AllMovie

Dominique Cassuto de Bonet and her husband Salvador Bonet spent three years in Tiznado, a Venezuelan village doomed to underwater extinction when a large dam was completed. During their three-year stay, Tiznado was also suffering a slow economic death as its more able-bodied and adventuresome citizens left to seek work elsewhere, or moved in with relatives in more promising towns. By the end of the Bonet's stay in Tiznado, most of the young people had already left, and only the elderly and small children remained behind - unable to move away for obvious reasons. But even these remnants of humanity will have to leave before long because the government will soon close down the village, its schools, its houses, and its ancient community with all the oral history that goes with it. In exchange for moving out, the villagers are offered a pittance for their former houses, not nearly what they are worth and certainly not enough to get them started somewhere else. Most head for "ranchos" (slum dwellings) and the hope of surviving a bit longer. As the range of village inhabitants are captured on film in their daily activities, as their thoughts and responses are recorded, and the slow disintegration of the community becomes apparent, all the facets of village life and death, of the failing social system, and of human tragedy are poignantly and sensitively brought forward.