Innocent Voices

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In 1980, a civil war erupted|in the small country of El Salvador.

It began as a conflict between|the Salvadorean Army and the peasants over land.

The peasants soon organized and|became the guerrilla army known as the FMLN.

This conflict escalated into|a brutal civil war that would last 12 years.

Cuscatanzingo was one of the last villages|trapped between the guerilla and the army.

Here is where this story takes place.

INNOCENT VOICES:

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

I'm so thirsty...

...and my feet hurt.

I have rocks in my shoes.

They're going to kill us for sure.

Why do they want to kill us|if we haven't done anything?

My dad left us...

...and went to the United States|when the war started.

Mom didn't come|out to say goodbye.

She said that now I was|the man of the house.

But first I had to pee.

Two wings.|Who could have two wings?

Two wings to fly.

This afternoon in the mountains,|I almost had them...

...and the desire to spread|them open over that sleepy ocean.

No, not me!

Fito, help me!

Help me!

Let's go.

I'm home, Mom!

I'm sorry.

I had to walk Antonio|and Fito home.

Don't they have feet|to find their own way?

You know how chicken they are.

Don't be late again.

These soldiers aren't playing.

One day, God forbid, they'll grab|a rifle and shoot you.

You understand?

Yes, Mom.

Temo! Temo!|Temo! Temo!

We were all scared|of turning 12...

...because that's|when the army takes you.

I had one year left.

You know, Ancha?|Me and you are alike.

We are!|We're both little.

- Yes, I'm little.|- Big.

In size, but not up here.

Ancha was my friend.

Everyone said he was|a fish brain.

Thank you, Anchita.

But he was the only one who|wasn't scared to have a birthday.

Good. God bless.

Hi, farty sister.

Where were you?|It's late.

- Take care of your brother and sister?|- Don't worry.

Rosita...

...dear, don't feed Ricardito|after eight, okay?

Even if he screams.

Why, mommy?

I love you.|Take out the garbage.

And close the door, bolt it|and don't let anybody in.

- You're my man of the house.|- Yeah, right, the man of the house.

You don't even know|how to wipe your own butt.

Leave my brother alone!|Come and eat.

He fell asleep.

The mattresses, Chava!

I want my mommy!

Watch out, Chava!|Don't get up there!

Get under the bed!|Quick! Get under here!

- Good night.|- Good night.

Grandma Mama Toya!

Mama Toya!

- Have you heard from Beto, mother?|- Nothing.

I haven't heard|from your brother...

...since they closed|the university.

Let's hope he's alright.

We'd know if he wasn't.|Bad news travels fast.

He'll show up.

It was really bad last night.

And the kids were alone.

I have to quit my job.

And who's going to support you?

Why don't you come live here?

How can we, Mother?|There's not enough room.

I don't mean with me.|Refugio's house is empty.

That way I can keep|an eye on the kid's...

...and help with their homework.

If we move,|he'll never find us.

Don't fool yourself.

Those who go North|get swept away.

Lift your head up, Kella.

Those who leave suffer|more than those who stay...

...and those who stay fight.

Take these savings...

...and buy yourself a weapon.

Since Mom started|working at home...

...the war didn't seem so big.

Beto loves you a little,|a lot, or nothing at all.

Cecilia!|It's curfew, go home.

Just a little longer.

Angelita, don't worry|your grandma. Go inside.

Please, grandma, five minutes.|Tell her.

Bye.

You too, Chava.

One day, there they were.|The Gringos.

The same as they are|in the movies.

They said they were|here to help us.

Don Yeyo!

Spit that out, Chava.

- Don't you hear me? Spit it out.|- Why? It's yummy.

Because the men who|gave you that gum...

...are training our soldiers|to kills us.

Not so yummy anymore,|is it?

Angelita finished first|in her class...

...so her grandma is|taking her to the beach.

- But she's a dummy.|- What do you know?

Lots.

You wish.

- You too.|- Kids!

- You more.|- Kids!

Go to sleep.

Get on the floor!

Ricardito!

Ricardito!

Get down!

Uncle Mario!

Dear God... why?

Why?

Why? What happened?

You drunk!

Wake up!

Go home shame on you.

- I'm going to tell your mom.|- Don't get mad, lady...

- ...he'll get his cut.|- Drunks!

It's for the hangover.

What hangover?|Go home!

It's for the hangover.

This time nothing sold.

I'm sorry, Chavita.

Are you trying to steal it?

- What are you doing? Answer me!|- Just playing.

- With whose permission?|- I need to work.

- You want my job?|- No.

Take it.|It's yours.

I got you, kid!|I got you!

Why do you like driving?

Because... you go lots of places...

...cruise the streets|and make lots of money.

Yeah, right.

- How old are you?|- 11.

Let's see. Stand up.

Hold on, hold on.

You want to work?

Here's the deal.

You call the stops,|I collect the fares and drive.

But if you rob me,|I'll cut your balls off. Shorty.

Downtown!

Downtown!

Downtown!

What happened with the dresses?

Where did you get that?

I didn't sell anything,|but I got a job on the bus.

So you don't have|to work so much.

You should have asked me first, right?

Can I?

Will you be careful?

And you'll be back|before curfew everyday.

I promise, ma.

- Where did you get the money?|- I got a job.

- I'm driver.|- Yeah, right.

Did you hear Miss Sol|had a nervous breakdown?

- Why?|- Because of all the shooting.

They say she's in the nut house.

Chava!|Chava!

The following boys will form a line.

Pablo Argueta...

...Manuel Ayala...

...Antonio Gutirrez...

...Jos Rendn...

...Alfredo Argueta...

...Mario Snchez...

- What's your name?|- Temo.

- Temo what?|- Morales Morales.

- Get in line!|- He's only ten!

It's not fair!|How can you do this?!

- Temo! Temo!|- Sergeant! Sergeant!

Soldier!

Mario Snchez...

...Arturo Reyes...

...Gerber Reyes...

...Roberto Olsen...

Continue.

Roberto Olsen...

...Bardo Prez...

...Agustin Reina.

Quickly!

Quickly!

You should feel proud, boys.

You're going to be soldiers like us.

You will defend your country.

Sergeant...

...let's go.

Who gave the order to do this?

Step aside, Father.

Worry about their souls.

Hi, baby.|How was school?

Are you deaf?

How was school?

What's wrong, baby?

Tell me.

Did somebody hit you?

- Did the teacher punish you?|- They took Antonio.

- Antonio? Who took him?|- The soldiers.

They took him in a truck|with some other boys.

And they took Temo.

Temo?

To find the common denominator...

...multiply these two numbers...

- 3x4?|- 12.

Very good.

YOU'RE UGLIER THAN A FROG|CHAVA

If you like her so much,|go tell her.

Don't be a chicken.

Hi.

Hi.

I wanted to know|if... maybe...

...if you can...|and if you want to...

...come play with Chele,|Marcos, Fito, Ancha and me.

We're going to fly|paper fireflies.

- Uglier than a frog?|- I didn't write that.

No?|Then who?

If you want, we can meet at|Dona Celia's at 4.

Okay.

- Let's go!|- Let's go, Chava!

- The paper fireflies were fun.|- Yeah.

Well... I have to go.

Bye.

Ancha! Let's go!

We were flying paper fireflies...

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