Synopsis

1976. Ten year old “Harry’s” ordinary life of school, board games, watching television and playing with friends is violently disrupted when his father, a lawyer, and his mother a university professor have to flee from the brutality of the Argentinean military dictatorship. Abruptly they take “Harry” and his younger brother out of school and hide in a house on the outskirts of the city. They are forced to take new names and Harry chooses the name of his idol – Houdini, the Escape Artist. Harry will deal with the inescapable realities of his life by emulating his idol. In the wrenching contradictions of their situation, the boys find a tender and intense closeness with their parents that they might never have had in their “normal” lives. But, of course, escape from the regime’s brutality is impossible. As Harry’s parents are hunted down they must make the agonizing decision to leave their children with their grandparents. Before the inevitable moment of farewell comes, Harry and his father play Harry’s favourite game – TEG (Tactics and Strategies for War). The father teaches his son a final secret – the secret of Kamchatka – that will help Harry to hold out and be strong during his parents’ absence.