That Wasn't Me (film)

That Wasn't Me

Film poster
Directed by Esteban Crespo
Produced by Esteban Crespo
Written by Esteban Crespo
Release dates
  • April 24, 2012 (2012-04-24) (Spain)
Running time
 25 minutes
Country Spain
Language Spanish

That Wasn't Me (original title Aquél no era yo) is a 2012 short film by Esteban Crespo. The film had a limited release on 9 February 2012 during an event organized by the Spanish NGOs Fundación El Compromiso, Amnistía Internacional, Save The Children, Entreculturas, Alboan, ONG DYES to celebrate the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.[1]

Plot

Paula and Jaunjo are Spanish aid workers driving through the African countryside with their guide Conductor. At a check point they are stopped by child soldiers with machine guns demanding to see their papers. While Conductor shows the papers, Jaunjo makes small talk with one of the soldiers (Kaney). Before they can get through they are stopped by the General who accuses them of kidnapping child soldiers.

An adult Kaney is seen addressing a large crowd, describing he wasn’t sure if they were kidnappers or not, but that he didn’t care.

The three aid workers are taken as hostages to their military compound. The General addresses the children and asks which one is brave enough to shoot the captives. One of the children opens fire, killing Conductor and injuring one of the other children. The General commends the “brave” child and then orders Kaney to kill his injured friend because he is crippled and can no longer be a soldier. While initially reluctant, Kaney kills his friends, despite the captives and his friend begging him not too.

An adult Kaney explains to the crowd that in his culture family is very important, and while the soldiers are like his brothers, the General is like his father, and so he always obeyed him.

Jaunjo is also killed, leaving Paula the only remaining captive. Teniente handcuffs himself to Paula and rapes her while Kaney stands guard. The assault is interrupted by an attack on the compound. Paula hides while the entire camp is wiped out by the military. After the attack, Paula runs past the dead bodies of the fallen children to an abandoned jeep. Before she can get away, she sees that Kaney is still alive. After a moment’s hesitation she grabs a gun of a fallen soldier and runs after him. She handcuffs herself to Kaney and at gun point she takes him back to the jeep. Together they drive from compound.

They reach a fork in the road and Paula, still holding the gun and shaking with tears, demands that Kaney tell her the way to town. Kamey is calm and refuses to tell her. Paula, still crying says she’s going to take him to a place with a real bed, and new friends, but she needs to tell her where to go.

Paula tells Kaney she won’t be able to protect him if they are found by the army. Kaney calmly says that if his people find him he will make sure that Paula “has really good time.” Paula, through tears, shoots Kaney in the leg, Kaney screams in pain while Paula shouts, “What’s going to happen to you now! You’re a cripple now!”

The film ends with adult Kaney ending his speech to the crowd. The audience applauds and the final shot is Paula in the audience, crying and applauding his speech.

Cast

Awards
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients and nominees Result
Academy Award[2] March 2, 2014 Best Live Action Short Film Esteban Crespo Nominated
27th Goya Awards[3] February 17, 2013 Best Fictional Short Film Esteban Crespo Won

References

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