Spain: "Europe's one big scam"

A young Spanish woman refuses to leave her rural community for the EU’s false promise of prosperity abroad. Staying local is what counts. Filmed at Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Cantillana, Andalusia
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The films in this series are available with the following subtitles; English, French, German, Swedish, Spanish and Polish
EUROPEANS: original dramas from across Europe
The Guardian and Headlong theatre company present a foreign language drama series about the continent, from the continent. Europeans features films made in Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Poland, Sweden and Spain, exploring the relationships of member countries to the European Union ► • Poland: 'Borders bring...
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Performed by Paula Iwasaki
Written by Blanca Doménech
Directed by Amy Hodge
Produced by Jess Gormley
Filmed and edited by Noah Payne-Frank
Producer for Headlong: Alecia Marshall
Assistant producer: Tilly Taylor
Executive producers for the Guardian: Jess Gormley, Charlie Phillips
Executive producers for Headlong: Jeremy Herrin, Alan Stacey, Holly Race Roughan
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#Spain #Europeans #StayLocal #EU #EuropeanUnion

[@guardianculture]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqXImWB7gbiHoLs ► The Guardian and Headlong theatre company present a foreign language drama series about the continent, from the continent. Europeans features films made in Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Poland, Sweden and Spain, exploring the relationships of member countries to the European Union

[@astrumespanol]

@G do you realize is fiction?

[@astrumespanol]

@G yeah go ahead show your racism

[@astrumespanol]

@G you are Chinese. Wumao loser

[@raimonestanol8234]

She insulted immigrants, and touched political topics with the shallowest cliché reasonings. The overacting renders me unsure if it is meant to be sarcasm or not.

[@thisismetoday]

Then don't caption this with a quote as if it has been said in an interview!! That is highly misleading. Just say 'Short film' in your caption or something similar!!

[@tomashize]

The countryside in Portugal is almost empty. Now there are more Portuguese people abroad than at home. It's honestly very sad.

[@lauramartins5953]

Dude, no one cares about us! That's even sadder...

[@Sker2]

But that happens everywhere in the world. Young people don’t want to work on farms

[@eliseumds]

Extremely low disposable incomes in Portugal, insane tax rates.

[@lauramartins5953]

@tunne oma vaenlast Why does it bother you that much that Portugal exists?

[@lauramartins5953]

@tunne oma vaenlast ceuta? melilla? baleares? canary islands? That's barely Spain... Cape verde? Are you high or something?

[@emameyer]

you do realize that she is an actress, this is all scripted and that literally everything there is designed to get the reaction you all have, right?

[@emameyer]

@@xxx.118 well from the tsunami of comments it would rather seem that most viewers thought it was a real interview...

[@sutters7251]

I realised she was an actress from the first minute. I’m afraid it only slightly diminishes the message it is imparting. I’m from Norfolk, born in Norwich. University educated in London. I returned to Norfolk. I recognise the struggle of the local economy and the lack of opportunity for the young. Mechanisation of farming, cheap imported food and Chinese manufacturing has reduced jobs and local engineering support. The young without educational opportunities are especially at risk of drifting into a malaise. Rural communities need support from politicians and a public will to pay more for quality.

[@lauramartins5953]

@@emameyer She doesn't even look Spanish. People are so freaky, seriously... It should be obvious she's an actress.

[@mv4ago]

@@lauramartins5953 It is obvious she's an actress because it tells you quite clearly at 23 seconds into the video. She is Paula Iwasaki, a Spanish actress, from Spain of all places. None of which detracts from the message of the film though. FUEU.

[@lauramartins5953]

@@mv4ago I don't know why you're being a smart**s. It should be obvious Iwasaki is not a Spanish surname, genius. You proved my point with your comment... And on a different note, I agree with the overall message of the video, that's not what my comment was about. Lol seriously, people are so cringy they literally think someone half Japanese has a typical look of this Peninsula. ffs

[@demiurge6-]

When someone says “I’m well educated. I know a hell of a lot more than you think.” They’re typically not educated

[@badgerspvcoach]

Based on what??? How do you draw that conclusion?

[@virginiaconnor8350]

@@badgerspvcoach I have a BA I'm art from GSU and no one expected me to graduate from college, much less get into college and even fo well. I'm humble enough to admit I never made the Dean's List, but I can say I did my best-mathematics were not my forte-but as I was an art student, I did better in the liberal arts. While I do not show off my knowledge or put myself above others, I want others to know I worked hard to get where I am and not accuse me of pretending to be something I'm not. Would you jeer at Dr.'s Jane Goodhall or Temple Grandin?

[@badgerspvcoach]

@@virginiaconnor8350 , I think you replied to the wrong person.

[@gilbertlagrange6419]

@@badgerspvcoach surely with a crayon :-)

[@footsoldier857]

Everyone leaves... It now offers a perfect space for an Amazon warehouse...

[@patriciasalvatore2394]

Ain't that the truth.

[@janemarett1885]

Some of the comments have missed the point in what she was trying to relay to the world . That instead of running away to work in big cities, stay at home and somehow try and work out how to save their way of life and their culture. EU has ruined their farming practices and the Spanish Government hasn’t tried to stop the trend of young people flocking to the big cities, because of the economic situation where there come from .

[@lawrencedwyer8678]

We know what she is meaning,the rotten eu is corrupt.you vote for what you get if not come the revolution.where is the Spanish and Italian revolution spirit?

