As the country faces political turmoil, Claudio is involved in a dangerous…
Panama Canal Stories
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
View on the Pragda STREAM site
This impressive, sweeping historical drama chronicles five incredible stories of people who helped build the famous canal and Panama itself.
Spanning a century, from 1913 to 2013, the film weaves together the tales of five remarkable characters: Clarice, a young Jamaican laborer forced to choose between love and survival at the hands her American and British bosses during the Canal’s construction; Jake, the son of an engineer who grows up in the ‘American zone’ in 1950s Panama but who really wants to be with his Panamanian friends; José, a student caught up in the 1960s political unrest and his love for a pretty American girl, Lucy; Silverio, a chauffeur for visiting U.S. politicians who is hired to spy on them by local political activists in 1977; and Clarice Jones, a jazz singer in New York City who discovers that her great-grandmother worked on the canal and decides to go to Panama to explore her roots.
"A milestone for a young industry." — John Hopewell, Variety
"Stories which are unique and even riveting as they uncover a history of the Panama Canal which expands beyond what little we may know of the country's history." — Sydney Levine, IndieWire
Citation
Main credits
Borrero, Carolina (film director)
Mon, Pinky (film director)
Brantley, Luis Franco (film director)
Ortega Heilbron, Pituka (film director)
Ortega Heilbron, Pituka (film producer)
Benaim, Abner (film director)
Novas, Ileana (film producer)
Schverdfinger, Pablo (film producer)
Rodríguez, Manolito (screenwriter)
Fadel, Alejandro (screenwriter)
Mauregui, Martín (screenwriter)
May, Lakisha (actor)
Morris, Andre (actor)
Wise, Kathleen (actor)
Other credits
Directors, Carolina Borrero (1913), Pinky Mon (1950), Luis Franco Brantley (1964), Abner Benaim (1977), Pituka Ortega Heilbron (2013).
Distributor subjects
Afro-Latin; Central America; Culture + Identity; Economics + Social Class Issues; Human Rights; Migration Studies; Sociology; Central America; International Relations; Political Science; History; Latin American StudiesKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:46.583 --> 00:00:49.792
The Isthmus of Panama was split
in two in order to build…
00:00:49.792 --> 00:00:51.333
an interoceanic Canal.
00:00:51.333 --> 00:00:53.333
Within the areas surrounding it,
00:00:53.333 --> 00:00:56.875
the USA stablished a territory
known as the Canal Zone,
00:00:56.875 --> 00:01:00.417
which was ruled by its customs and laws
between 1903 and 1999.
00:01:00.417 --> 00:01:03.958
This physical, social
and political foreign presence,
00:01:03.958 --> 00:01:07.500
set in the center of the country,
guided the fate and identity
00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:10.042
of the Panamanian Nation forever.
00:01:39.667 --> 00:01:44.458
CULEBRA CUT
PANAMA CANAL
00:24:22.250 --> 00:24:25.042
I saw you, baby! Come in.
00:24:27.750 --> 00:24:29.750
How did you sleep?
00:24:41.042 --> 00:24:43.458
Panama and the Zone are
very different.
00:24:44.583 --> 00:24:47.375
First of all, we live
one on top of each other.
00:24:48.542 --> 00:24:50.125
We don\'t have so many pretty things.
00:24:51.750 --> 00:24:55.958
Cars are uglier, men are uglier.
00:24:56.167 --> 00:24:58.250
Even dogs are uglier!
00:25:10.125 --> 00:25:11.833
Are you crazy, baby?
00:25:12.250 --> 00:25:14.042
What would people say about
a panamanian like me…
00:25:14.083 --> 00:25:16.292
walking around with a \'gringuito\' like you?
00:25:17.708 --> 00:25:19.792
This city is split up.
00:25:20.917 --> 00:25:23.542
I got my half and you got yours.
00:25:28.958 --> 00:25:30.958
I come here because I come to work.
00:25:31.583 --> 00:25:33.833
Without this uniform I\'m
nobody in the Canal Zone
00:25:39.125 --> 00:25:42.417
This? It\'s my scapulary
00:25:43.917 --> 00:25:47.167
It\'s like a charm, to
protect me from the spirits.
00:25:48.542 --> 00:25:51.333
The restless souls of the dead…
00:25:51.375 --> 00:25:53.750
that are unhappy to be where they are.
00:26:00.917 --> 00:26:05.208
Yes…
Everyone has their own belief.
00:26:05.250 --> 00:26:07.542
The important thing is that
you truly believe in it.
00:26:08.083 --> 00:26:10.333
C\'mon, baby.
It\'s time to go to school.
00:32:37.208 --> 00:32:40.417
Look at that one,
the one up there!
00:32:42.625 --> 00:32:43.958
Hey, get that over there.
00:33:08.958 --> 00:33:09.958
Here it is.
00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:25.250
Tavito!
00:33:25.667 --> 00:33:27.708
-Wake up!
-Are you okay?
