Settlers, The (2023)

[bunniefuu]

"Your sheep

now become

so great devourers and so wild,

that they eat up, and swallow down

the very men themselves".

Thomas More, "Utopia", 1516

THE SETTLERS

I'm good! I'm good!

It's nothing, it's nothing!

Go back to work!

It's just an arm!

It's just an arm...

In this place, a man without an arm

is one man less, you understand?

I need two men

to bury this body. You and you!

Back to work!

THE KING OF THE WHITE GOLD

Sir?

Good evening, Lieutenant.

Good evening, Don Jos.

How are things going here?

How are the fences coming?

We lost another man today.

One man less is not a problem.

The Indians are the problem.

In Porvenir, they cut the fences

and ate all my animals.

All my sheep.

Like beasts.

Like the beasts they are.

I want you to find a route

to the Atlantic for my sheep.

A safe and quick route,

Lieutenant.

For this, you will have

to clean this island.

But I need proof.

I will need one man.

- Just one?

- Yes, sir.

Fire!

Another one!

You!

There!

Fire!

Another one!

You!

Fire!

Another one!

You!

Fire!

This is your man?

Yes.

He is a local expert.

He will make a decent guide,

he is good with the r*fle.

Look at him,

and look at him.

This is Bill.

I brought him from Mexico.

They say he can smell an Indian

from miles away.

He will go with you

on your mission.

If you say so...

You will thank me.

I wish you a good journey.

We do things differently,

Lieutenant.

Such as?

Look at this enormous land.

Three men!

Doesn't it seem absurd?

No, it doesn't.

Ain't a lieutenant supposed

to have his own unit?

When there is discipline,

one good man is worth more

than ten badly trained.

Well, I don't know Chileans,

but I know others like him.

Like him?

Half Indian, half white.

And what about them?

You never know

who they are going to sh**t.

There are many things said about you.

But I haven't seen anything yet.

Yeah, well...

They ain't say

a damn thing about you!

On a trip like this, you are

supposed to eat meat, not fish.

When you ain't got cow, we best

be eating one of those big birds.

You ever had ostrich meat,

Lieutenant?

Yes, I have.

It is almost like cow.

Eat up.

You'd be doing us a favor

if you eat that mess right there too.

In Texas we never eat

where we sleep.

Why is that?

'Cause it is dangerous.

We shouldn't be leaving traces.

What are you afraid of, Bill?

I ain't afraid.

It ain't fear, you hear me?

It is respect.

Them Indians...

Them Comanche...

They are real good trackers.

And you have no idea

how much they dislike

outsiders roaming their lands.

These aren't their lands.

They belong to Menndez.

Indians don't know nothing

about property, do they?

Ain't that right, boy?

There are things you learn.

In Chilo,

priests teach the natives

about God.

They teach them not to steal,

to respect your fellow man.

The problem

is when they don't want to learn,

when they have their own god.

Who the f*ck was talking to you?

I think he's saying we should have

brought one of them priests.

It would save ourselves some work.

No time for priests.

Me and God,

we already have an understanding.

Good morning, soldier.

I need to speak with your superior.

Captain Ambrosio at your service.

Excuse me, Captain.

Who are you?

Alexander MacLennan.

I work for Mr. Menndez.

And your clothes?

I served the English Army

during the w*r.

Allow me to welcome you

to the Republic of Argentina.

Argentina?

Yes.

We are standing right now

on the Andes Mountains.

The Andes?

Yes, the Andes.

I always thought it would be larger.

It is the largest!

Come over here.

Nice and straight!

There! No, no.

This way. Straight.

There should be a right angle

between the ground and the pole.

It is bent, it must go this way.

Look at me!

Like this!

The angle of the pole is bent, sir.

Lift it right here.

Move it in this direction.

But without moving the pole!

And you, what do you do here?

See those two men over there?

Yes.

Our mission

is to accompany Mr. Moreno.

He is in charge

of ratifying the limits

of the Chilean and Argentine border.

It is peaceful out here.

Yes, quite.