[@lawrencedwyer8678]

0:07 / 10:22 EU Headed for COLLAPSE as Support for ITALEXIT SURGES!!!kzbin.info/www/bejne/mne0gK2vesinl80

[@lawrencedwyer8678]

Italians Prepare To Exit EU kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ6zZ2x4mbSkaa8

[@krashd]

@@lawrencedwyer8678 Oh wow! A guy on KZbin said it so it must be gospel...

[@lawrencedwyer8678]

@@krashd reliable form a round the world mate.

[@indigogolf3051]

The Guardian ??? WTF? Publishing a slight on the Glorious Peace-Loving EU? Naah, something's up.

[@dolly22215]

Indigo Golf My thoughts exactly!

[@dolly22215]

Bunny The Bear I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it was accepted it referred to the EU. Like you (or I suspect like you), I LOATHE the EU but love my fellow Europeans. Well....generally speaking! 🤣

[@indigogolf3051]

@@xxx.118 I think you hit the nail on the head, the distinction here is between Europe and the EU. The EU is dismantling Europe, so this would fit in with Guardianista thinking.

[@trollop_7]

We're none the wiser as to why The Guardian of all places would run a piece (of drama) with such a distinctively nationalist, anti-EU, anti-Federalist flavour ... and one so very lacking in diversity too.

[@strangelee4400]

@@dolly22215 No no no...if you hate the EU you obviously must be a racist or something (as they have said to us a million times).

[@scouter6926]

What a carismatic women! Peace and blessings to her and Spain.

[@TheDPStL]

Intelligent woman. Quote - an unexamined life is not with living.

[@trollop_7]

@@TheDPStL They do exist, though they're as rare as hen's teeth.

[@gulagga371]

Shame she is brainless hipocrate.

[@izes_palacsinta]

@Alan J This is a parody. Performed by a professional actress. You can see her name in the beginning. End screen: written by... directed by... Can you see now? She plays an ignorant village girl who doesn't understand the world.

[@spinaway]

@@gulagga371 Hypocrite, you are the Brainless one.

[@Victhor]

This video is a scam!, I am from the region of that lady, and this video shows a movie-like exaggeratedly spanish Spain.

[@ChrisSierras]

I thought the same thing, sounds so dramatic.

[@slanwar]

But villages are getting abandoned for example Portugal has a lot of ghost villages, small farms abandoned with old houses in ruins. People have an illusion of making more money but trading their freedom and happiness to work in a different country, different culture, I did and now I’m stuck. If I had a time machine I would go back 30 years ago and change my destiny and stayed in Portugal.

[@aalb1873]

British loves the stereotypical drama since Shakespeare time.

[@buzifalus]

This is disgusting. A foreign actress is acting the sorrows and cries of real people she is replacing. An invader owning the cries of its victims.

[@av7564]

Utter rubbish. I understand it's a script but c'mon guys, almost nobody in Spain wants to get out of the EU. The script is completely artificial and closer to fiction writing than to reality.

[@olliec1319]

Nice production. But I'm not sure why she was being portrayed as being so angry at her boyfriend for looking for work in London. Spain's crisis was the worst in Europe with very few jobs so it's only natural to look abroad in those circumstances. She also came across as a bit nuts.

[@martinmichael2535]

"A bit nuts," like when the religious statue smiled at her meaning everything will be alright.

[@scambodia147]

Probably a brilliant shag tho'!

[@sebas8225]

She´s kinda right to be angry at her boyfriend though, she cant be with him and all he´ll do is work in London for a long while, there´s no telling if she´d ever get to see him again or if he´d start another relationship on her back, those limitations and ideas, will kill their relationship, just saying.

[@johntowers1213]

how exactly does Spain prosper when, like other nations it has seen a long term flight of its youth, its best and its brightest that up sticks and move on mass to richer nations looking for a work ? Are they all just to remain impoverished baby factories to keep the industries of other countries running ? How does any of this help Spain and nations in a similar predicament become prosperous nations in the years to come ? This pan European mobile workforce is fantastic for rich nations with aging populations but its a recipe for disaster for the countries they vamperise

[@benlotus2703]

Most women are "nuts"

[@technodemic6258]

If she's only acting this, she should be nominated for an Oscar. This is so real, and true-to-life. I know. I live in Andalucia. ....and I love it.

[@batcatgg5630]

I live in Madrid one of the biggest city so I can see want its getting at

[@izes_palacsinta]

Its easy to stay home when you borned to a beautiful and wealthy place. She would change her mind if she had to live in the poorest urban area of Poland or in a Bulgarian village. Just sayin. Though yea. Great parody of the eu sceptic village people.

[@rickycoker5830]

this lady is a helluva actress. I wish her success in the future.

[@Chris-wj4ze]

@@rickycoker5830 She's a so-so actress, and I don't wish her success.

[@heatherygraine5836]

She is acting.

[@gonthedriver]

Its the first video of the series that I have seen, since I'm spanish. Its not comfortable to see an interested take, through a not representative situation, filmed docu-like style but being fiction, runned by UK guys. To showcase what? to reassure a national decision? I'll definitely watch the rest of the series, since the quality and duration are fine and neat. But 'art', promote thought or just being provocative doesn't seem to be the only purpose of these series.

