The Bitter Stems is a 1956 Argentine film directed by Fernando Ayala. The story centers around José Campanela, a washed-up reporter who is struggling to find work in Buenos Aires. In order to make ends meet, he teams up with a Hungarian immigrant named Eliseo Montalbán to create a fake journalism school called "The School of Correspondence Writers."
The two men design a curriculum and advertise the school in the local papers. They attract a number of students who are eager to learn the ins and outs of journalism. However, the school is a complete sham, and neither man has any real expertise in the field.
Despite their lack of actual knowledge, Campanela and Montalbán manage to teach their students the basics of journalism and help them land writing jobs. However, their scam is eventually discovered, and they are forced to flee the country.
The film is notable for its portrayal of Buenos Aires in the 1950s, as well as for its exploration of the themes of poverty, desperation, and opportunism. It also features strong performances from its lead actors, Francisco Petrone and Juana Sujo.
