Heroic Losers 2019

Plan to reopen the agricultural cooperative

Fermín Perlassi, his wife Lidia, and their ally Antonio Fontana propose reopening the bankrupt agricultural cooperative. They estimate that about 300,000 dollars are needed to cover initial costs and recruit local supporters to chip in. Rolo Belaúnde, the Gómez brothers, Medina, and Carmen Lorgio pledge contributions, signaling a town-wide effort to revive the venture.

Seed money collected and deposited

The group accumulates 158,653 dollars in seed money and Fermín deposits the funds in the bank vault in Villagrán as the starting capital. The deposit marks a concrete step toward financing the cooperative's reopening but leaves a large funding gap. Tension rises as the remaining investment gap remains.

Bank manager's manipulation

A few days after the deposit, Alvarado, the bank manager, summons Fermín and manipulates him into depositing the money into his own account. Fermín complies, trusting the bank as he heads back toward Alsina. The betrayal foreshadows a larger financial storm.

Currency crisis and fraud revealed

Shortly after, the government freezes every dollar-denominated account in Argentina. Alvarado's prior actions gain him leverage as Fortunato Manzi converts a loan to dollars and withdraws all of Fermín's deposited funds. The stolen money vanishes from Fermín's control.

The accident and loss

Fermín and Lidia confront Alvarado, but their appeals go nowhere. On the return trip, their car is run off the road by a truck, leading to Lidia's death and Fermín's serious injuries. The tragedy marks a turning point for the community and Fermín personally.

A year later: planning to reclaim the funds

One year later, Manzi hires a construction worker to dig a 9-square-meter hole in a rural area, convinced it will serve as a burial vault for the dollars. Belaúnde, Fontana, Fermín, his son Rodrigo, Medina, the Gómez brothers, Carmen, and her son Hernán reunite and decide to crack the vault. Their plan is fueled by desperation and the desire to restart the cooperative.

The alarm around the vault

Manzi has installed an impenetrable alarm device around the vault, and the group revisits a scene from How to Steal a Million for inspiration. The crew tests the system and grows more confident that the vault can be breached. Tension builds as the security features prove formidable.

Power manipulation begins

Fermín and Fontana map the local power lines and install a junction box to manipulate the electrical supply. They repeatedly cut and restore power to trigger the alarm multiple times a day, wearing down the system. Manzi eventually disconnects the battery, hoping to neutralize the alarms during the break-in.

Florencia discovers Rodrigo’s deception

Florencia, Manzi's secretary, realizes Rodrigo is not a gardener. She confronts him, and Rodrigo confesses their plans to her, aided by her distrust of Manzi. Trust rekindles among the group as they decide to press on with the plan despite the risk.

The heist night

That night, Belaúnde and Medina destroy the local power generator to plunge the area into blackout. Fermín, Rodrigo, and Hernán break into the vault as the lights fail, and they retrieve the money. Manzi arrives, but his car gets stuck in a mud barricade laid by Fontana, forcing him to retreat as the group escapes with the cash.

The immediate aftermath

The next day, Fermín consoles Carmen as Hernán has fled with nearly two million dollars. The group decides to use the windfall to reopen the cooperative, promising a better life for Alsina's residents. The town begins to sense a new chapter on the horizon.

New beginnings and personal ties

Rodrigo and Florencia marry, cementing their role in the scheme's aftermath. Fermín also experiences a personal milestone as he welcomes a grandchild, signaling a fragile but hopeful future for the town. The cooperative's reopening marks a tangible, if uneasy, victory.