[@qv8281]

The guardian overall is quite remain, I think this is more of just trying to show another perspective trust me when I say that there’s not much to reassure me and a lot of other people living in the UK about the decision that has been taken by those who voted in the referendum.

[@shawnvader2809]

I found the narrative all too familiar. Blame the EU to mask the national government's failures. I would have found it really interesting if the film explored more deeply the causes for the lack of investment in rural Spanish areas rather than just the normal "Blame the EU"

[@oe4188]

Well... Uncomfortable to see but true and to the point. If the E. U could allocate money properly and give it to the people like the ones in the video rather than to the rich landowner who does NOTHING but to just pocket the money in... The EU needs better control on how their funds are used. Otherwise, people getting poorer will keep on blaming eurocrats and immigration.

[@disarmsox]

I appreciated it just as drama and nothing else.

[@shawnvader2809]

O E - Uncomfortable truth? I am not doubting the rural areas in Spain have been decimated and had no support and that this has caused a lot of pain for many people and communities. But to just blame the E.U is populist, you miss finding the real reason which many not be as simple as two letters.

[@welshtoro3256]

It's emotional but not reality. I'm married to a Spaniard and have family all over Spain from the North to the South. We have a little place in tiny farming village in Andalusia. The children of agricultural workers have no intention of working like their parents and move to towns and cities for jobs. Rural Spain is depopulating at an alarming rate. The boyfriend moves to London, like thousands of ambitious Spaniards, because he is far more likely to find employment and, importantly, much better paid employment. I have loads of Spanish friends that have settled in Britain because they cannot find jobs that will pay enough to start a family and buy a house in Spain. People live with their parents and grandparents in Andalusia contributing to the enormous ageing population. I'm no fan of the EU but there's a lot of uninformed opinion here. Without EU agricultural subsidies regions like Andalusia would see huge amounts of migration to find jobs as they used to do before entry to the EU. Those jobs no longer exist in Madrid and Barcelona and that explains why thousands and thousands of Spaniards work in Northern Europe. I love Spain but it's hard without money.

[@berosmith9041]

Probably a Vox video.

[@pacocervantes2460]

I am not surprised Pablo ran away from her.

[@cazzo53]

Why is that?? Just Curious to hear your point....

[@Michael-cs3uj]

How did this slip by the editors at that rag the guardian

[@jimscanoe]

It's ironic that there is all this religious imagery in the video all the while she's expressing how upset she is with the "biggest scam" being people abroad promising jobs. No, sweetheart, the biggest scam the world has ever known is right under you nose.

[@MdManik-lv8cm]

S

[@charlieyerrell9146]

We British buy lots of vegetables from Spain. The Spanish farmers are telling me that they have to sell vegetables at a price dictatard by Brussels. The farmers must be able to. Sell their products so that can make a profit and a living wage. NOT dictated to the EU parliament.

[@markhorton8578]

The EU does not dictate the price. Though for example, it does dictate limitations on pesticides.

[@jesusgonzalez6325]

This actress is actually from Seville, a big city. Moreover, her father is Peruvian. I understand she is a professional doing her job but she shouldn’t help feeding these anti-immigration speeches...

[@pariswoodard8672]

NO SIESTA WORK WORK WORK TO PAY THE ELITE

[@stefansterlok7871]

they manage to siesta anyway. To to Spain. all closed half of the day. and always fiesta, fiesta fiesta. Olè.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

I was expecting to see something interesting or insightful but instead I got something over-acted (I can see why her fictional boyfriend left her) and scripted that is veering towards nationalistic and Brexity. Spain's problems with people leaving rural areas and flocking to cities with government officials not doing anything to offer support started way before the European Union or its precursor. Thank the Franco government and thank the typical things that happen with fast-paced economic booms and urbanization where social safety nets and programs aren't progressing with the same speed. Whether or not the EU exists wouldn't change the fact that Spain was already heading in this direction. The only difference is that young people have more choices in cities to move to.

[@figliodinessuno6094]

I'm Italian, we have the same problem if not worse. Not long ago a German think-tank come to the conclusion that, since Europe, every German is 25.000 a year richer, every Italian is 75.000 poorer. Who took the other 50.000 form us? The French, the Duch and the Austrians.

[@OliverlondonUK]

Questionable Anti-European Sentiments from the Guardian - Skillful presented arguments for the beauty of rural communities and the benefits of unity and solidarity within this collectives is no justification for Anti-European Sentiments. To portrait the European Union as an advocate for the negligence of rural communities and emigration is unjustified. Emigration is increasingly popular around the world and far older than the EU (most nations and their cultural characteristics are influenced by invasion and emigration - e.g. Alexander the Great, The Roman Empire, or the conquest of Spain from Arab forces in the second half of the 7th century …). While EU legislation enables people to choose their destiny - free from geographical restrictions - the EU is not supporting / promoting false hopes, of clueless and desperate individuals, to seek their luck beyond their intellectual capacity or their economic means. False hopes and unproven arguments are the domain of irresponsible agitators - seeking to vilify a poorly executed, but doubtlessly great idea of a border-less community - without any credible alternative. Change is an unavoidable element of life - those who want to prevent change, are likely to lose their future.

[@tonyromano6220]

Oh put a sock in it.