Some days I just want to sh**t.

sh**t what?

Them, for example.

I don't think

any of your men has an aim

as good as this Chilean's.

You haven't met Vargas.

Let's make it very clear.

Vargas shoots for our team.

That Chilean shoots for yours.

Go ahead, Chilean!

Fire!

Vargas!

Go, my Vargas!

Go ahead!

Fire!

How about a strength competition?

How is your American

at arm wrestling?

Can you feel that, Argentina?

Can you feel that? That's the force!

Get on with it, Bill!

Come on,

your reputation precedes you!

Get on with it,

you're dealing with a real man now!

Hit, hit!

Come on!

f*ck you!

Go!

Go Argentina, damn it!

Who invented this c**t's reputation?

Know how to fight?

What?

Boxing?

Love it!

Stay down, boy! Stay down!

He's all yours now!

That's right, f*ck him up!

Hit him again!

Take him out, Lieutenant!

Get off me!

Get the f*ck off me!

Little Englishman!

Bravo, Englishman!

Bravo!

Can't see anything.

Let's go.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Good evening, Moreno.

I see you are hurt, Captain.

You should be more careful.

We have visitors.

My name is Alexander MacLennan,

I work for Jos Menndez.

Jos Menndez...

Do you know,

Mr. MacLennan,

how much land

gave the state of Chile

to your Jos Menndez?

Are you aware of that?

How long have you gentlemen

been traveling?

Three days.

Three days of land!

It's quite odd, isn't it?

What is?

Both sides of the border

belonging to the same man...

What I find odd is that men

would fight over a land

where there is f*cking nothing.

Mr. MacLennan,

take a look at these people.

Come.

Take a look at their skull.

How particular it is,

how delicate.

These people, Mr. MacLennan,

should be taken to the University,

to Oxford,

to make them engineers or lawyers.

That's what a country

needs to do with its money.

Not fencing for the sheep.

Right, Captain?

What will our visitors think?

One scientist and twenty military.

Bored military.

Nothing good happens

when military get bored.

With your permission.

Come with me, Little Jimmy.

Come with me.

You can't even talk to them.

They come here

with their silk scarves

and their twisted ways.

They trace a line on the ground

and they think they own the world.

Do you know where

we can find more people

who look like that?

Indians?

Yes.

They are not far away.

You need to head west

and go through the forest.

THE HALF-BLOOD

Boy!

Where are you from?

From Chilo.

And where is that?

Up north.

It's an island.

Same as me.

You know,

sailors

and cowboys...

we're not the same thing,

not the same animal.

What will you do

with your money, Segundo?

I want a horse.

A horse?

What would a half-breed like you

do with a horse?

Once...

in the w*r...

I had to k*ll my horse.

Between ten men

we ate the horse.

sh*t, what the hell

is wrong with you?

A man who rides

never eats his horse.

It is like eating a friend,

God damn it!

No one is asking

for your opinion, redneck!

And when I'm in charge,

I don't question what is necessary.

Coming through, Red Pig.

Crazy f*cking Brit...

- You stupid son of a b*tch!

- Steady, Bill.

You lecture me about discipline

and then you pull sh*t like that?

You're doing everything wrong,

Lieutenant.

Ever since you brought

that f*cking half-breed along.

Horses were awful jittery

last night, Lieutenant.

They woke me up several times.

Strange thing was,

when I woke up he wasn't there.

How is that?

He just wasn't.

I told you

we couldn't trust him.

You're white and he's not.

Our differences

are set in stone.

Easy!

Lieutenant.

How many are there?

More than ten.

Less than twenty.

What do we do?

I reckon they ain't any tougher

than the Apache.

You know about these things.

Tell us what to do.

I just need you to cover me.

We are going to come in

soft and silent like the wind.

Less of the poetry, Bill.

Alright, let's not waste

any more time then.

We attack at dawn.

Alright.

- Check your ammunition.

- It is checked.

I suggest we approach on foot.

We should put the horses

somewhere a little more discreet.

He could stay with the horses...

