Julio Torres, Fantasmas, “The Little Ones” (S01E05, 2024)

“In Episode 5 of HBO’s recent TV series Fantasmas, created, directed and written by Julio Torres, who also stars in it, the protagonist Julio grapples with the surreal requirement of obtaining ‘Proof of Existence,’ a governmental document that proves one’s existence. In his quest to secure this document, Julio aims to become an ‘Exception’ by working on a creative project for a TV network.

“The episode opens with Julio on the phone with his talent agent, Vanesja, developing a screenplay idea he plans to pitch to a broadcaster. His story revolves around a dolphin that gets stuck ‘in a canal in South Brooklyn’ and ultimately dies. The dolphin’s plight is exacerbated by a bureaucratic conflict between environmental regulations and local administrative permits to operate in the area, making it impossible for anyone to rescue it.

“As Julio recounts the tale to Vanesja, the viewer follows the story on screen through an animated sequence. In such visuals, when the dolphin reaches the canal and gets stuck in it, a written sign appears with the famous inscription from Dante’s Inferno 3.9 (‘Abandon all hope ye who enter’), which both anticipates the dolphin’s end and contributes to the sense of dark comedy and absurdity the series frequently evokes.”    —Contributor Dario Galassini

Above is an image of the animated sequence, captured via screenshot by contributor Dario Galassini.

Contributed by Dario Galassini