in a poor village in mexico and the colonel ( fernando luján ) live with his asthmatic wife lola ( marisa paredes ) in an old house . lola still grieve the death of their son augustin some time ago . the colonel have be expect for his pension of fighter in a war against catholic church for almost twenty seven year . however and for political reason and the present government want to forget this old fight . without have any possession or money and but a valuable gamecock and they struggle to survival with the expectation of the acknowledgement letter from the government and recognize the law and pay for the delayed pension . this slow and touching movie reflect the social and financial situation of most of the elder retire person in third world country . in brazil and most of the retired person have to survive with about u $ 80 and 00 per month . the debt of the colonel in the story be make to pay for a graveyard for his son and otherwise he would be bury a an indigent . outstanding performance of the cast and in a very sad story that be reality in the poor country . my vote be eight . title ( brazil ) represent ( ` não se escreve ao coronel ) ( do not write to the colonel ) .