Retired in Montevideo, He Fights a Government That Insists He’s Dead: Welcome to When I Existed, Exclusive Trailer Plus Chat With Directors
A retirement turned upside down
Silvio Bertolini lives in Montevideo, Uruguay, and has just retired after four decades of work. His daughter is pregnant and lives in Barcelona, while his wife hopes they can take a family trip.
Instead, Silvio discovers that the government has declared him dead. He tries to navigate bureaucracy to correct the mistake, recover his identity and perhaps secure his pension.
A satirical feature debut
When I Existed (Cuando yo existía) is a social satire by writers-directors Alejandro Damiani and Martin Avdolov. The Uruguay-Spain co-production draws on black humor and frustration. The story’s Kafka-like predicament may evoke both an unsettling nightmare and familiar encounters with government offices. The film brings Silvio’s misadventures to the screen.
Premiere and cast
The film will have its world premiere in the Critics’ Picks Competition at the 30th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia on Wednesday, Nov. 18. César Troncoso leads the cast. Silvia Kutica, Néstor Guzzini, Maruja Bustamante, Mónica Gonzaga and Mirella Pascual also appear.
Key points
- Silvio Bertolini is a newly retired Montevideo resident declared dead by the government.
- He tries to correct the bureaucratic error and reclaim his life and possibly his pension.
- When I Existed is the feature debut of Alejandro Damiani and Martin Avdolov.
- The film’s world premiere is scheduled for Tallinn’s Critics’ Picks Competition on Wednesday, Nov. 18.