling apart? You don't know what it's like on a winter evening, watching TV with a woman and all of a sudden you think, "I'll die sitting by this womars side". What the hell has that got to do with love? Tell me. You'll die all the same, Dad... but alone, and you know it. I don't want do give up without a fight in the face of death. I want to keep dreaming. Can't you keep dreaming by the side of a woman you loved... and who you could keep loving? She chose you to spend the rest of her life with. Maybe, for her, there's nothing more important than that. To die by your side. Arert you touched by that? And you are a woman... Is that why you left us? If I'd been a boy, you wouldn't have left us? I had a son. Little Roberto. No, another one, before... When I left your mother... I mean, when I left you both, I lived with another woman, and we had a child. A boy. I never betrayed you, Rosalia. Dad, I want you to know something. Your daughter's a fairy. Ask for a wish. I'll make it come true for you. But don't ask me to stop time. I don't think I could do that, Dad. This is Rosalia, my daughter. Give her some coffee. I think she's had too much to drink. Do you hate him? He's a good guy, but he gets frightened. I wish I could make him happy. I don't think he's ever been happy. He doesn't allow himself to be happy. He's selfish... fucking selfish. Can you imagine living with a man who's always looking at you as if you were responsible for the passage of time? What your old man can't stand are mirrors. The bastard thinks we women are the mirror of his own aging. Do you think he'll do it again? Whenever he says he's going to the pub or into town, you stay behind thinking, "He is going to do it". "This time he'll do it." "He won't come back." Because you know he's going to do it. She's sad. If I'm a fairy godmother, and I can make people's wishes come true, why can't I make people happy? What kind of a fairy am I? Maybe I'm just a fake. I know a few tricks, that's all. How does one manage to live over there? What could've happened to her, Lola? Do you think she's sick? 27... 27? Lola, come... Come on, let's go. There's nobody here, Lola. I want that number. The powers were granted to me to help other people. If I use them for my own benefit, I'll be punished. For my next mission, I'll be sent as a frog, or a fish... Or even worse... as a boy. This number will be the winner. Then I congratulate you. No, I can't keep it. I shouldn't. I have a good friend who's a priest. He's founded a home for street kids. He really performs miracles to feed them. Your faith is so strong that you make me feel everything you believe is true. Maybe, you are a good fairy, as you claim. No sane soul can really see a fairy. Therefore, those who can see are no better off than I am. Nevertheless, I've come to realize that when you come here... A very special light appears in my darkness. How strange life is, Rosalia. How marvelously mysterious. - See you on Tuesday. - See you. The lottery ticket ends with a 3? It's 9,333? How did you know? I would've bought it myself. What's his name? Whatever you like. He's going to be your son. Dear Pino, I thank you for your new habit of writing letters to me. I don't know if I'd dare to tell you these things in person. They seem less indiscreet on a piece of paper. No, I'm fine. For the first time I understood what the fairy said in my dreams. What did she say to you? Death... does not exist. Dad? She left. She took all her stuff with her, and I don't care. But that bitch took little Roberto with her. She's not a bad person. She's afraid, that's all. Afraid of what? Stop drinking, Dad. Why don't you lie down in my bed? No, dear. I'll go find a hotel. I'm a little confused. This has never happened to me before. Besides being confused, you're a little drunk... and tired. Would you like something to eat? I make good fried eggs. Or we could order a pizza. What're you talking about? Dad... Calm down. You'll find them. That's not the problem. It's just that... Why don't you hate me? Even if I hated you, I'd still help you. That's the way I am. A saint. A good fairy. Cover yourself. I think you have a temperature. Drink this. It'll make you sweat. No. Have you got some brandy? No, Dad. You've already had too much to drink. Forgive me, Rosalia. I'm sorry, my daughter. Sleep, Dad. Just sleep, and everything will be all right. Once upon a time, there was a fairy godmother... who came down to Earth on a mission and was trapped here. Fairies lose their immortality here. The fairy had lost her magical gift. She was very sad because of the unfairness of the human world. There was very little she could do about it. One day, she decided to stop trying to get back to her own world. But she wanted something very special to happen to her. No more little tricks, she said to herself. Let's see if we are able to perform a real miracle. A big miracle. And one day, the big miracle took place. And what happened then? |
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