Vientos de agua

Vientos de agua (Winds of Water) is a 2006 Argentine- Spanish mini TV series created by Juan José Campanella. The drama traces a Spaniard's emigration to Argentina in the 1930s, and, years later, his son's immigration to modern-day Spain. Through this arc, the series explores "...the differences and similarities between the immigration of early last century Europeans to here and now there". Through this metaphor of immigration, the lives of individuals are compared and found to have more in common than their differences. Cultural differences between the target audiences are believed to have resulted in low ratings and the series was cancelled. The series aired initially in Spain in January 2006, on Telecinco. While it was a hit in Argentina, because of lower ratings in Spain, it was moved from the prime-time slot to 1 am, reducing its audience. It was eventually cancelled, possibly also due to downloading of series from the internet. The series achieved good DVD sales but, despite a campaign of support to continue into a second series, only one series of 13 episodes was produced. The lower ratings in Spain are believed related in part to cultural values around appropriate management of linguistic differences between the linked but different cultures of Spain and Argentina. The Spanish audience rejected sub-titling whilst the Argentine audience rejected dubbing. In the event, the excellent production values were overridden by this cultural difference. Plot The show begins in 1935 with the story of José Olaya (Ernesto Alterio), a 19-year-old anarchist from Asturias who works with his father and brother, Andrés, in a coal mine. One day, a gas leak occurs and Andrés asks the foreman to let the workers and children out. The foreman ignores his request. Andrés disobeys the order to return to work and instead helps evacuate the miners. While doing so he is severely wounded in a landslide. José and his father manage to take a dying Andrés back to his house, where he dies surrounded by his family. That same night, José decides to dynamite the mine in revenge and after doing so, he is followed by the Civil Guard. His mother asks him to go into exile in Argentina with the money saved by Andrés and to use his identity. José must keep his brother’s death a secret and will pretend to be Andrés for the rest of his life.