[@stream2watch]

Performed by Paula Iwasaki Written by Blanca Doménech Ah ok. Just hamming it up. The actress is an instagram "performer", actress and singer. The writer is a: Playwright / Screenwriter/ Educator , resident of Madrid and New York (google it). Guardian, what are you trying to pull?

[@Hydrocarbonman147]

I don't know why exactly but I think this is pertinent to many peoples lives.

[@afandou1966]

The Guardian is against Brexit, and the woman is actress Paula Iwasaki.

[@pameladelaney5721]

This is a very nice piece of art...an 'objet d'art'. It not only gets the message across , loud and clear, but it's beautifully expressed...the smart wholesome young woman...her intact emotion...the authenticity of the value system ''small town people" hold dear (villages with caring people who know you) destroyed by the European Union. Everything that foreigners used to admire and love about European villages and European culture has systematically and insidiously been destroyed (by the EU). I'm a 77 year old American woman (from Silicon Valley, CA) living in a small village in the French countryside, and I have been sorely disillusioned by what the big shots in the EU "think" is progress. It's, actually, criminal.

[@chrish2685]

What a woman,what a brain and passionate for life and her country.People of Spain claim your country, currency and pride back.Leave the EU,it cares only for 2 countries Germany and France.UK loves your country and people so its time to break free,just like us British have done!

[@UniverseF5]

She doesn’t look Spaniard.

[@N_Loco_Parenthesis]

A story written by a playwright, performed by a professional actress. Why not a real documentary? Hmm.

[@TheSterlingSound]

What the hell is your point Guardian?

[@luismachado6264]

Yes, leaving the EU is the right decision.... let's justify that with this video with an actress and an invented plot...

[@shadowrider150]

There was a bit of sugar-coated anti-immigrant rant. Wow!

[@MW-eg4gu]

This has been happening all around the world for years now. The abandonment of the farms and towns for the big cities. However, Spain's and Europe's problem with this is no less tragic. There is embedded in this young woman's complaint, whether she is an actress or not, another modern dilemma. She complains about her Pablo. Too many young women these days, like both males and females, have been caught up in the modern anti-traditional spirit. One manifestation being the modern young woman putting faith in a guy of similar age. As a rule, though there are exceptions, guys of similar age usually are too immature to offer her marriage and a life. This woman, or this portrayal of a young woman aware of what really has been happening with small town Spain, has the right idea, yet she may not realize Pablo did her a favor. Young women these days need to investigate older men, perhaps only five to ten years older, more mature and established in jobs or careers, who can immediately give her a marriage and children. Too many young women are wasting time, even years with too many Pablos. Let Pablo run off and make his mistakes. Live and learn. But you as a woman waste no time finding a mature man. Start in the churches.

[@np4029]

Can anyone who knows Spanish better than I, confirm that there was a fair amount of editorialising in the subtitles?

[@conniedean1563]

Sorry but the way she dressed and talked, saying the F word, it is shocking that she is praying to the blessed Virgin Mary, as far as the economy in Spain I am sure that is true.

[@rasklaat2]

Why? Did Virgin Mary ever say "Thou shalt not use profanity"?

[@Flashjan1]

The F word in Spanish is not profanity. It's used in front of children quite naturally. The translation however was awful. Don't forget the scriptwriter is spanish and the language she uses is 'natural' spanish, albeit contrived for the video.

[@conniedean1563]

@@rasklaat2 Just common sense.

[@yixnorb5971]

She said Mafia while the caption read "scam".

[@sebas8225]

She´s so right, it saddens my heart

[@johnadams-wp2yb]

Well, we in Britain have left, now it's up to you.

[@raimonestanol8234]

She insulted immigrants, and touched political topics with the shallowest cliché reasonings. The overacting renders me unsure if it is meant to be sarcasm or not.

[@marklyttle5449]

Is this the same Guardian that opposed the UK leaving the EU ?

[@Jon908584]

Exactly from whom and what is the Grauniad (Guardian to those who acquired an education) guarding against?

[@fainitesbarley2245]

They were supposed to be guarding the truth.

[@keday8138]

Spain is a GREAT COUNTRY ....... If U ve a solid income

[@legoheady]

Pablo dodged a bullet there!

[@benlotus2703]

Clever Pablo did a runner. she wants to have kids with Pablo in her thirties. Millions in ejaculate seminal fluid squirt. Spermatozoa (male GAMETES), everywhere on her knickers..

[@thisismetoday]

What narrative are you trying to push, Guardian? Edit: Also, how acted is this?

[@adalbertschwafel2587]

Well, written script and hired actress

[@jacquelinehoward2715]

Run Pablo... Run !!!!

[@benlotus2703]

stay away Pablo

[@bonsummers2657]

Make All Countries Great! Each in their distinctive positive co-existable ways.

[@miry4235]

What I like about this video is that one can see how much Christopher loves the Silver Fox...the Silver Fox, however, is hesitant, not wishing to commit, and therefore averts his eyes in order to avoid the unmeasured transference issuing forth from Christopher...

[@totalwar69]

Sorry Guardian, but this video is simply wrong and immoral

[@disarmsox]

It's drama.

[@camiversa8723]

"If there is a problem in your country stay there and help sort it out". This is the most absurd sentence they could choose. Come on, let's talk about this when you don't have where to sleep or what to eat, or when bombs are falling from the sky! If the purpose of the guardians is to present a picture of ignorance, well done. If not, it is scary.