00:33:28.208 --> 00:33:30.958
So the girly \"gringos\" got scared?
00:33:31.083 --> 00:33:33.458
A small little bullet doesn\'t hurt me.
00:33:46.750 --> 00:33:47.958
Are you coming or what?
00:34:03.667 --> 00:34:06.708
- What\'s up, \'gringo\'?
- What if we take him away?
00:34:07.083 --> 00:34:09.667
- Where\'s you nanny?
- Let\'s take him away.
00:34:11.208 --> 00:34:13.958
Hey Bolo, Bolo, stop that…
This is not your place.
00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.208
I\'ll tell Chimba to knock you down.
00:34:16.333 --> 00:34:19.167
Oh, the \'gringuito\' has a sissy!
00:34:19.583 --> 00:34:22.375
If we had known she was your wife,
we wouldn\'t have bothered him.
00:34:22.542 --> 00:34:24.292
Hey, those guys are really annoying?
00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.000
Were you scared?
00:34:29.875 --> 00:34:32.250
Here, I\'ll give you my charm.
It will protect you.
00:34:39.292 --> 00:34:41.250
Here, take it.
00:34:46.375 --> 00:34:48.750
Hey you, damn kids!
00:34:48.833 --> 00:34:51.458
Tavito, I saw you!
I\'ll tell your father!
00:35:01.417 --> 00:35:03.458
- Do you understand all he\'s saying?
- Of course.
00:35:07.792 --> 00:35:11.667
My grandma always said that
I was half boy, half monkey.
00:37:58.417 --> 00:37:59.625
It\'s time.
00:38:02.042 --> 00:38:03.625
Good luck, little man.
00:38:06.417 --> 00:38:07.125
Go.
00:39:06.667 --> 00:39:09.875
In compliance with the
Kennedy-Chiari agreement,
00:39:10.125 --> 00:39:13.375
the Canal Zone\'s governor, Robert Flemming,
00:39:13.583 --> 00:39:19.542
issued a statement regulating the raising
of the panamanian flag in the Canal Zone.
00:39:19.833 --> 00:39:21.792
- Hey, lend me your camera.
- No.
00:39:21.875 --> 00:39:23.750
- C\'mon, lend it to me.
- No, I won\'t.
00:39:23.750 --> 00:39:25.833
Breakfast is ready!
Excuse me.
00:39:29.125 --> 00:39:30.000
Now what?
00:39:30.167 --> 00:39:31.125
I don\'t know.
00:39:32.042 --> 00:39:33.875
I mean, things worked out well so far.
00:39:34.250 --> 00:39:36.625
Besides, we\'re good neighbors.
Kennedy said so himself.
00:39:36.708 --> 00:39:37.958
Eat your food!
00:39:38.167 --> 00:39:41.667
That\'s enough. Let\'s have some
breakfast, please. I have to go.
00:39:42.042 --> 00:39:46.708
If I were a \'gringo\', I wouldn\'t want
to share my flag with others. would I?
00:39:47.667 --> 00:39:50.667
Albertito, please leave your brother
alone and have some breakfast.
00:39:52.458 --> 00:39:53.583
Stop that, ok?
00:41:23.125 --> 00:41:24.833
I don\'t speak english.
00:41:31.125 --> 00:41:32.042
Sorry.
00:42:03.542 --> 00:42:08.625
Comrades, If we are here today,
it\'s because things have gone wrong…
00:42:08.917 --> 00:42:13.375
and it\'s time for us to
take action, Isn\'t it?
00:42:14.875 --> 00:42:19.958
How enthusiastic you are, comrades!
I see plenty of revolutionary joy!
00:42:20.542 --> 00:42:25.667
I admire the \'gringos\', because they
know what they want, and just take it.
00:42:26.208 --> 00:42:29.042
Are we going to stay calm, watching
how they step over our rights…
00:42:29.417 --> 00:42:31.458
and treat us like colonized servants?
00:42:31.792 --> 00:42:32.625
What did the principal said?
00:42:33.167 --> 00:42:36.375
He said the American flag
can\'t be raised in school.
00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:41.083
But he can\'t restrain his students
for going against the statement.
00:42:41.125 --> 00:42:42.917
Do you realize what that means?
00:42:43.042 --> 00:42:46.667
It means that they won\'t let us
raise our flag in our own country.
00:42:46.750 --> 00:42:50.625
The Canal Zone is under Louisiana\'s
laws, in case you didn\'t know.
00:42:50.667 --> 00:42:52.083
But we are in Panama!
00:42:52.125 --> 00:42:56.167
Exactly. This is a way to make
them know the panamanian flag…
00:42:56.208 --> 00:43:00.167
is made of the same fabric,
and the wind can also move it!
00:43:00.250 --> 00:43:03.000
We are the wind, fellows!
00:43:04.333 --> 00:43:07.875
There will be just one flag raised
in the Zone: the panamanian one.
00:43:07.958 --> 00:43:11.375
Not other flag would be allowed,
only the panamanian one.
