Synopsis
Toto has spent most of his life working as a gold prospector on the southernmost tip of Chile. Now in his 60s, he still stands in the river using a sieve to harvest the glistening snippets of gold—day in, day out, come snow or sunshine. He lives a simple and contented life in a little wooden house, along with his son Jorge.
But prospecting is taking an increasing toll on his health, leading to a spell in the hospital. Nonetheless, Toto refuses to trade his way of life for more comfortable work in a neighboring town. So Jorge decides to help his father by designing and building a gold prospecting machine out of old parts.
Over the course of several years the camera follows Toto and Jorge’s dreamlike and melancholic existence. Their conversations and discussions about life, ill-health, and death grow increasingly pressing. Why does fate strike some people harder than others, they wonder, and does it help if you are a believer?
After months of welding, grinding and screw-driving, Jorge’s rusty contraption is in place at last, and his father can get to work again. Will the machine actually work, and will it make Toto’s life easier?
But prospecting is taking an increasing toll on his health, leading to a spell in the hospital. Nonetheless, Toto refuses to trade his way of life for more comfortable work in a neighboring town. So Jorge decides to help his father by designing and building a gold prospecting machine out of old parts.
Over the course of several years the camera follows Toto and Jorge’s dreamlike and melancholic existence. Their conversations and discussions about life, ill-health, and death grow increasingly pressing. Why does fate strike some people harder than others, they wonder, and does it help if you are a believer?
After months of welding, grinding and screw-driving, Jorge’s rusty contraption is in place at last, and his father can get to work again. Will the machine actually work, and will it make Toto’s life easier?
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