Mercedes Cordova
FILM DIRECTOR (ARGENTINA)
It's May 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and we have been in quarantine for more than a month. Here the government acted really fast, and we got a lockdown with less than 100 cases on March the 12th and from one day to the next one schools were shut down, as well as factories, and all commerce.
As in every country the «economy vs. health» discussion came to the table, but the Argentinian economy was already deeply infected from the virus that has been spreading inequality and poverty all over Latin America and third world countries for far too long.
As in every country the «economy vs. health» discussion came to the table, but the Argentinian economy was already deeply infected from the virus that has been spreading inequality and poverty all over Latin America and third world countries for far too long.
During the first days I spent my time watching TV, trying to stay tuned on the news about my city, about the country, and the world. But, as weeks passed by, you sort of need to disconnect and to create a micro reality between your four walls and the people and animals that you live with. In my caseit's Pablo, my boyfriend, and Amelia, my cat.
It's May 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and we have been in quarantine for more than a month. Here the government acted really fast, and we got a lockdown with less than 100 cases on March the 12th and from one day to the next one schools were shut down, as well as factories, and all commerce.
As in every country the «economy vs. health» discussion came to the table, but the Argentinian economy was already deeply infected from the virus that has been spreading inequality and poverty all over Latin America and third world countries for far too long.
During the first days I spent my time watching TV, trying to stay tuned on the news about my city, about the country, and the world. But, as weeks passed by, you sort of need to disconnect and to create a micro reality between your four walls and the people and animals that you live with. In my caseit's Pablo, my boyfriend, and Amelia, my cat.
As in every country the «economy vs. health» discussion came to the table, but the Argentinian economy was already deeply infected from the virus that has been spreading inequality and poverty all over Latin America and third world countries for far too long.
During the first days I spent my time watching TV, trying to stay tuned on the news about my city, about the country, and the world. But, as weeks passed by, you sort of need to disconnect and to create a micro reality between your four walls and the people and animals that you live with. In my caseit's Pablo, my boyfriend, and Amelia, my cat.
You cannot tell...
You fight new and less ambitious battles, like cooking a decentmeal from scratchor having clean toilet and fresh clothes. Sometimes you get a sudden rush of confidenceand you even take the chance on creating new life by starting your own sourdough ferment. Life becomes smaller, but not less intense. In fact, feelings become deeper and you experience terrible days of frustration when a storm hits your town and some water runs into your living room, and you struggle to dry it off while you cry because you don't see a way out of this terrible year.
You fight new and less ambitious battles, like cooking a decentmeal from scratchor having clean toilet and fresh clothes. Sometimes you get a sudden rush of confidenceand you even take the chance on creating new life by starting your own sourdough ferment. Life becomes smaller, but not less intense. In fact, feelings become deeper and you experience terrible days of frustration when a storm hits your town and some water runs into your living room, and you struggle to dry it off while you cry because you don't see a way out of this terrible year.
But when the sun comes out again you feel deeply alive and positive and you talk to your mom, and you think how much you admire her, and how you should talk more often in your regular life, while you bake a perfect loaf. Your first natural fermented piece of bread, and you have the certainty that this is the first one of many to come. But as you thought you were killing it at your own private isolation, some new black clouds appear on the horizon and you know there is a new storm on the march.
But when the sun comes out again you feel deeply alive and positive and you talk to your mom, and you think how much you admire her, and how you should talk more often in your regular life, while you bake a perfect loaf. Your first natural fermented piece of bread, and you have the certainty that this is the first one of many to come. But as you thought you were killing it at your own private isolation, some new black clouds appear on the horizon and you know there is a new storm on the march.
Yes, this pandemic state of mindis bipolar.
Yes, this pandemic state of mindis bipolar.
Since lockdown I started to go out for food and essentials only, like all humanity. We live in the financial district of the city, an area usually packed with office workers and tourists, that now looks very different. In the deserted streets of my neighborhood there are just a few of us locals wandering at a safe distance with our shopping bags.
Since lockdown I started to go out for food and essentials only, like all humanity. We live in the financial district of the city, an area usually packed with office workers and tourists, that now looks very different. In the deserted streets of my neighborhood there are just a few of us locals wandering at a safe distance with our shopping bags.
find a smile — tap on the pic to check yourself
find a smile — tap on the pic to check yourself
I'M SMILING AT YOU
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
I'M SMILING AY YOU
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
I'M SMILING AT YOU
FIND A SMILE
FIND A SMILE
One morning I went out to buy food for my cat. While I was just a few meters from the pet shop I saw this woman with two dogs, and I thought about how she, like me, cherishes animal affection.
One morning I went out to buy food for my cat. While I was just a few meters from the pet shop I saw this woman with two dogs, and I thought about how she, like me, cherishes animal affection.
Like Paul Preciado says, love is not only a human issue.
Like Paul Preciado says, love is not only a human issue.
As she and her two animal friends passed by, I smiled at them, but I didn't get any smile back... and then it hit me: Did she realize I was being kind to her? Probably not, since she wasn't able to tell I just showed her some gratitude with my mouth, due to my face mask.
A couple of more profound doubts hit me over the following days: Do we only smile with our lips? Is there any other part of our faces that can show gratitude and happiness? Do we smile when nobody can see us? Do we do this for ourselves or for the others?
A couple of more profound doubts hit me over the following days: Do we only smile with our lips? Is there any other part of our faces that can show gratitude and happiness? Do we smile when nobody can see us? Do we do this for ourselves or for the others?
As she and her two animal friends passed by, I smiled at them, but I didn't get any smile back... and then it hit me: Did she realize I was being kind to her? Probably not, since she wasn't able to tell I just showed her some gratitude with my mouth, due to my face mask.
A couple of more profound doubts hit me over the following days: Do we only smile with our lips? Is there any other part of our faces that can show gratitude and happiness? Do we smile when nobody can see us? Do we do this for ourselves or for the others?
A couple of more profound doubts hit me over the following days: Do we only smile with our lips? Is there any other part of our faces that can show gratitude and happiness? Do we smile when nobody can see us? Do we do this for ourselves or for the others?
find a smile — tap on the pic to check yourself
find a smile — tap on the pic to check yourself
I'M SMILING AT YOU
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
I'M SMILING AT YOU
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
WE'RE SMILING AT YOU
OOPS, WRONG ANSWER
FIND A SMILE
FIND A SMILE
Today is a sunny Sunday in Downtown Buenos Aires. I went out with my shopping bag and my face mask and I just ran into the women with the dogs once again. This time I stopped her to talk. I said something silly and obvious about how terrible this state of pandemic mind was. She said something back, not too moved by my words. So I kept trying to connect with her… but the most sincere thing that came to mind was to explain to her that though she couldn't see me I was smiling at her.
Today is a sunny Sunday in Downtown Buenos Aires. I went out with my shopping bag and my face mask and I just ran into the women with the dogs once again. This time I stopped her to talk. I said something silly and obvious about how terrible this state of pandemic mind was. She said something back, not too moved by my words. So I kept trying to connect with her… but the most sincere thing that came to mind was to explain to her that though she couldn't see me I was smiling at her.
She answered: «I know, I can tell. I am smiling back».
She answered: «I know, I can tell. I am smiling back».
Statistics | COVID-19 in Argentine
est. May 21, 2020 (morning)
9 283
People infected
403
People died
2 933
People recovered