Heartbreak And Joy In Buenos Aires
Federico Peretti, Argentina
I’m Federico Peretti, photographer, director and film editor from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I started to work in cinema 18 years ago when I was 20, though I’ve studied journalism and literature. At age of 26 I borrowed from my little sister a Kiev 19, a Ukrainian film camera similar to Nikon. I started to take analogue photos and also bought a Canon Rebel XTi, my first digital camera. At that time I also started to shot short films, most of them in Super 8mm. I work editing films and adverts. From that time that was my life, I can’t decide if I’m a film director, editor or photographer. On my website you can see all three worlds.
Who is in the photos? Where were the photos taken?
Those photos were taken in the playoff final between Excursionistas and Villa San Carlos. It was the second game. San Carlos won 3-2 in Berisso and in this match Excursionistas won 1-0 and they went to penalties, where Villa San Carlos won 4-3. The Stadium El Coliseo del Bajo was full with 5,500 Excursio fans. In this division they are allowed to enter into the ground 2 hours before the match and they are not afraid to climb the fence to put up their flags.
Club Atlético Excursionistas is an Argentine football club based in the Belgrano neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The squad currently plays in the Primera C, the forth level of the Argentine football league system. It is a very humble club, which has spent most of its life in the fourth tier.
In this match they lost the playoff final against the team from Berisso City to get promoted to Primera B Metropolitana, the third Division. Another year in the fourth tier. Nahuel Arias was crying in the center of the pitch. He missed the last penalty.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I tried to reflect this El otro football world that I started to portray in 2009. It allows people to have a look at the lower division football in Argentina – a nice atmosphere at a very small club, and an important game (but in the 4th division). The club is also beautiful, with a petite English style entrance some blocks away from the huge River Plate Monumental.
What is your favourite photo?
Matías Budiño, the goalkeeper of Excursio, was crying after they lost 4-3 on penalties and Villa San Carlos scored the last penalty. Even though it was very dark, that photo is powerful. We are very close to the keeper. While other photographers went with the winners, I kept telling my story with the local side, event when they were defeated.
What does football mean to you?
It is difficult to say now. I’m a big fan, it changed a lot in the last ten years. Now I can’t think of football without thinking of documenting it - video, photos, text. I need to express myself and have a different look at this world.
I directed El otro fútbol in 2019, after three years of shooting lower league football from all Argentine divisions. I went to 300 matches to make the El otro fútbol film. It was screened in cinemas and many festivals around the world. It was a nice project, which also had a book of analogue photos that I took with that Kiev 19 camera. From that time I started to mix photography and video, trying to have a different look about football. This spot about Atlanta reflects that.
Why is football so important for Argentina and its people?
Argentina, it’s a very difficult country, nice but difficult. Football let’s you be in another place, away from the problems you have everyday. It is a place to be with your friends, not only during the match, but before, eating Asado and drinking some wine.
What is the future for Argentine football?
Corruption is everywhere, and it is difficult to build a future out of it.