Don't worry about him,

he is my responsibility.

Stand up! Come here!

Segundo! Come here!

Here!

Alright.

My turn.

Are you alright?

Yes.

How many did you k*ll?

I don't know.

And you?

Many.

Well, that was way beneath

my expectations.

Your turn.

No, thank you.

The woman...

She's waiting for you.

I'm good here.

Stand up and go now!

Look at me.

Look at me.

Yes...

You think you're better than me

with your judging eyes, watching me?

I see you watching me

and everything I f*cking do.

And I do not like it.

If I tell you what to do, you do it!

You understand me?

I see you f*cking watching me!

You watch me one more time,

I'll extinguish your f*cking flame.

You're destined for darkness,

for blackness,

for f*cking nada!

These!

You f*cking use them

for a f*cking mujer.

When I tell you

there's a woman in there

you go in there and f*cking use them,

you understand me?

You disobey me one more time,

I'll extinguish your f*cking flame

as easy as a fire with f*cking water!

And when I tell you to breathe,

you breathe.

Now go f*ck her.

Go and f*ck her now.

THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

No way to treat

the Queen's uniform.

You're English?

Who are you?

My name is Alexander MacLennan,

I work for Jos Menndez.

You know that name?

Menndez?

No.

He is the owner of these lands.

You look worn, soldier.

Join us at our camp.

We appreciate the invitation,

but we still have a long journey

ahead of us,

we should resist

keeping our employers waiting.

First you must wash that tunic.

We appreciate the invitation...

Are you going to turn down

my hospitality?

What silliness!

Of course you'll join us.

I'm not used to being rebuffed.

Here.

Have a drink, Lieutenant.

It's a private's uniform.

Not a lieutenant's.

Private?

I can't f*cking believe it!

You son of a b*tch!

When did you serve?

In the '80s.

Transvaal? Egypt?

Yes.

Regiment?

In the 75th as a rifleman.

Gordon Highlanders.

Tel El Kebir?

- Yes.

- Lucky you.

And yourself?

Royal Scots, First Battalion.

Lydenburg and Bermondsey.

You would have served

under Colonel Martin.

Close...

You are Colonel Martin!

I was, until bad fortune

brought me here.

It's an honor

to be at your table, Colonel.

Indeed it is.

It's an honor for me

to meet a Colonel

who has no problem with

a private sitting at the same table!

Cause that just ain't normal,

ain't it?

We are at the ends

of the Earth, mate.

Things are more relaxed.

You and your men

should rest here for the night,

and continue in the morning.

That's a generous offer, Colonel,

but my orders were very specific.

And you, my friend?

Would you stay?

I don't know, maybe.

That all depends, Colonel.

Stay and do what, exactly?

Pursue our cravings.

I do like the sound of that!

Good boy.

I've been following orders

from this English red pig

for I don't know how many days now!

It'd be pleasure to spend

some time with a real officer

and a proper Englishman

like yourself!

Excellent news!

You should choose your men

more wisely, soldier.

- He referred to you as English.

- Yes, and what of it?

You're a Scot!

Have some self-respect!

I have no time for traitors.

Less so if they're from

the old colonies.

I have my orders, Colonel,

you understand?

Yes.

Kiepja!

Come here!

Kiepja!

I said, come here!

Come, sit with us.

Kiepja...

Do you like this man?

No, don't like.

Aren't these natives

extraordinary?

Do you want her?

Kiepja...

these men are interested in you.

Would you like to go with them?

They're good men.

Like myself.

I'm sorry you lost a man, soldier.

Take the squaw.

She'll be of more use to you

than the American.

Me and my men,

we don't really fancy the natives.

I suppose my tastes

are a little more refined.

Do you understand?

It seems like a fair trade.

But there is one more detail...

You are sad.

Here is bad.

Men hit me.

Koliot hit me. Don't like.

You're not white.

It's for you.

For hunt, for cook,

like a knife.

I make it.

Don't like these men.

Me horse with you.

PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE

7 YEARS LATER

THE RED PIG

Have we heard from our guest?

