THE DAY THE SILENCE DIED

The village of Villaserena siestas peacefully somewhere in the mid-20th-century until a rascally stranger arrives. Abelardo introducees himself as a “Journalilst and entrepreneur,” bringing the miracle of radio to a community not even wired for electricity and where the closest thing to mass media is local lore about how madman Ruperto has locked up his comely daughter Celeste for the sins of her runaway mother. Abelardo mounts several loudspeakers to 'broadcast' his daily gossip, alerts for lost hens, and recorded music ranging from folk melodies to Elvis and his jangling new rock'n'roll. To make money Abelardo charges fees to his loyal listeners, for song requests, for messages, and – at double the price – insults, often hurled at straying husbands and mistresses. Soon Villaserena is noisome with scandal and fights for all to hear, and even Abelardo gets dragged into the mayhem, heart first. For the reporter/DJ/con-artist has fallen in love with someone only his voice can reach – madman Ruperto's cloistered Celeste. If Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Howard Stern ever broadcasted from the same frequency, it might sound like Paolo Agazzi's earrisistible comedy. (In Spanish with English subtitles)