by Federico Veiroj
“You need cinematica – cinematica needs you”, is the last cry for help sent by Jorge over Montevideo’s Radio Capital. He runs the Cinematica together with Martinez, its director. But the fate of the film archive’s screening venue has been determined. The sponsors have concluded that non-profit culture is not worth supporting and with this conclusion goes Jorge’s livelihood. In his mid-forties and still living with his parents, Jorge has spent the past 25 years working in the film archive and is now left dangling on the edge of nothing. The world around him, however, continues as if nothing has happened. LA VIDA ÚTIL records in poetic black and white images Jorge’s attempts at adapting to these new conditions.