Hasta la Ultima Gota (Until the Last Drop)
It’s important to see the truth. It’s important to see the fight. It’s important to recommend films that are depressing because, when all is said and done, that’s where hope lives.
See “Hasta La Ultima Gota.” It’s important to see foreign language films because what’s happening around the world can and will and does happen close to home. In English, the title of the film is “Until the Last Drop.”
Chile suffers from a protracted drought, more than 10 years. In one region, communities have their water shut off for 12 hours a day. Schools have water enough for bathrooms and washing hands, not for drinking. Farmers – small farmers that is – watch crops die because they can’t afford to buy enough water for irrigation.
Meanwhile, agribusinesses – big farmers, that is – export avocados, citrus, walnuts to the US and China and Europe. Agribusinesses sell water at big profit to the people – to poor people.
Based on a 1981 law -- a law from dictator Pinochet times – water rights can be owned, owned by the rich people. The river is dry, however there is enough water for rich people to sell water to poor people.
“Hasta La Ultima Gota” reports about massive protests, about a constitutional convention to establish water as a human right, to make water part of the “commons.” See the 15-minute film “Hasta La Ultima Gota.” See about a countrywide fight for water … for water. (Couldn’t happen where we live? Could it?)