00:43:11.583 --> 00:43:12.458
The panamanian flag.
00:43:44.875 --> 00:43:46.917
Does he knows where he is taking us?
00:43:48.250 --> 00:43:48.917
I don\'t know.
00:43:50.708 --> 00:43:51.583
This way.
00:44:02.167 --> 00:44:02.917
Look…
00:44:12.958 --> 00:44:17.750
I failed. He asked for my ID and I
forgot all the English you told me.
00:44:18.042 --> 00:44:19.250
What\'s the matter with you?
00:44:23.667 --> 00:44:26.083
It\'s too much, man.
I\'m not good for English.
00:44:26.125 --> 00:44:27.917
My mind became cloudy.
00:44:28.917 --> 00:44:32.333
Damn gringos! This is my country!
00:44:33.458 --> 00:44:34.583
C\'mon, let\'s go.
00:44:34.708 --> 00:44:35.958
That\'s my way in.
00:44:41.083 --> 00:44:44.458
That\'s your way in?
Yes, sure.
00:44:46.542 --> 00:44:47.625
Go on then.
00:44:54.083 --> 00:44:56.792
So, you speak english now.
You clown!
00:47:24.667 --> 00:47:26.583
I also like you.
00:48:40.583 --> 00:48:44.250
\'Gringos\' behave like fools.
They could rise both flags and that\'s it.
00:48:44.333 --> 00:48:46.750
\'Gringos\' are not the problem, Zonians are.
00:48:46.875 --> 00:48:48.375
It\'s the same thing!
00:48:48.375 --> 00:48:50.375
So, you want spaguettis and what else.
00:48:50.875 --> 00:48:53.417
Meat balls with lots of sauce, Anselmo.
00:48:53.542 --> 00:48:55.167
Lots of sauce? Ok.
00:48:56.458 --> 00:48:58.792
- Zonians are the problem?
- Of course they are.
00:48:59.875 --> 00:49:01.958
Zonians are the settlers
sent by the \'gringos\'…
00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:04.083
to come and take care and
protect the Canal Zone\'
00:49:04.458 --> 00:49:07.292
They\'re already here,
so what can we do?
00:49:08.375 --> 00:49:11.625
They are them and we are us.
That\'s how it is
00:49:12.792 --> 00:49:16.458
If somebody crosses the line,
ends up in prison.
00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:19.333
That\'s absurd.
This is only one country.
00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:24.083
What if I fall in love with a zonian girl?
00:49:24.667 --> 00:49:27.458
My son would be half and half.
00:49:27.917 --> 00:49:30.917
A symbol of national unity.
00:49:32.083 --> 00:49:34.833
Don\'t talk nonsense.
What\'s that all about?
00:49:43.792 --> 00:49:44.625
Look, son…
00:49:46.292 --> 00:49:52.083
There was a panamanian gardener working
in those Canal Zone\'s big houses.
00:49:52.583 --> 00:49:56.625
The landlady fell in love with him,
and they had a secret love affair.
00:49:57.667 --> 00:50:01.625
One night, this man came
out of the house very late.
00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:02.875
And what happened?
00:50:03.375 --> 00:50:05.667
The police caught him.
00:50:05.958 --> 00:50:08.958
This poor, frightened guy,
confessed everything.
00:50:09.250 --> 00:50:12.250
The whole thing. The love
affair he had with that woman.
00:50:12.417 --> 00:50:13.875
She denied everything.
00:50:14.875 --> 00:50:18.625
They gave him twenty
years in prison for rape.
00:50:18.958 --> 00:50:20.833
That\'s Lousiana\'s law, my son.
00:50:21.042 --> 00:50:24.917
This is not a story, do you understand?
That gardener has a name:
00:50:24.917 --> 00:50:28.417
Lester Leon Greaves.
He\'s still in prison at Gamboa.
00:50:30.125 --> 00:50:31.792
Spaghetti\'s ready!
00:50:39.833 --> 00:50:41.000
See you, Anselmo!
00:50:41.250 --> 00:50:42.208
Bye, Milton.
00:50:51.250 --> 00:50:52.583
So?
00:50:53.458 --> 00:50:54.958
You\'ve been looking for two hours
00:50:55.375 --> 00:50:56.917
No money, no rock & roll.
00:51:47.208 --> 00:51:48.292
Go ahead, pal.
00:52:32.375 --> 00:52:33.292
This is my country.
00:53:04.250 --> 00:53:05.833
What?
00:53:11.833 --> 00:53:13.542
Then, what do you come for?
00:54:02.875 --> 00:54:04.167
May I see you again?
00:54:08.250 --> 00:54:09.583
I don\'t speak Spanish.
00:54:24.875 --> 00:54:25.792
What\'s up?
00:54:26.458 --> 00:54:28.167
We\'re waiting for the principal\'s decision.
00:54:30.250 --> 00:54:33.625
- Are you going?
- No, I have a game at Santa Rita.
