HORROR FAMILY

TERROR FAMILIAR

By Damian GALATEO

PEQUEÑA PRODUCTORA - as PROD

Documentary - Post-Production 2019

The story of Luis Alberto Galateo. A sporting glory, a tragedy and the family darkness in a docufiction in the key of terror

    • Year of production
    • 2019
    • Genres
    • Documentary, Horror, First film
    • Countries
    • ARGENTINA
    • Languages
    • SPANISH-ARGENTINE
    • Budget
    • N/A
    • Duration
    • 110 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Damian GALATEO
    • Writer(s)
    • Damian GALATEO
    • Producer(s)
    • Damian GALATEO (Testacine), Hugo CREXELL (pequeña productora)
    • Synopsis
    • Alberto Luis Galateo, my grandfather, is the central axis of the story. He's not just any man. Ever since I was a kid I've heard his name every time a World Cup came around. It was in the second World Cup, Italy 1934, playing against Sweden, a match we lost 3 to 2, where my grandfather scored his only goal with the national team's shirt.
      As time went by I discovered secrets of his life that were kept hidden. He died in 1961, just days before his 50th birthday. But it wasn't a normal death either. In fact, it was a murder.
      When I was 12 years old I discovered that the one who had killed him was none other than my uncle. I mean, it was a patricide.
      My grandfather began his football career in 1930 in Colón de Santa Fe, he was inside left (what is known today as number 10) was engaged to the daughter of the club's president and, according to the newspapers of the time, he received a sum of money to go and play for the rival team, Unión. That's how he left his old girlfriend and started his career in tatengue.
      Then, came the World Cup to which only amateur players went. On his return, he reached an agreement with Huracán club from the Federal Capital, where he played until 1937 to continue playing for clubs such as Racing, Chacarita, Sportivo Candioti; until he finished his career at Colegiales in 1944.
      In 1936 he married my grandmother Fortunata M. Bongiovanni. They settled in her family's house, in the town of Saenz Pena, Province of Buenos Aires. They have three children. The eldest, David José Galateo. The middle daughter, my aunt Susana Luisa Galateo and the youngest, my father, Luis Alberto Galateo. My grandfather, once he retired from football, started working as a cabinetmaker.
      According to family members, neighbours and acquaintances, my grandfather was a violent and jealous person. He abused drink and when he returned home he beat his wife and three children. In fact, he was suspended from several clubs because of his addiction.
      One Sunday afternoon in February, my grandfather came home drunk and tried to beat his wife again. My uncle, then 20 years old, tired of the blows, tries to defend his mother and pulls out a 38 revolver, firing three shots at his father.
      The Clarín newspaper, the day after, portrays him in this way (see photographic section):
      Date: Buenos Aires, Monday 27th February 1961
      Headline: Tragic end for an exceptional player: Alberto L. Galateo
      Headline: Tragic end had yesterday in the locality of Saenz Pena, the outstanding footballer of Santa Fe, of the "golden age", Alberto Luis Galateo. For family reasons, his son David José killed him with three shots, one of which killed him instantly. The parricide used a 38 caliber, short revolver.

      Family terror, is not only the story of my family and its redemption but an attempt to understand a society that for a long time inculcated the values of the strongest, of macho violence and the exaltation of personal glory above all.