He wanted to stop by his hotel

to bathe before coming.

Why does he need a hotel?

Does he think

we don't have hot water?

Presidents have stayed in this house.

I find it utterly rude.

What do we know of this man?

He is an intellectual.

Apparently,

a nationalist.

Mr. Vicua is here.

I'm very sorry for the delay.

Madam, a pleasure.

Monsignor, a pleasure.

I'm sorry I missed the ceremony

at the square this morning.

I was taken by surprise.

Don Jos,

it's a pleasure to be in your home.

Welcome.

We were waiting for you.

Please have a seat.

Thank you.

Margarita,

please serve him some tea.

What brings you to these lands,

Mr. Vicua?

We plan to celebrate

the first 100 years of our nation.

And we want to do more

than opening new parks,

libraries or museums.

The President of the Republic

asked me to visit

the farthest regions of our country,

to learn and understand

the needs of our people.

The men who come from the capital

quickly leave these lands,

leaving behind...

nothing more than infamy.

"Desolation Island".

"Port Hunger",

"Useless Bay".

I hope you are not one of them.

It's as if those infamous names

not only speak

of our rough geography,

but also of the terrible crimes

committed here.

What crimes?

Have you heard

of Alexander MacLennan?

Of course.

He worked many years for me.

Unfortunately,

he is no longer in this world.

As I recall,

the newspaper "La Razn"

wrote a long article about him

a few years ago.

Somewhat of a...

gruesome story.

Hard to believe.

It is said MacLennan and other men

poisoned the almost 200 tons of meat

of a whale stranded on the beach,

ending the lives

of almost 100 Indians

who ate it.

I don't read the local press.

Apparently, MacLennan,

nicknamed the Red Pig,

hunted Indians across the pampas.

What a fascination for tabloids!

Out of respect,

we should call him

Lieutenant MacLennan.

Not "Red Pig"?

- No.

- Why not?

Because he did not like it.

They called him that

out of pure envy.

Envy is a difficult sin to fight.

The human being is so complex

and so fragile at the same time.

That is also where his value lies.

In his ability to choose, to fail,

but also to forgive and be forgiven.

The Indians could resist the cold,

even naked,

but our illnesses k*lled them,

even God couldn't help them.

We know, Monsignor.

We know all we've done

for the Indians.

With your narrow city mind,

you can't imagine

all the food we gave them.

Nor all the orphans

taken into decent homes.

Are you referring

to the auction of Indians

that took place in the

square of Punta Arenas?

What you read in the capital

are not newspapers, but satires!

Those satires

accuse you of paying a pound

for each severed Ona ear

and almost two pounds

for a woman's uterus.

You come here, to our home,

and make accusations

as if we were delinquents.

We've k*lled many savages

and will continue, if necessary.

You are busy

with politics in the north,

while we are working!

My father gets older

on each business trip

to promote land development.

Thanks to our effort

and to those dead Indians,

you are here,

in the last corner of the Earth.

In this "inhospitable",

"untamable" place,

we provided food

for thousands of children

roaming around the dirty streets

of your capital!

I am sorry.

Here, we can talk seriously,

Mr. Vicua.

I thought we were talking seriously.

No, that was politics.

Politics aren't serious?

I don't think so.

Especially when led by men

who don't know their country.

Our goal is the creation

of a new nation,

made by Chileans,

settlers and Indians.

Together we must build

this beautiful country.

For this, peace is necessary.

Here, we live in peace...

We have an agreement

with the Mapuche.

No agreements are made

with the Indians.

They neither respect the Law

nor their word.

But we must respect ours.

What do you need?

I want to meet the Onas.

Listen to them.

Talk to them.

The Onas don't speak!

Maybe not with you.

They never interested me much...

Maybe this might interest you:

we must renew the agreement

you signed 10 years ago

to manage these lands.

Lands that have gained much value,

about 15 times

the price you paid for them.

And as you know,

the ratification of the agreement

depends on our Congress,

and not on our friend,

President Pedro Montt.