[@neyouxddd2371]

Spaniards work hard to make his country great again, but why africans cant do the same

[@kenanacampora]

Me interesa esté mujer de España. Se cuidan España.

[@danoninonino1864]

"¿Pero de quién es la curpa?"

[@quantumofhate]

GEE SHE SEEMS PEACEFUL AND THEN SHE GETS REALLY ANIMATED AND UPSET!!!!

[@pedrosuperpedro4843]

Spain is the best! ARRIBA ESPAÑA!!

[@rafaelmarzo4894]

I ask everyone in the comments, what do you prefer that a big BIG part of the population gets better quality of live and stop being poor or that a small percentage of the population keepts their "joy and happiness". We have to move forward and pass the torch to the people that need it most, when you move the production to poorer countries guess what they get richer! Globalism has erradicated poverty in a large scale across the entire world and it is constantly improving peoples lives, we have to move on, we have to get better, I know it's hard and it isn't the easiest way but it is what's right. (Sorry for bad English)

[@johnent9940]

Suena muy bonito, casi poético; pero palabras de contenido muy vacio.

[@benlotus2703]

Pablo ran away from her nagging to save his own sanity

[@Flashjan1]

Pablo works in a strip bar in Soho and has a girlfriend called Olga...

[@benlotus2703]

@@Flashjan1 Olga from Moscow wants to have kids with Pablo in her thirties. Millions in ejaculate seminal fluid squirt. Spermatozoa (male GAMETES), everywhere on her knickers....she wants 3 kids

[@benlotus2703]

@@Flashjan1 Olga wants Pablo babies

[@Biggles2498]

I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her ! Why is it that Spanish women no matter how beautiful end up with "Rice Pudding" legs when they get older ? Yuck !

[@benlotus2703]

@@Biggles2498 Her nose would take ur eye out. Pablo did a runner; he is wise....a wise man.

[@timdixon8752]

i think she is right

[@dnatest585]

China Virus Spain people need to talk about

[@kamelmebhah4122]

True unfortunately but no need for bad language, two wrong doesn't make it right. No one in the whole world wants to live as a foreigner leaving the loved ones behind.

[@56independent42]

As a British person, i can say "Europe is a scam" as the UK voted to leave and is not connected to the mainland of Europe. However, Spain can't because it shares a border with Europe's France.

[@listenmullahsb]

All nations need to leave the EU, let France and Germany run it on their own. How can Spain with such amazing people, food, weather and land be struggling... all down to EU laws created in Brussels.

[@MaSsiVeGaming1]

I agree with you both.

[@hshssnwwjss3154]

I do not know if Spain has to leave the EU or not, but what is sure is that the UK wants other nations to leave too. This way you could reinforce your positions

[@macualvarez55]

Spain struggles because every politician in power steals. Not European politicians, our very national ones. From decades ago. And we have do many politicians. Wealth can be big, but not unlimited.

[@listenmullahsb]

@@hshssnwwjss3154 Lets be real, the EU was actually the UK, Germany & France + friends. UK leaves the gang and the *friends* start becoming a little costly for the remaining two. There is so much potential in the world for the UK and anyone else without being a EU member. If Spain decides to the EU tommorow it would still remain the tourism powerhouse it is but under it's own control, no meddling from faceless bureaucrats in Brussels.

[@mariscal012]

There is a time for everything.That woman is lost. She needs to keep her options open and be ready to study, to move, and to get back yo her village on week ends while she wonts.

[@MrPacedan]

Shouldnt have covered up the English words with Spanish words

[@vdbman6619]

London is a dense 'divers' cultureless and over the top expensive hellhole, beter stay in the countryside of Spain. As a Dutch guy I would love to move there with my little family to contribute to your little community. But you need to make some online income to surive there.

Each of these financial crisis that were thrust into around the world gain one thing positive for the 1% everything is reduced in value businesses land people in these cycles and the only people who have too much money extra money pick all these things up cheap and easy so each time the cycle happens by the end of it they are even more of what they didn't already have almost all of previously and it goes and it goes and it goes like this and if the masses of people don't wake up some point why not now we kill 1% of the population and the world can start another system probably as corrupt as the one we're in do with that what you want to.

[@AudieHolland]

Fireworks!? Can't have that anymore.

[@MrEmrearif]

Well sir, This is manipulative.

[@sandaliasuarez1342]

As a spanish in London I went to watch this and....what to say? majority of Spanish people, even those living in Spain, will not feel identified with this portrait of young spanish person at all. The suposely isolated rural village is like barely 30 km away from Seville, one of the largest cities in Spain with almost 2 millions population. She could go to University and return everyday if she wanted. I'm from a true rural area and still you get to a major city in under 1.5 hours. While I agree partially with her view of working in London, there are other places to work in the UK and the main idea is to learn the language and simultaneously being paid. While I believe for Spanish people family, culture and roots are important, this clip portrait us as absolutely backwarded: a girl that cannot get further education, living in a rural environment where people go to adore and cry out of devotion to religious figures and that their only way to get some development is by moving to london abandoning everything behind rather than to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville.... She also is portrayed as absolutely bitter because of her boyfried moving away and never portrayed with anyone else, like her entire life was than man...I dont know what to say, it looks like one of those books from post civil war like los santos inocentes.