00:54:34.042 --> 00:54:34.750
I\'m going.
00:54:35.042 --> 00:54:36.375
With your permission, please.
00:55:10.042 --> 00:55:15.917
Panama is sovereign in the Canal Zone!
Panama is sovereign in the Canal Zone!
00:55:43.167 --> 00:55:45.667
PANAMA IS SOVEREIGN
IN THE CANAL ZONE
00:55:49.667 --> 00:55:51.500
WE WANT ONLY
THE PANAMANIAN FLAG
00:55:51.500 --> 00:55:53.333
-Quiet.
-Quiet.
00:56:39.167 --> 00:56:40.750
We have to raise our flag!
00:56:40.875 --> 00:56:42.667
We have to make every effort!
00:56:45.708 --> 00:56:47.250
Police won\'t stop us.
00:56:51.292 --> 00:56:53.792
We\'re not criminals.
What\'s all this police force about?
00:57:12.333 --> 00:57:16.458
We\'re not leaving without singing
our national anthem and raising our flag,
00:57:16.500 --> 00:57:18.167
It\'s our right!
00:57:18.917 --> 00:57:20.625
We must raise our flag!
00:57:39.375 --> 00:57:41.000
We have to raise our flag!
00:57:41.625 --> 00:57:44.208
In Spanish, sir!
In Spanish!
00:57:44.333 --> 00:57:45.958
We speak Spanish here!
00:58:46.500 --> 00:58:51.667
We finally attained victory,
in the union\'s joyous field.
00:58:52.792 --> 00:58:59.792
Glowing fires of glory,
illuminate a new nation.
00:59:00.542 --> 00:59:07.250
Glowing fires of glory,
illuminate a new nation.
00:59:24.250 --> 00:59:25.583
I want to send a message:
00:59:25.667 --> 00:59:31.208
If we must die, at least give us weapons
to fight the american enemy.
00:59:31.417 --> 00:59:35.042
Dear listeners, this is the call,
the panamanian\'s people cry out…
00:59:35.292 --> 00:59:38.917
asking for weapons
at this tragic moment..
00:59:40.708 --> 00:59:41.875
José didn\'t come back.
00:59:42.667 --> 00:59:43.708
Fucking \"gringos\"!
00:59:44.458 --> 00:59:50.083
Lots of wounded people are still passing
by in ambulances and police cars…
00:59:50.292 --> 00:59:52.583
heading towards Santo Tomás
Hospital, that is already full.
00:59:52.750 --> 00:59:57.333
Wounded people must be taken
to the Social Security Hospital.
00:59:57.500 --> 01:00:06.208
Streets are crowded all the way up, from
the PanAmerican Building to Central Avenue.
01:00:06.417 --> 01:00:14.458
There are also riots in the streets from
Casa Miller all the way up to the Casino.
01:00:14.875 --> 01:00:22.583
We can see all the events around Fifth of
May Square from this strategic location.
01:00:22.917 --> 01:00:28.292
And the Red Cross ambulances
continue going towards…
01:00:28.500 --> 01:00:32.500
the Santo Tomás Hospital
with the wounded.
01:00:32.625 --> 01:00:37.000
Panamanian people, they keep on firing.
Panamanian people, they keep on firing!
01:00:37.208 --> 01:00:42.500
They keep on firing heavily
while the crowd runs for shelter.
01:00:42.917 --> 01:00:45.917
There\'s still gunfire going on.
01:02:32.208 --> 01:02:34.792
Testing, one two three…
Testing, one two three…
01:02:39.625 --> 01:02:42.292
Testing, one two three…
Testing, one two three…
01:02:44.375 --> 01:02:47.792
- Good night, daddy.
- Good night, sweetheart. Sleep well.
01:02:48.250 --> 01:02:50.875
- Good night, mom.
- Good night, love.
01:02:55.167 --> 01:02:57.792
Testing, one two three…
Testing, one two three…
01:03:00.958 --> 01:03:04.542
Testing, a little further, one two three…
Testing, a little further, one…
01:03:04.583 --> 01:03:06.458
Come to eat, Silverio!
01:03:15.792 --> 01:03:18.375
Testing, one two three…
Testing, one two three…
01:03:21.542 --> 01:03:23.125
Testing a little further, one two three…
01:03:24.208 --> 01:03:25.125
What are you doing?
01:03:27.125 --> 01:03:28.250
It\'s a new job.
01:04:14.708 --> 01:04:17.833
- Good day, my commander.
- Don\'t look at me, just talk.
01:04:18.667 --> 01:04:20.000
Tell me.
01:04:20.333 --> 01:04:22.167
- Ok, my commander.
- I told you not to look at me!
01:04:24.083 --> 01:04:26.708
Ok, my commander.
I put a tape recorder in their car…
01:04:26.750 --> 01:04:29.083
Who the hell asked you for a tape recorder?
01:04:29.708 --> 01:04:31.042
That could be dangerous.
01:04:31.625 --> 01:04:33.792
If you get caught, I don\'t know you.
