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Canal

Two brothers with Down syndrome battle upon their family’s downfall in a world which is still not paved for them.

synopsis

Tommy and Marga are siblings in their twenties. They are immigrants and have Down syndrome. It is offseason in Empuriabrava, a canal resort where the only bar open is where they work with their widower and bankrupt father Ignacio. Affected by his fathers depression and alcoholism, Tommy’s self-will is to help in every manner to preserve the family’s business from expropriation. He looks for a job, but is rejected, whilst Marga daydreams to have a child. When helping their father to recover from a long night drinking, Tommy finds help with two-faced Pau, a security chief during the day and a pimp at night who’s own interest is to meddle with Marga. Tommy’s clutching and arrant agitation uneases Ignacio, who overwhelmed and impotent, interns Tommy and Marga in a centre for disabled people. A few days later, they receive the news that their father has commited suicide in one of the canals. Upon the local bank’s harassement to dispossess the bar, Pau offers them to rent it for an illegal vice crime.

Director’statement

I think for most people the protagonists of this movie do not exist. They are part of a reality located in a family history; a geographical and genetic feature unexplored and erratic. It is likely that once we have crossed the limits of its transparent territory, we have not been able to decipher their language. My initial interest in Canal was born with the story of a boy with Down syndrome who fought to get a university degree. The only difference between this young man and myself, is that he had an extra chromosome. That is the big divergence, the constant struggle to getrid of prejudice, to which society is so accustomed. Are they owners of a disability or is society? Do barriers reside in ourselves? Does society accept they can be as competent as anybody? Their wishes are intermingled and die in reality, hence the strength of Tommy to try everything in his power to resurrect them from oblivion.

TFL PROGRAMME:
ScriptLab 2008
Discover more details here:
Download
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TFL Catalogue 2008

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