All images courtesy of Malena MartinezEmpty Sneakers Dance in a Stop-Motion Film Honoring the 20th Anniversary of a Buenos Aires TragedyJanuary 14, 2025AnimationHistoryKate MothesIn late December 2004, at the Republica de la Cromagon nightclub in Buenos Aires, more than 4,000 fans gathered for a performance by the rock band Los Callejeros. The space was well over the clubs capacity of 1,500, while a number of routes were padlocked or blocked to prevent people from entering without paying.When a fan shot a flare into the airsomething Argentinian fans regularly do at large eventsthe pyrotechnic ignited the interiors decor, comprised predominantly of highly flammable materials like styrofoam. The building erupted in a blaze that claimed 194 lives and injured nearly 1,500 more. With few available escape routes, little to no fire mitigation systems, and a packed club, pandemonium broke out at Cromagon.The fire quickly turned into one of the most devastating tragedies in Argentinian history. To mark 20 years since the disaster, a stop-motion short titled LONA poignantly memorializes the communitys loss. The title refers to canvas, like sneakers, and Malena Martinez directed and animated the film.Focusing on pairs of shoes that dance to cheerful music, the work evokes joyful gatherings with friends to let loose and enjoy a concert. As the camaraderie continues, flowers begin to sprout from inside each sneaker, blossoming into a vibrant reminder of the lives lost in the fire.Next article