01:04:33.833 --> 01:04:35.542
Besides, I didn\'t ask you for that.
01:04:35.875 --> 01:04:39.500
I know you didn\'t,
but my country does…
01:05:02.958 --> 01:05:04.458
What about some ladies tonight?
01:05:04.708 --> 01:05:05.792
How do you say it in English?
01:05:11.500 --> 01:05:12.458
Disco!
01:05:25.000 --> 01:05:27.792
I\'ll teach how we
toast in Panama.
01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:29.292
All the way up!
01:05:29.875 --> 01:05:31.125
All the way down!
01:05:32.208 --> 01:05:33.625
To the center!
01:05:34.125 --> 01:05:35.667
And inside!
01:05:38.083 --> 01:05:40.042
Cheers for Panama!
01:06:29.417 --> 01:06:31.292
Daddy, are you a spy?
01:06:34.333 --> 01:06:35.625
Don\'t tell anybody.
01:06:53.000 --> 01:06:54.875
Hey, easy now, man!
01:06:56.167 --> 01:06:58.625
Be quiet.
01:07:04.125 --> 01:07:06.333
What\'s going on, commander?
Why the violence?
01:07:09.708 --> 01:07:12.208
Time is passing by, Silverio,
and you give me nothing.
01:07:13.667 --> 01:07:16.167
Are you playing both sides or what?
01:07:17.083 --> 01:07:19.250
Are you a patriot or not?
01:07:20.417 --> 01:07:21.542
True patriot, yes.
01:07:21.792 --> 01:07:23.542
Then we have an understanding.
01:07:27.167 --> 01:07:33.375
I need to know everything
that\'s said inside the car.
01:07:33.667 --> 01:07:35.042
Everything!
01:07:45.625 --> 01:07:47.333
Bob, from man to man…
01:07:48.333 --> 01:07:50.417
Are you really willing
to give the canal back?
01:07:51.125 --> 01:07:53.583
If I were the USA, I wouldn\'t
01:07:55.417 --> 01:07:57.375
I can\'t talk about my work,
do you understand?
01:07:57.417 --> 01:07:59.208
Ok, I understand.
01:07:59.875 --> 01:08:01.292
Just tell me \"yes\" or \"no\".
01:08:01.917 --> 01:08:03.375
I\'ll just tell you one thing:
01:08:03.792 --> 01:08:06.542
Colonialism is something
from the 19th Century.
01:08:06.583 --> 01:08:08.417
We are in the 20th Century now.
01:08:08.708 --> 01:08:12.417
We have very good reasons to be here.
01:08:13.042 --> 01:08:15.000
But then, you are going to give it back.
01:08:15.375 --> 01:08:17.250
I can\'t talk about that.
01:08:17.833 --> 01:08:21.917
But I can tell you this:
I\'m liking Panamanians a lot.
01:08:22.792 --> 01:08:24.958
And look at James…
He seems to be liking them too.
01:08:26.417 --> 01:08:27.792
Do you know who James is?
01:08:28.458 --> 01:08:31.542
He is really close to the president.
01:08:51.417 --> 01:08:52.292
Silverio.
01:08:52.792 --> 01:08:53.625
Who\'s there?
01:08:54.292 --> 01:08:56.333
Are you dumb or what?
Your commander.
01:08:57.792 --> 01:08:59.458
Get into the box next to me.
01:09:08.125 --> 01:09:09.500
How is it going?
01:09:10.583 --> 01:09:13.042
- Hey, in Spanish.
- Everything\'s fine, my commander.
01:09:13.583 --> 01:09:17.167
They are trusting me more.
I\'m asking them key questions.
01:09:17.542 --> 01:09:21.083
- Everything is in the recorder.
- What recorder? That doesn\'t exist.
01:09:22.208 --> 01:09:23.792
You have to watch behind your back.
01:09:24.542 --> 01:09:26.708
I\'m recording and writing everything down.
01:09:27.250 --> 01:09:29.833
They\'re speaking in code,
but I\'m decoding it.
01:09:30.542 --> 01:09:32.958
Silverio, open you eyes,
don\'t be so naive.
01:09:33.125 --> 01:09:35.042
Otherwise you\'ll end
up like Chino Benitez…
01:09:35.375 --> 01:09:38.417
found dead in his underwear,
inside his own house.
01:09:39.792 --> 01:09:43.042
- Who\'s Chino Benitez?
- It doesn\'t matter who he is.
01:09:43.333 --> 01:09:48.083
Who killed him is what matters.
The CIA, KGB, MOSSAD, a jealous husband.
01:09:48.625 --> 01:09:51.458
Everybody wants to kill you.
And they can.
01:09:51.917 --> 01:09:53.917
Remember this is the cold war.
01:09:54.667 --> 01:09:55.958
Those \'gringos\' are not your friends.
01:09:59.292 --> 01:10:00.542
They\'re nobody\'s friends.
