A brief movie depicting the daily struggles of neglected, underprivileged, and marginalized children residing in Europe’s biggest slum, situated near Madrid, has been nominated for Spain’s version of the Academy Awards, the Goya awards, on Saturday.
Despite being nighttime, the film “Even Though it’s Night” was filmed on-site in the informal settlement of Cañada Real, with local residents as the cast. It tells the story of 13-year-old Toni as he faces the imminent departure of his best friend Nasser to France, and the end of his own childhood.
The movie is named after a poem written by St John of the Cross, a Spanish priest, poet, and mystic. The poem talks about the pursuit of a closer relationship with God despite being imprisoned and facing spiritual and physical darkness. The title also reflects the current situation in sector 6 of the settlement, where approximately 4,000 residents, including many children, have been living without electricity for over three years.
The short film, directed by 38-year-old Guillermo García López, opens with two friends standing on a hill in the Cañada, gazing at the surreal skyscrapers of Madrid.
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Nine years ago, García López traveled to the region while filming a documentary about the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on people. He was intrigued by the landscape and its contradictions.
“He mentioned that despite being only 20 minutes from the center, Madrid seemed like a distant place. It felt like being transported to another dimension.”
In 2019, the director was consistently working in Cañada, leading film workshops for children, most of whom have Roma and Moroccan backgrounds.
García López and his team were determined to create a film in the Cañada, but faced difficulties with traditional casting methods due to the logistics of the area. As a result, they opted to personally visit homes and recruit actors. This approach not only helped them find their cast, but also allowed them to introduce their project to families and build trust with a community that often feels misrepresented or stigmatized by the media due to the pervasive drug trade in certain parts of the settlement.
The filmmaker states that the film explores the themes of losing a close friend and the innocence of childhood. However, the impact of economic circumstances and the loss of both literal and symbolic power are strongly felt in the area.
The government of Madrid, one of the five governing bodies responsible for the Cañada, attributes the persistent power shortage to illegal marijuana farms. These farms put excessive strain on the electricity network, causing its safety mechanisms to activate.
Naturgy, the power company, has expressed its condolences to the residents of sector 6. However, it also stated that excessive and inconsistent usage is causing the network to malfunction. The company reported that only three customers in sector six are registered, while the remaining connections are unauthorized.
The absence of power has led to discrimination against the children in the area. Many of them study using flashlights or electronic devices, and some are afraid to attend school due to potential bullying related to the odor of their unwashed garments. In addition, the use of candles for lighting has resulted in house fires and individuals have been hospitalized due to inhaling toxic fumes from butane heaters.
García López emphasized the fact that 4,000 individuals, including many children, have been without electricity for over three years. This is a clear violation of their human rights, as they are entitled to a decent standard of living and access to electricity.
The filmmaker, whose movie has been nominated for Best Fictional Short Film at the Goya Awards, aims to raise awareness about the crisis affecting the outskirts of the capital in Spain. Through their work, they hope to showcase the strength and perseverance of the families living in Sector 6.
According to him, St. John of the Cross composed the poem during his imprisonment in Toledo, where he experienced intense isolation and despair. Similarly, this community also endures a great sense of loneliness and faces challenges in securing a hopeful future or finding joy in their current lives. Despite the darkness, they continue to persevere and find moments of happiness, while also battling through difficult emotions.
Unfortunately, he commented, the majority of residents in Madrid are still hesitant or incapable of making eye contact with those who live near them.
“He mentioned that this is close to our city,” he stated. “And those children up on the hill are observing us.”
Source: theguardian.com
