Thankful. Johnny did not stop thanking the people for the reception they gave him during his visit to Silver. “This is a moment that will remain engraved in my mind forever,” he said from the municipal balcony. /Evan Campos
Standing on the balcony of the Golden City Hall, where the cathedral frames the spring sunset, Johnny Depp spoke yesterday to a crowd of people from La Plata who, with photos, posters and costumes that remained spotless despite the heat, chanted his name and cheered him on. “This is a moment that will remain etched in my mind forever,” he gave them excitedly, holding their hands as a sign of prayer, and after thanking them for this expression of love: “You saved me.”
Those words, which sounded truly sincere from the mouth of a global star who has been singled out and rejected by Hollywood in recent years, came just minutes after the Mayor of La Plata, Julio Alack, recognized him. “In front of thousands of witnesses who celebrate your work, I have the honor to present to you the certificate that distinguishes you as a brilliant visitor to the city of La Plata and the key to the city,” the president dedicated to him.
A crowd of people. Since noon, regardless of the heat of the day, Johnny Depp’s fans have flocked to the vicinity of the Municipal Palace to wait for him to emerge from the balcony / Evan Campos
“I’d like to know what goes first,” the Pirates of the Caribbean hero joked, seeming excited by the distinction. Despite his seriousness, he went on to say: “Thank you very much for this tremendous privilege and honor. The people here are very friendly. They gave me a beautiful welcome. The place, the culture and all of this for me is a goldmine. It is truly something priceless.”
Dressed in jeans, a plaid shirt, scarves (one tied around his neck and one in his pants), sunglasses, a hat and what appeared to be his favorite leather jacket, Johnny was friendly and approachable, even making jokes on more than one occasion, such as when he said he knew Spanish but wouldn’t speak it because he was “nervous” or when a fan shouted “I love you” and he responded with “Yes!”, causing general laughter.
“What does it open?” Mayor Julio Alaque presented the key to the city to Johnny Depp, who joked after thanking him: “I’d like to know what opens it.” / MLP
On stage, the director, musician and visual artist was also in good company: he was supported by the great Riccardo Scamarcio, one of the most famous and talented actors in Italy and the hero of the film he came to present to the country: “Modigliani, Three Days in Montparnasse”. The Italian translator, in his presentation, apologized for his Spanish but spoke it better than many of the natives: “It is a great honor to be here. I am very happy and very honored to be with you in this wonderful city.”
At the end of the event, which filled the place with officials (there were deputies, councillors, municipal officials and figures of national culture) and guests (among many family members and friends, Rocambol’s presence stood out), Johnny walked towards the balcony. He did so slowly, pausing before asking for photos and autographs from approved attendees, and preparing to end the long wait — the event was supposed to start at 5 p.m. But he was late for about an hour – among the hundreds of fans who had been waiting for him since noon near the entrances to the municipal palace.
A star on Earth. With the humility of the greats, Johnny Depp would stop whenever he could to fulfill the requests of his followers: he would sign autographs, take pictures, and hug / Evan Campos
A long and colorful wait
Not even the high temperatures could overcome the enthusiasm of the fans who added a touch of color to the day. With photos, posters and costumes of Depp’s most famous characters – from The Mad Hatter to Captain Sparrow – hundreds of the Hollywood star’s followers wanted to honor their idol’s arrival “home”. But the event wasn’t just for locals. Although the residents of La Plata had the advantage, there were many followers who came from different parts of the country, and even further afield: among the hundreds of stories that painted the colorful frame of an unusual Wednesday in the city, stories of those who came from other countries, such as Brazil and Colombia, stood out. Even though it was only a few minutes, it was worth it. The greetings from the balcony and the exchanges the actor had with different people when entering and leaving the palace will be treasured forever.
Lots of colours. Two fans dress up as characters from the movie “Alice in Wonderland”, played by Johnny Hat/J. Calvillo
Those who chose to wait for him at Passaje d’Ardo Rocha were not as lucky: although their tour of the renovated arts center was scheduled, it was finally canceled at the last minute. The disappointment of the fans, who had dominated the area around Piazza San Martin from the start, was strong.
The final activities took place in the Podesta Amphitheater (starting three hours late) with the artists giving a masterclass (see page 16), before giving way to the premiere of Modillanie, Three Days in Montparnasse.
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