01:11:14.208 --> 01:11:17.167
- You scared me, Silverio!
- YOU scared me!
01:11:17.542 --> 01:11:20.250
- The front door was open.
- Of course it\'s open!
01:11:20.250 --> 01:11:22.917
I\'m beggin\' you for
two weeks now to fix it!
01:11:23.125 --> 01:11:24.500
Ana, there was somebody here.
01:11:24.833 --> 01:11:28.250
Silverio, please go to sleep, ok?
Go to sleep.
01:11:54.875 --> 01:11:57.917
Silverio?
That\'s your name, right?
01:11:58.250 --> 01:11:59.167
Yes.
01:12:00.708 --> 01:12:01.792
You know, Silverio…
01:12:02.792 --> 01:12:05.792
History, the real one…
01:12:06.708 --> 01:12:09.917
is something that happens
after the events took place.
01:12:11.333 --> 01:12:13.792
- Do you understand?
- Sort of…
01:12:14.083 --> 01:12:20.333
Don\'t you ever think that your
assignments are not important.
01:12:21.958 --> 01:12:25.542
Important men,
the ones that write history,
01:12:26.458 --> 01:12:29.833
don\'t even realize they\'re writing it.
01:13:00.833 --> 01:13:03.500
Daddy, I\'m going to be late for school.
01:13:03.708 --> 01:13:06.000
Mili, I can do it faster if you help me.
01:13:06.167 --> 01:13:08.917
But mom will find out and punish me.
01:13:09.583 --> 01:13:11.792
There\'s no reason for Mom to find out.
01:13:31.500 --> 01:13:38.208
He\'s saying something about a
strategy, the world and the bases.
01:13:45.792 --> 01:13:50.958
If the pitcher could throw a decent
curveball, then his team would win.
01:13:51.208 --> 01:13:54.667
They\'re using baseball
as a code or strategy.
01:14:24.958 --> 01:14:28.417
James says that he doesn\'t like
many people but he likes you.
01:14:29.792 --> 01:14:31.083
Thank you, Sir, thank you.
01:14:31.208 --> 01:14:33.375
You\'re a friend and a good man, Silver.
01:14:46.667 --> 01:14:47.667
Ok, ready?
01:14:56.917 --> 01:14:58.542
Don\'t look back and drive.
01:15:12.458 --> 01:15:13.750
Stop right here.
01:15:25.583 --> 01:15:26.875
Turn it off.
01:15:33.042 --> 01:15:34.167
Report yourself.
01:15:41.958 --> 01:15:43.333
And this?
01:15:49.833 --> 01:15:53.292
\"Palm trees are full of coconuts.\"
01:15:54.875 --> 01:15:57.000
\"Bases are full.\"
01:15:57.667 --> 01:16:01.083
\"The problem in Panama is not
the heat but the humidity.\"
01:16:01.125 --> 01:16:03.250
They\'re talking code.
01:16:03.250 --> 01:16:06.458
When talking about baseball bases, they\'re
actually talking about military ones.
01:16:06.500 --> 01:16:09.458
When they talk about a \'ripe mango\',
it\'s actually the General.
01:16:09.625 --> 01:16:13.292
\'Coconuts\' are actually weapons and bombs.
01:16:13.500 --> 01:16:16.708
So if the ripe mango rottens…
01:16:16.708 --> 01:16:20.083
coconuts will fall over
people\'s heads and kill them.
01:16:20.292 --> 01:16:23.333
They\'re going to give
us the Canal, but…
01:16:23.750 --> 01:16:29.000
if we don\'t do it right, the \'gringos\' are
going to come back and take it away again.
01:16:29.042 --> 01:16:32.208
Very good, Silverio.
You\'ve done a great job for the country.
01:16:33.500 --> 01:16:36.958
Important men,
essential people like you.
01:16:38.708 --> 01:16:42.833
Those who write history, don\'t even
realize that they are writing history.
01:16:42.958 --> 01:16:46.875
- That is exactly what the General told me.
- What?
01:16:47.375 --> 01:16:51.125
Yes. The general was in my car
last night, and he spoke to me.
01:17:48.208 --> 01:17:50.542
Dear President Carter…
01:17:50.958 --> 01:17:56.417
There are two kinds of truths,
the logic truth and the pleasant truth.
01:17:57.167 --> 01:17:59.708
On behalf of logical truth
I would like to say…
01:18:00.500 --> 01:18:04.375
that this treaty we\'re about to sign soon,
01:18:05.083 --> 01:18:07.792
which repeals a treaty that
no panamanian signed,
01:18:08.042 --> 01:18:10.833
does not have a full
consent in our country.
01:18:11.417 --> 01:18:12.083
This treaty…
01:18:12.250 --> 01:18:12.958
Are you watching that?
01:18:14.458 --> 01:18:17.500
You should know that it was
posible because of your father…
01:18:17.792 --> 01:18:19.208
and because of you too.