I want you to keep

the administration of these lands.

Thank you, Mr. Vicua.

It seems...

only fair to me.

But as I was saying,

the stories that reach Santiago,

instead of helping, make it harder

to convince the deputies.

I know you're very proud

of your achievements,

but we,

as children of this young

and noble motherland,

must take care of the optics.

We are interested in aesthetics.

What aesthetics?

Wool stained with blood

loses all value.

What do you want?

CHILO ISLAND, CHILE

Good afternoon, madam.

Does Mr. Segundo Molina live here?

Laura, read!

Segundo Molina:

Camino del Rosal,

Town of Tenaun,

department of Dalcahue,

Chilo Island,

Republic of Chile.

Is that here?

It is here.

Where is he?

He is off to sea.

Are you his wife?

Yes. And who are you?

Marcial Vicua.

I work for the President.

What president?

The President of Chile, Pedro Montt.

Never heard of him.

We must talk with Mr. Segundo.

Don Jos Menndez

said he could help us.

Help you with what?

Do you know who Jos Menndez is?

No.

When is your husband coming back?

I don't know.

When men leave,

one never knows if they will be back.

What is your name, Madam?

Rosa.

Let's make a deal, Rosa. Shall we?

I propose

that you invite me in,

so we can talk quietly.

If you accept,

I won't tell these police officers

that you are hiding something.

Are you going to arrest him?

Why would we?

Do you accept?

I thank you,

deeply, for inviting me

into your home.

Do you mind

if my assistant joins us?

No.

Laura, come.

I don't work

for those people anymore.

But you did work there.

Yes, many years ago.

They say the things

that happened there

were terrible.

That many Indians died.

We want to report

those awful crimes.

Why are you so interested?

- To do justice.

- Justice?

That's why I need to talk to you,

Segundo.

About what?

An interview.

What do you want to know?

What jobs did you do

for Jos Menndez?

I worked with the sheep,

herding them,

shearing them in the sheds.

With my dogs,

we moved thousands of sheep.

And now, what do you do?

I have my animals,

my boat.

We live off the sea.

But do you earn money?

We live off

what the sea gives us.

How?

The sea is wise.

If you respect it,

it takes care of you.

It'd be very important for me

to have an image of you.

An image?

An image...

that gives truth

to your testimony.

A portrait.

Photographs,

but in motion...

Rosa, may I ask you a question?

What?

How did you two meet?

Once,

along with the Lieutenant...

- What lieutenant?

- Lieutenant MacLennan.

Things were complicated

and Menndez wanted

no more problems with the Indians.

So, the Lieutenant became Judge.

Judge?

A Peace Judge, said Menndez.

We had to talk to the Indians

and make peace.

Rosa helped us communicate.

We spent months touring the island,

talking to them.

Once,

the Lieutenant had the idea

to offer a meal.

He organized a banquet on a beach.

A lot of Indians arrived,

there must have been 300 of them.

We had roasted lambs,

more than 50 animals

on the spit.

The Indians ate and drank

all they wanted.

They got to the meat

and tore it apart with their teeth,

as if they had never eaten.

Then we brought the wine

in large pots.

When the sun set,

many were already drunk,

lying on the sand.

Then we took the r*fles

and started sh**ting.

The Indians began to run.

They went into the sea.

We chased them

and strangled them with our hands

until they stopped moving.

The sea turned red.

You must have been

through very hard times.

But I assure you that your sacrifices

and your wife's

have not been in vain.

Segundo, are you alright?

Yes?

The hat does not bother you?

Perfect! Very good!

Laura, fill the cup of tea please,

will you?

All good there?

Yes? Is the focus alright?

Fix her blouse.

Please.

The other side also.

And the hair there, right there.

Nice.

Very good.

Very good. Let's start.

Let's sh**t.

Have some tea.

Rosa?

Can you take your cup?

Rosa!

The cup.

In your hand,

at the level of your face, please.

Rosa please.

Could you stir your cup of tea?

Rosa, do you want

to be part of this nation?

Drink the tea.