El Movimiento de Trabajadores Desocupados (Unemployed Worker's Movement) is one of the most interesting stories about the relationship between labor and capital anywhere in the world. The workers occupied and restored abandoned buildings during the Argentine economic collapse of 2000 - 2001. Bartering with the surrounding communities, relying on their own hard work and ingenuity, the worker's were, over time, able to create thriving bakeries, book binderies and even a tourist hotel in the buildings they had occupied and restored. Now that Argentina is booming and property values have skyrocketed, property owners are demanding their buildings back. But the workers are fighting back, and a special government commission has been formed to mediate.

This nationwide workers' movement is unofficially headquartered in the worker operated Hotel Bauen , ironically located in Recoleta, Buenos Aires wealthiest barrio. Workers have operated the hotel successfully and profitably for seven years.

We are going inside this movement and the unique businesses it has spawned. We will talk to movement leaders and explore the underlying legal and political issues and the possible implications for labor and capital worldwide. We will also introduce our audience to La Matanza, a highly successful worker owned bakery in Buenos Aires. And we will of course interview property owners to compare the viewpoints of both labor and capital.

It is mothers and daughters (madres e hijas) who carry and keep lit the life affirming flame from generation to generation. Their stories are to a considerable extent America's story. We are in the early stages of production now filming four families of mothers and daughters, two of whom are three generations deep.

These beautiful women were picked because they have unique stories or family histories, including a mother in Buenos Aires (see images at right) who as a child knew the young actress Evita and who vehemently disagrees with her daughter about Evita's legacy.

The mother is anti-Peronista. The daughter has married a lifelong Peronista activist. But the bonds of family far outweigh the divisions of politics, and both madre e hija are now united in their love for their newest hija, five year old Maria, who is more conversant with the legacy of Homer Simpson than Eva Peron!

This is a Pan American Dreams series that will be filmed in every nation to which we travel for the duration of the project.

See this Journal entry:  Evita