01:18:19.333 --> 01:18:22.458
… it can turn into an everlasting
instrument of intervention
01:18:22.583 --> 01:18:23.833
Really short.
01:19:07.792 --> 01:19:12.375
PANAMA CANAL
EXPANSION
01:19:09.500 --> 01:19:11.250
Daniel…
01:19:11.417 --> 01:19:13.500
Sorry about taken
you out from the beach.
01:19:13.500 --> 01:19:15.500
No problem.
Tell me what we have here
01:19:15.542 --> 01:19:18.125
I think it\'s important that you can
see this before they take it away.
01:19:18.417 --> 01:19:20.833
And I also think you\'ll have
to pay me a little more for this.
01:19:21.042 --> 01:19:24.792
If you wanted money, you should
be in construction, not science.
01:19:25.208 --> 01:19:28.042
If this is another dead cow, you\'re fired.
01:19:29.667 --> 01:19:31.208
So?
01:19:31.333 --> 01:19:34.000
What about a complete homo sapiens?
01:22:49.500 --> 01:22:51.500
Yes, I speak Spanish.
01:22:57.625 --> 01:22:59.625
Hi, how do you do?
Welcome.
01:23:02.958 --> 01:23:04.958
Welcome.
01:23:13.833 --> 01:23:15.833
- Hello, welcome.
- Thanks.
01:23:31.750 --> 01:23:36.875
All I knew is that my great
grandmother\'s name was Clarice…
01:23:37.750 --> 01:23:40.250
and my great grandfather\'s Philip.
01:23:40.583 --> 01:23:43.792
Didn\'t you have any contact
with your family in Colón?
01:23:44.542 --> 01:23:48.625
I didn\'t even know if any
of them were still alive.
01:23:49.333 --> 01:23:53.958
Ok. I tried to talk to them,
but they weren\'t very responsive.
01:23:53.958 --> 01:23:55.708
That\'s why I called you.
01:26:04.500 --> 01:26:06.500
Hello?
01:26:08.708 --> 01:26:09.875
Hello?
01:26:09.958 --> 01:26:11.958
Grandma, there\'s someone at the door!
01:26:17.833 --> 01:26:22.208
Hi. I\'m Clarice.
I\'m Mary\'s daugther.
01:26:24.667 --> 01:26:26.667
Jezenia!
01:26:28.500 --> 01:26:30.500
- Jezenia!
- I\'m coming!
01:26:35.500 --> 01:26:37.500
- May I play with your bracelets?
- Yes.
01:26:38.542 --> 01:26:42.250
Is it true that you live in
USA and have a lot of money?
01:26:42.292 --> 01:26:44.792
If you continue being so rude,
01:26:44.958 --> 01:26:47.375
you\'re not getting the pudding
that I cooked for you, ok?
01:26:48.208 --> 01:26:50.208
Come, sit here.
01:26:50.250 --> 01:26:51.375
Orosman, leave the cell phone!
01:26:51.417 --> 01:26:54.417
Turn the volume down and
get Grandpa. Dinner is ready.
01:27:08.583 --> 01:27:10.458
Would you like to say grace?
01:27:11.375 --> 01:27:14.833
I\'m not… religious.
01:27:17.125 --> 01:27:18.542
I\'ll do it, Grandma.
01:27:19.708 --> 01:27:25.083
Bless, oh Lord, this food,
our family, and…
01:27:26.417 --> 01:27:28.208
What\'s your relationship with me?
01:27:28.292 --> 01:27:30.292
I\'m your… aunt?
01:27:30.542 --> 01:27:32.542
…and also bless my
wealthy \"gringa\" aunt. Amen.
01:27:42.208 --> 01:27:44.375
Thank you.
01:27:52.917 --> 01:27:54.917
Excuse me.
01:27:55.042 --> 01:27:58.167
Is my presence here
upsetting you that much?
01:28:01.083 --> 01:28:03.083
I\'m sorry, dear.
01:28:04.500 --> 01:28:06.500
You surprised me and I felt uneasy.
01:28:08.917 --> 01:28:10.917
You look so much like her.
01:28:13.208 --> 01:28:15.208
Suddenly lots of memories came back.
01:28:16.292 --> 01:28:18.542
We were never able to come
to terms with your mother.
01:28:19.583 --> 01:28:25.000
It was very hard for us that she
married a white american…
01:28:26.042 --> 01:28:28.208
also a soldier…
01:28:29.000 --> 01:28:30.750
Then she left.
01:28:32.250 --> 01:28:34.250
She broke Grandma Clarice\'s heart.
01:28:37.042 --> 01:28:39.042
She raised us.
01:28:40.833 --> 01:28:44.125
- I never knew that.
- I can imagine.
01:28:49.125 --> 01:28:53.083
I wish I had seen your
mother before she died.
01:28:55.208 --> 01:28:59.833
You don\'t know how much
she cried when Grandma died…
01:29:00.667 --> 01:29:06.292
and how many times she cried
out your name before she dying.
