El hombre que cuida

The Dominican Republic’s modern-day colonisers don’t come from overseas, but from the city. These people own the villas along the coast and obstruct access to the most beautiful places on the island all year long, even though they only spend a couple of weekends a year there.

Taciturn Juan is the 'watchman' at one of these villas. The tranquillity is shattered when the owner’s teenage son and a friend turn up. Which is unfortunate, as Juan needed that quiet to think about his wife who recently left him and is already bearing another man’s child. This pain confronts him daily on the small island when he encounters his ex and her new beau. But there’s no time to mourn. Like a latter-day serf, Juan has to be on call 24 hours a day for the two teens and their girlfriends, until the situation spirals completely out of control. 

Yellow Robin Award winner Curaçao IFFR 2017.