[@telboyynwa699]

I totally agree!

[@fernandomallafre9833]

Sandalia Suarez you couldn’t have explained it better

[@sahaiel]

I think you missed the point of the video. The point is that there are other values which are equally or more important than leaving a country for making money somewhere else. It's great for the individual, but devastating e.g. for Spain, which already has a devastating birth rate and financial troubles. Don't get me wrong, I did the same, but it needs to be pointed out that is bad for your country, culture and economy. Especially your family. Even though I know about all the issues with unemployment etc. Still... I live in Spain. If you want to work here you can if flexible (at least you could until the quarantine :-), and changing the country for the better isn't your grandparents' job, it's yours

[@身赤-w3w]

They wanted to make a documentary about tragedy but the poor countries were too far away 😂

[@bramak6784]

While I agree with your opinion, this is a plot and she is an actress... Why make the movie is a sound question... With all the mixed messages...

[@the_obvious8336]

I'm surprised the Guardian made this. and then shows it.

[@trollop_7]

They made it?

[@gwynjames2077]

The Grudgeon made this? The wind must be rapidly changing?

[@trollop_7]

@@gwynjames2077 They didn't make this.

[@user-fi1kn3oq4m]

@@gwynjames2077 They must have finally realized they've been on the wrong side of history.

[@ajNKaj]

the_obvious am wondering too if its same guardian as in paper

[@alejandrosotomartin9720]

I recognized at second 1. She is an actress. Nice try Guardian.

[@serphystus]

No puedes se más tonto

[@b.f.6254]

Love Europe but tear down the EU. The EU is rotting away the soul of European nation states.

[@brianbozo2447]

EEC was great , until it metamorphised into the EU and started to interfere with national sovereignty. The idea of for example being Lithuanian and deciding "I want to live in Spain" would have meant learning spanish, working with the spanish and living , paying taxes like the spanish if that is what a person wants. But you don't go to Spain and continue to live like a Lithuanian and continue to speak Lithuanian and hang out in Lithuanian bar, The whole point should be to culturally enrich each country not to dilute it. . She said 'Europe is a mafia" and they translate it as" Europa is a scam" which is hardly an accurate translation.

[@calvinjohnstone2664]

That rot is bone deep now. Nations need to cut themselves loose Fast.

[@itnotmeitu3896]

What was there before the EU exactly? Two massive and devisating wars which reshaped the entire planet, before that? Near constant war with neighbors and death. People like to forget that.

[@ikemaduekwe2968]

@@itnotmeitu3896 They orchestrated those wars to lead you into the EU and when you complain, they remind you of the "Near constant war with neighbors and death".

[@b.f.6254]

@@itnotmeitu3896 Is that all you know about Europe?

[@Muzakman37]

Rural Spain is beautiful and deeply rooted in tradition, but it''s dying. Villages are empty of anyone under 50, hence why the coronvirus has whipped through the villages & towns of Castilla like a wildfire. These villages are gorgeous, beautiful....but bereft of life. Everyone's a damn pensioner hobbling around on a stick. Anyone younger has effed off abroad or been drawn to Madrid/Barca/Costas for work, for anything. Spain's been hollowed out,and that's only sped up since the 2008 Crash, and we've seen this replicated across Eastern Europe (Hungary,Poland,Bulgaria,Baltic States,rural Italy,rural Greece etc). I'm not sure if this is an unfroseen consequence of the nature of the EU, and it might be growing Milan,& London,& Paris,& Barca,& Berlin but it's absolutely hammering the campos in disastrous fashion. They are literally dying. That said, rural America tells the same story & it's not in the EU. Something is catatrophically unbalanced in Western societies. I'm a Brit who lives in Madrid, I love Madrid deeply, but I love the entire region around it too, and the disparity between the two is clearly evident to me and I'm not a social scientist, which means eveyone knows this, everyone can see it. Yet we persist down this path. And still we wonder why far-right parties are on the rise in European countries. Vox has a ready-made pool of desprate rural folk here in Spain to tap into,and they're doing exactly that. They're only getting stronger and they're definitely not going away, especially now that Spain faces financial Armageddon even worse than what it endured the last 12 years. Europe sleepwalks into this sh*t and it's being replicated across the continent. I was always a fan of the ethos & idea of the EU, but I'm beginning to think the price is too high. This is just not the way to manage countries.

[@sahaiel]

I also live in Spain, grew up in the UK. I agree 100%!!!

[@namsardar]

Agree. Europe is a scam. But I suspect this documentary is designed to get people worked up about the failures of Europe so that when the same people propose a "One World Government" these poor folks agree in desperation, just to get out of where they are which as you say is already a result of walking this road to no future. Right wing parties all around the world are a fact as more people wake up to the real face of globalism and the UN Agenda 21.

[@Muzakman37]

@Vic Van Der Bang Well it's certainly a fact that Spain faces a demographic timebomb as bad as Japan if they don't do something. The population is just getting older and older and it's shrinking long term which is an existential threat to the existence of the country, although plenty of countries are facing the same issue this century so we'll see how govts seek to address it.

[@miriamwells35]

It’s the aftereffects of the far right’s actions. More of the same won’t resolve it.

[@miriamwells35]

It’s the aftereffects of the far right’s actions. More of the same won’t resolve it.