01:29:24.542 --> 01:29:26.208
Sweetheart…
01:29:26.250 --> 01:29:31.375
Your mother left and we
never heard from her again
01:29:37.292 --> 01:29:40.583
She thought about all of
you until her last day.
01:29:45.542 --> 01:29:47.542
Me too…
01:29:47.667 --> 01:29:49.667
Me too.
01:30:00.708 --> 01:30:02.708
Grandma used to write it all.
01:30:03.708 --> 01:30:06.875
She said she wrote so she
wouldn\'t be written by others.
01:30:09.833 --> 01:30:14.417
She was the only one
that could tell her story.
01:32:57.875 --> 01:32:59.875
This place…
01:33:00.042 --> 01:33:01.833
The Culebra Cut…
01:33:01.917 --> 01:33:05.542
has taken more than
25,000 brothers from us.
01:33:06.375 --> 01:33:08.875
It\'s for them that we\'re
gathered here together this morning.
01:33:09.625 --> 01:33:12.750
Brothers and sisters from Jamaica…
01:33:13.000 --> 01:33:18.375
Barbados,
Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique.
01:33:18.750 --> 01:33:23.833
To show them our respect and gratitude.
01:33:25.125 --> 01:33:31.125
Our people broke up the mountain
range in order to build the canal.
01:33:31.542 --> 01:33:35.750
They fought against nature
with their bare hands.
01:33:36.042 --> 01:33:41.042
And even if the toughest
rock or the hardest work…
01:33:41.083 --> 01:33:45.458
was in their way,
nothing stopped them.
01:33:45.833 --> 01:33:50.583
Whoever wants to show
respect to their ancestors…
01:33:51.125 --> 01:33:54.333
Please come on up to the microphone.
01:33:58.250 --> 01:34:00.250
Harry Gale.
01:34:02.333 --> 01:34:04.333
Samuel Mckindo
01:34:07.958 --> 01:34:09.958
Joseph Cumberbach.
01:34:11.458 --> 01:34:13.458
Gwendolyn Redway.
01:34:16.292 --> 01:34:18.292
Nehemiah Douglas
01:34:20.458 --> 01:34:22.458
Charles Roses
01:34:25.000 --> 01:34:27.000
Joseph Latko
01:34:33.833 --> 01:34:35.833
Clarice Thompson.
01:34:36.917 --> 01:34:38.917
Philip Clay.
01:34:40.750 --> 01:34:42.750
Mary Jones.
01:36:53.625 --> 01:36:57.458
Around 75,000 people worked on the
construction of the Canal.
01:36:57.458 --> 01:36:59.917
While most of them
came from the West Indies,
01:36:59.917 --> 01:37:03.125
there was also a number of
Europeans and Americans.
01:37:03.125 --> 01:37:07.167
More than 27,000 died
from malaria, yellow fever,
01:37:07.167 --> 01:37:10.375
landslides, explosions
and poor living conditions.
01:37:13.708 --> 01:37:17.208
At the height of the USA presence
about 65,000 people
01:37:17.208 --> 01:37:19.000
were based in the country.
01:37:19.000 --> 01:37:22.208
Most of them lived in the Canal Zone
under privileged conditions.
01:37:22.208 --> 01:37:25.417
After the USA withdrawal,
those who left still miss
01:37:25.417 --> 01:37:27.458
their \'lost paradise\'.
01:37:30.417 --> 01:37:33.833
During the events of January 9th,
24 Panamanians died.
01:37:33.833 --> 01:37:37.042
Due to this unjustified aggression,
the government of Panama
01:37:37.042 --> 01:37:39.542
broke diplomatic relations
with the USA.
01:37:39.542 --> 01:37:42.750
It was the first time
a Latin American country
01:37:42.750 --> 01:37:45.125
took a measure of this kind.
01:37:50.542 --> 01:37:53.333
After the signing of the
\'Torrijos-Carter\' treaties,
01:37:53.333 --> 01:37:56.125
the Canal and its surrounding areas
01:37:56.125 --> 01:37:58.917
were gradually transferred
to Panama.
01:37:58.917 --> 01:38:01.708
Sovereignty over
the entire territory
01:38:01.708 --> 01:38:04.917
was achieved
on December 31st, 1999.
01:38:10.958 --> 01:38:13.875
Thousands of lives,
most of them anonymous,
01:38:13.875 --> 01:38:17.000
made possible the construction
and preservation of the Canal.
01:38:17.000 --> 01:38:19.708
Today, according
to the constitution,
01:38:19.708 --> 01:38:21.917
the Canal is a patrimony
of the nation,
01:38:21.917 --> 01:38:24.708
which can not be sold,
assigned, mortgaged,
01:38:24.708 --> 01:38:27.500
nor graved or transferred
in any way.
01:38:32.208 --> 01:38:36.917
PANAMA CANAL
STORIES
Distributor: Pragda Films
Length: 106 minutes
Date: 2014
Genre: Narrative
Language: English; Spanish
Grade: High School, College, Adults
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
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