The Uruguay Melody

A sheer poetry on screen from South America. This Uruguay movie is set in a small town of Melo abutting the Brazilian border. Some men of this village occupy themselves in contra banding goods (even household items) from the other side of the border to make a living. The movie is set in 1988 and based on the visit of the then Pope, Pope John Paul II, to Melo. There is much hoopla and hype about the turn-outs for the liturgical service that the Pope would hold in the small town. The villagers borrow money to set up stalls for the attendees. The protagonist Beto wears his 'Think-hat' and builds a toilet by doing service to the local don, who lets him pass through the border by bribing the watches, much to the agony and opposition of his wife. His daughter who has dreams of becoming a TV reporter dislikes her father's profession and at times acts indifferently towards him. Beto suffers from knee-pain and ignoring it, he gives a final trial to his inception of the toilet. With the saved up money of his wife, as the good-angel in him comes alive, for their daughter's higher studies, Beto buys a Western-type toilet mug and reaches his shanty abode at the last minute. On contrary to the expectation, the services end early and only a very less turn out has been seen from the other side of the border. The whole of the stall-holders is disappointed and is further deprived of expected wealth. The movie ends in a reconciliation between the father and the daughter, who realises the fatherly commitment and steps into her father's shoes to help him.