The video by @gianlucapugliesee, viewed by over 100 million people, is bringing tears to the eyes of the world. This is the heartbreaking moment he says goodbye to his grandmother before leaving for Spain in search of work.
In recent days, a video has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, becoming one of the most viral—and also one of the saddest—videos we’ve seen in a long time. With over 100 million views, this homemade recording doesn’t feature elaborate effects or sophisticated productions. What it shows is something much more powerful: a human, raw, and deeply emotional moment.
The protagonist is Gianluca Pugliese, a young Argentinian who decided to capture one of the most difficult moments of his life: saying goodbye to his grandmother, shortly before leaving for Spain in search of a better future. With his heart in his hand, he tells her, “On Sunday I’m leaving for Spain, to work for many months, to make money. This country can’t afford any more,” while trying to hold the emotion in his voice. Then, he tenderly asks, “Are you going to wait for me?”
His grandmother, visibly moved, cannot hold back her tears. She hugs him tightly and replies, “I hope to see you again, if God gives me life.”
The scene becomes even more heartbreaking when the woman, between sobs, confesses, “I’m going to miss you.” Gianluca kisses her gently, trying to calm her, but she, broken with grief, insists, “Are you going to wait for me? Everyone will take care of you.” To which she adds, her voice breaking, “The only one who takes good care of me is you.” Gianluca, unable to hide his sadness, promises her, “I’ll come back.”
In the video’s description, Gianluca explains why he decided to share such an intimate moment: “I recorded it just to remember it by. I wasn’t planning on uploading it, but I think it shows exactly how I feel today: scared, sad, happy, anxious, uncertain about what my future will be like. But also knowing that growing up means leaving your comfort zone.”
And he concludes with a heartbreaking phrase: “The only thing I hope for is to be able to give you a kiss and a hug again.”
The video not only went viral, but also sparked an avalanche of collective emotions. It has received more than 500,000 comments, many of them from completely moved people, pleading with him not to leave, to stay with his grandmother, saying that money is worth nothing more than time.
One of the most repeated comments reads: “I need you to stay and enjoy having her until the last day of her life. I swear we’ll give you money. Do it for all of us who no longer have our grandparents.”
