SYNOPSIS

Santiago, Chile. The year 1974. A package addressed to MIRTA, the youngest of eleven brothers and sisters, arrives at her family’s house. In it a pair of ballet slippers. The family gathers and read the card attached to the parcel: “dear Mirta, may this sllippers keep you dancing in freedom. Love, uncle Víctor”.

                  JULIO a 54 year old man and father of the bunch interrupts the gathering and everyone disperses. He commands authority and seems very strict. The little girl looks up at him and hands him the card. He reads it and looks back at her with a serious expression on his face.

                  Flashback: September 11, 1973. During the coup d’etat, Julio celebrates with his family the end to an administration he considered disastrous. Along with several of his sons he goes up to the balcony to watch how a group of tanks drive through a nearby street.  Suddenly a burst of gunfire interrupts the celebration; he commands his children to withdraw back into the house. A second burst terrifies them all, but no one is injured, however the celebration is over. Julio instructs everyone to stay indoors, leaving the house is absolutely forbidden.

                  Two days after the coup, early in the morning Julio receives a phone, with very little to say and a couple of short phrases, he agrees to take in his brother in law, a communist senator named VÍCTOR CONTRERAS and his youngest son LAUTARO (23). Even though they have always stood at opposing sides of a political argument they profoundly respect one another and care a great deal for each other.

                  Because of his work in Salvador Allende’s government, Victor has been blacklisted and now must hide and wait a chance to flee the country. At noon a car parks in front of the house. Victor and his son get out of it and quickly go into the house, trying to remain unseen. The whole family greets them and Julio takes the opportunity to make it absolutely clear that they are not to tell anyone about them.

Now safe, hidden from the world, Lautaro tries to make arrangements for his father’s political asylum in any embassy that might harbor him. This proves harder than he thought.

One day, Victor’s eldest son VITOKO (25) arrives at the house unannounced.

As days go by the Aguilera’s go back to their usual routine. Mirta, in her child’s mind decides that Victor is a spy the likes of James Bond. Meanwhile a series of raids have started around the neighborhood. The military has been arresting anyone over 21 in possession of subversive materials. After hearing this, Lautaro and Vitoco start to put together a plan should the house get raided. They’re in possession of a gun, and are prepared to use it if necessary, but they must be cautious to keep this a secret from Julio.

The day comes when Julio finds out about people going missing or being tortured and even killed as a consequence of the new regime. He´s horrified about the nature of this events but a scary truth now daunts on him: if the senator is found his family is at stake.

Mirta, dressed as a ballet dancer shows her sister what she has learned in class. Her uncle Victor is around and she tries to show him too, but Victor smiles at her not really paying attention.

Julio, concerned with the situation asks Victor to leave as soon as he can. Lautaro needs more time and tries to explain to Victor how he plans to start a revolution to overthrow the government. Furious with this he gives them an ultimatum: they have to leave in a matter of days. Victor understands his brother’s concern and asks his sons to plead for help across the embassies again. They realize that they need money to speed up this process and decide to sell their car to come up with the funds. The problem is the car was left behind in downtown Santiago, where the military presence is strong and now they have to go get it. Lautaro intends to go straight for the car, while his brother watches over him, armed with the gun. In spite of their efforts, Lautaro gets picked up by the police due to the license plate being registered to the communist party. Vitoko, too afraid to act, hides and loses track of his brother as he is taken away.

Under the new circumstances Julio just can’t kick his brother in law out into the street. Victor, trying to show his gratitude, humbly offers to paint the house and every morning without exception he slowly paints every wall in the house. Mirta, dressed in her ballet garments again insists on showing his “uncle the spy” what she has learned in class. Victor pays attention this time and is amazed by her.

Meanwhile, Vitoko with the help of Julio and his contacts eventually find out that his brother has been taken to the National Stadium, the biggest concentration camp of political dissidents in Santiago.

Lautaro is lucky though and gets released. Having witnessed the humiliations and tortures his father would be subjected to, he comes home determined to get him out of the country. He met some people with contacts in the German embassy and now has a way to get his father to safety.

One day, after Julio has left to drop off his youngest children at school, back at home his older daughter, Victor and Julio’s wife are having breakfast. They’re suddenly interrupted by a speeding car that reverses into the driveway.  Lautaro steps out of the car and tells his father to get in and to do it fast. Everyone seems baffled, but Victor does as his son says. He puts down his cup and bids goodbye to the women. He doesn’t say much, a heartfelt “thank you” filled with gratitude and he’s gone.

In the evening Lautaro returns bringing news that his father is safe in the embassy and he’s due to leave for Germany with Vitoco in a few days. He intends to stay in Chile and reunite with them in the future.

It’s eleven o´clock at night and the whole family is woken up by someone banging on the door. Julio opens it and dozens of soldiers barge in. The lieutenant instructs every person in the house to come down and line up in the dining room. Everyone does and Lautaro is terrified.

The lieutenant is direct and asks specifically for Victor Contreras, then demands that every person over 21 produce their identification card. After this, Lautaro is taken from the line and escorted into the yard. The lieutenant asks Julio for the whereabouts of Victor Contreras again. Julio lies to him, assuring him that he has not seen his brother in law in three years. All that he claims to know is that he is not in Chile anymore. The lieutenant pulls him away from the line and his children try to stop this, but raising his voice he commands them to stop. I’m alright – he says.

Julio and Lautaro are forced to drop down to their knees together with their hands bound behind their backs. A soldier approaches them and places dark hoods over their heads. Julio then hears the lieutenant yell that unless the senator shows himself they will shoot his son. Julio lies again, stating that we would never harbor a communist in his house, he is a Christian democrat and is thankful for the military intervention that put an end to Allende’s ruling. He points out to the lieutenant that if he checks his papers he will find an id that credits him as a director in the party. Dismissing his request, the lieutenant gives the order to his men to prepare to open fire.

Inside the house, the whole family fears for the life of both Julio and Lautaro.

The lieutenant raises a finger to the sky. “Fire!” – he yells.

The shots are heard in the living room. Julio’s wife faints and Mirta cries. Everyone is in shock.

Outside Julio, still alive, places a hand on Lautaro’s shoulder realizing he’s alive too. A soldier pulls the hood off of his head and unties his hands. The lieutenant walks up to him, and while he is still kneeling on the ground, hands him back his papers.

“I like Christian democrats” – says to him – “but not communists.” He hits Lautaro’s head with the butt of his gun. Everything fades for the boy as he passes out.

Is 1974. Victor Contreras sits at a desk. His son Vitoco comes in bringing news of his brother who made it to the south of Chile, all the way down to Punta Arenas. There he intends to travel by boat to Europe and make his way to democratic Germany. Victor has a white box in front of him, and is writing the final words on a card. Inside of the box are a pair of ballet slippers.