[@herjung346]

I love u Spain, your spirit is and has always been an inspiration to me and also much of my family. My parents took me there as a child on vacations and i traveled myself when i got older. A proud and wonderful people with amazing history. I wish to return after this pandemic if i may have the chance. Stay safe amigos. Love from Norway

[@ulimn4091]

❤

[@toddlavigne6441]

I gotta a feeling she may be upset with her boyfriend. She's correct he got scammed

[@pedrofmc0000]

This is not a real story...

[@YevOnegin]

Why would you hire an actress and write a script about the EU's problems instead of just interviewing somebody who actually believes it? These problems are not even country problems, they're what suburbanites think living in the country is like. All very strange.

[@francosworld5030]

Wake Up People - Get Rid of the EU - Millions would Visit Again if Countries were Countries - Not the EU!!! WTF

[@stream2watch]

670 million came from outside the EU to visit in 2019. The number increases with about 30 million every year. US tourism on the other hand is decreasing. year over year. Also, the EU is still made up for individual countries. You use triple exclamation marks when you write, and this seems to indicate that you have s**t for brains, so I doubt these incontrovertible facts get through to you.

[@stream2watch]

@Gary Dodgson It sounds like you haven't been to either. These EU members are full to the brim of national culture, some of that culture being protected by EU laws (PDO classifications for a start). I could write down 1000 unique features of either country from memory alone. From culinary specialities to sport. They sure are a lot more culturally vibrant than the UK or the US. But sure, have it your way. Real English Cyder will now be made in Missouri. See how that appeals to your palate.

[@francosworld5030]

@Gary Dodgson I agree with that 100% - I would Visit if that Happened!

[@stream2watch]

@@francosworld5030 Do you two have a competition in who can make the weakest argument? It's a tie so far.

[@sacroarte6462]

De picaresca española nada de nada,EEUU está plagado de sectas más destructivas y caraduras de lo que pueda ser la de los palmarianos y de españolas tienen bién poco,además la "iglesia palmariana" desde sus inicios fue formada por gente de todo el mundo,de hecho la inmensa mayoría de sus miembros son de fuera de España y el "papa" actual es suizo.

[@user-ku1np8bs8n]

Isn’t this performance art by one individual? Why did The Guardian title this “Spain: Europe is one big scam”?? That isn’t necessarily the view of most people in Spain as far as I know, it’s also not necessarily the view of the woman in the video as this could very well be a parody. I speak Spanish so I could pick up on that.

[@SageManeja]

This is so blatantly an actress that it hurts lmao, just say its fiction instead of fooling people

[@toy578]

Sage Maneja It’s does say that at the beginning

[@saucespicy5683]

Pablo's off to London to party and get minimum wage living in sharing accommodation with extortionate rents

[@Volgan16666]

London should be the absolute last place you go to look for your fortune. An over priced, over rated splatt hole.

[@gulagga371]

Not at all, he works for BP now, and bought nice house in Reading as well as farm near Santander. Letts it on Air B&B..

[@Sergio-fu7mv]

@@Volgan16666 facts! I have family who left Spain, and came to the US, and Mexico, and they’re doing so much better than my family back home. The UK is a 💩 hole. 👎🏼

[@Volgan16666]

@@Sergio-fu7mv it has become it I agree. Never used to be and now we have left the EU. I fear for the future.

[@alexverdigris9939]

The irony is that this actor is most likely an urbanite herself, who plays a piece that alludes to a romanticised, fictional notion of rural values, of a simpler but morally superior lifestyle, however it's rather implausible.

[@peterthomas2922]

The bit about organic matter and pH in soil was a particular giveaway: clearly not from the campo.

[@basbrush]

The Fallacy of the Romance of Poverty

[@lemdixon01]

People are leaving the cities for the small towns and more rural areas.

[@alexverdigris9939]

@@lemdixon01 Evidence?!

[@stream2watch]

This. A simple google search will tell you that she is not the real deal, and the writer of this piece is a resident of Madrid and New York. Which makes so many of the people commenting on this piece gullible fools.

[@oldlonewolf9649]

This is the SPAIN we polish love, keep your identity for all cost!!! You own it to Your Great ancestors. E Viva Espana

[@ricardopontes7177]

This is Andalusia, there other different identities and languages in the same country

[@oldlonewolf9649]

@@ricardopontes7177 so? diversity exists in Poland also, nontheles we have same base, I think Spain and other countries have the same pattern.

[@KIWI-un8fs]

por favor, cierra la boca y para la proxima hab la de lo que tienes idea, los pueblos en españa son un infierno, te quitan todas las ganas de vivir

[@aib0160]

This is what happens when you have monitory union between rich and poor nations. It doesn't work and has forced many to leave their homes to make a living in the richer countries which in turn creates resentment as it reduces pay as the economy gets flooded with cheap foreign labour. A lose - lose situation and all for somebody's failed political dream of utopia.

[@eugenechin2863]

@AIBO Better way would have been for Europe to unite as one but not use common currency. That way rich countries like Germany can help out smaller countries like Greece Spain due to the high value of the Deutsche Mark. But since everything is Euros, costs the rich countries a lot more money to help the little guy.

