The River of the Painted Birds

The life of a seal is pretty unfair. During mating season, the strong ones take ten females each, nine males stay without a partner. This wildlife comedy observes a colony of seals and tells the story of one of them: We follow him through the crude beauty of birth, being fed by his mother, and being pushed away when the next new-born is due. His adolescent fight to define his place in life - and finally his efforts during mating season. Fresh, funny and with entertaining narration, the film switches from the sex life of seals to our own manners of courtship and mating. Isn't our life all about reproducing ourselves? What does us humans divide from mammals when it comes to love, sex and reproduction? Aren't we all seals after all...?

Today we know that Uruguay is not only a gently undulating peneplain, in this country different ecosystems are found; species from the Pampas, the Atlantic Forest and the Chaco Forest come face to face, giving rise to unexpected scenes.

This documentary takes us to the three most important festivals of the year in Aceguá, and thus tells the story of the town. It sits on the border between Uruguay and Brazil, but it is on an imaginary line as this is a dry border as there is no river or stream to mark the boundary. We meet the characters, we watch their activities and we are introduced to their customs.