[@fitfiddlerz]

yes it is...one big slave colony

[@attilioterazzi6444]

UN MENSAJE MUY LINDO....y que vale tambien para nosotros italianos....ojalá que una Europa de pueblos pueda prevalecer sobre esta basura de Union Europea

[@robddickinson4217]

Given that the Guardian distorts and fabricates most of its editorial content, I suppose it's quite logical that it's output now encompasses the creation of fictional tales played by actors. It's much easier than employing proper journalists to go out and find real stories, something the Guardian hasn't done for a number of years now...

[@boomerrob9223]

This is clearly a production. I see no pretence of documentary or news. It is a drama. Plain and simple. If you interpret it differently you are being vexatious or you are stupid. ( Look up " vexatious")

[@trollop_7]

@@boomerrob9223 I looked up 'vexatious', and you're not using it appropriately.

[@Garcwyn]

This video is about the chain of thoughts behind the populist movements in Europe. Why people eventually vote and act out in a certain way that, at the very least, seems contradictory. From Brexit to Vox and everything in between. Vox btw is an extreme right-wing party that incidentally has made huge inroads in Andalucía. There is not much more to it. The actress (obviously one) says truths and half-truths to explain why she and her town has been left behind. The reality is that she has been left behind not by Spain, not by the EU, but by the system we all live in. The same situation can be found anywhere in the West. Including the USA. The video and the comments here portray what is at the root of all these issues. The sensemaking that we collectively have is completely broken. People in the UK voted Brexit to change things for better and yet not only they rejected Corbyn but voted the worst kind of Tories. The system is assumed to be functioning fine so the fault must be with the immigration, the “globalists”, or whatever flavour of the month is available by the mainstream media. It’s a sad state of affairs and we won’t solve until at least we all agree on what the problem really is. The undertone in the video is exactly the same you can find anywhere in deprived areas in Europe. “We are f***ed economically and existentially but don’t you dare to take from us our fiestas of the virgen de cualquier verga/sovereignty/Christian values/etc/etc.” A populist politician that is able to read into this can easily exploits the situation for his/her own benefit. As it has happened and will continue to happen.

[@andrewheffel3565]

She sets off warning bells in the back of my mind. She is an actor, not a real person.

[@edwardlansdowne291]

Uh..,yeah...said so right at the start.

[@buzifalus]

She is part of the sick west cultural appropriation, dehumanizing colonial invaders, what else?

[@Sergio-fu7mv]

@@buzifalus western? Spanish culture isn’t necessarily western. We have our own thing. Nice try though. 👌🏼

[@Souliban]

Andalucía is amazingly beautiful. But you don't have ALWAYS to show Spain like a big Andalucía. Do you know Valencia? Madrid, Galicia, Basque Country, Barcelona, Zaragoza,.etc...and their tradicions, culture, etc...?? It seems no

[@maxflight777]

To be fair to Pablo... unemployment in Spain for young people was 40% , after the, arguably misguided, response to the virus: It might be 80%.

[@nigelmoscrop9987]

You've got a beautiful place there , full of culture and beauty and pride !

[@pasrol]

@Jokolo money and gold cannot be eaten. We'll see what will happen in the next few months

[@TylerSolvestri]

"Pride" Lol only the old people

[@adalbertschwafel2587]

You all recognize that this is scripted, fictional, right?

[@berosmith9041]

This is a bit of a con. It's not as if Spanish people started emigrating when Spain joined the EU. They've been emigrating since 1936, first as refugees, then as poor immigrants, so really this girl/actress is living in a dream world. I would also like to know if some far-right political party is behind this documentary? In fact, it was only when Spain joined the EU that they began to emigrate as equals!

[@gunslinger1946]

Well said Paula, as a Brit. Living in your beautiful country you have to be loyal to your roots, you made the right decision to stay.Your family and friends are the most important thing in your life.

[@davidmedina5814]

Seems more like a Berlanga's Movie than the real Spain. Bu the way Spain is not only Andalucía, Andalucía is just the southern land of tbe 17 lands of Spain.I think people in UK don't know nothing about Spain.

[@frankw2900]

Not real. Could do only three minutes. The problems are very real.

[@pepemateugarcia1998]

Actress reading a script... Im spanish.

[@hoggarththewisesmeagol8362]

The Spanish are getting their heads out of the clouds for once

[@Biggles2498]

Out of the sand you mean ..there's plenty of it in Spain !

[@pedrofmc0000]

@@Biggles2498 It's funny what you say considering that Spain has the largest forest mass in Europe after Sweden (not counting Russia, of course). Of course much more than the United Kingdom.

[@gulagga371]

Ye, and getting Franco back.

[@hoggarththewisesmeagol8362]

Rodion Gulakov Franco wouldn’t have any truck with the EU!

[@Davidman3976]

@@gulagga371 Nope.

[@al3x]

This looks like an Almodóvar movie paid by Nigel Farage. That said scotish,welsh, english and irish also deserve to leave the UK farse. Catalans ,basques, castilians, andalusians Galicians and othe peoples in Spain also deserve to leave the spanish farse. France is a farse. Italy,Belgium,Germany..... Go gnostic my friend.

[@ColeSonMusic]

it looks like a much happier place where you are girl👍

[@cero815]

I know spain and I recognize some kind of authenticity. This woman she is playing is sympathetic but single minded, and she does not know the pH-value of the earth she is grabbing ;) Please, guardian don't animate other countries to repeat Britain's action, especially before whitnessing any long term results. Anyway, Britain never really was in the EU.