Argentina, 1985

A courtroom drama with a committed, awards-worthy performance from Ricardo Darin, this tense, lengthy, frequently funny film stands with the best of the genre, but with added resonance.

Argentina, 1985 doesn’t break new ground within the genre, but it’s a fascinating re-enactment of a major historical moment in Argentinian history. Anchored by a beautifully curmudgeon performance by Darín, Mitra’s film is understated, compelling, and ultimately an important rumination on the incremental way that justice is served.

This may be an offbeat and textured snapshot of history, but it still holds at its core cold anger on behalf of the dictatorship’s victims and interest in how the people will receive updates about their future.

That Argentina, 1985 managed to toggle between such emotionally raw material and more amped-up, tension-driven subplots — as Strassera and his family weather death threats and cars explode in public squares — without seeming callous or dramatically opportunistic is a credit to Mitre, whose grasp on his story is high-key and emotionally immediate, but never glib.

Argentina, 1985 earns its gravitas from the gripping testimony of those who survived kidnapping, or who witnessed it. And while the closing argument might not be “To Kill a Mockingbird” poetic, it is blunt and moving.

Cinema prizes a good man making history, but this story’s heroes are manifold.

For a film about the crimes of a fascist military dictatorship that employed mass torture, rape, kidnapping, and murder as weapons of social control, Argentina, 1985 sure goes down smooth.

Argentina, 1985 is a film set during the years 1984 and 1985, a period when democracy was restored in Argentina after a long dictatorship. The story revolves around the prosecuting team of the military dictatorship, led by Julio Strassera and Luis Ocampo, along with their young legal assistants, as they work to bring the military dictatorship of the 1970s to justice. The team uncovers hundreds of witnesses to crimes against humanity, some of whose harrowing testimonies are relayed in court. While the filmmaker cannot cover all the cases, one case is given significant attention, providing a sobering and disturbing account. The director skilfully captures the power of the testimony, with reaction shots revealing the emotional impact on those present. The court scenes dominate the second half of the film, while the first half focuses on events outside the courtroom, including the personal lives of Strassera's family and the potential dangers they face due to the nature of the case. Strassera is such a laid-back yet involved personality that is infectious to watch. His quite comfortable homelife with wife and daughter, is off-set with the danger inherent in the case, and a daughter who is a little off-the-rails, causing Strassera concern, not only for her personally, but that she may become a target of enemies. Although the film has a subtle burn, it carries a significant gravitas throughout. The cinematography is captivating, enhancing the overall impact of the proceedings though someone may complain it looks too nice. From a censor's perspective, the film includes scenes of smoking, references to violence involving the Junta, brief coarse language, and a mention of a young woman ending a relationship with a married man. However, these elements pale in comparison to the overall effect of the film, which is positive. Ricardo Darin's portrayal of the chief prosecutor is compelling, making his character a definitive presence in the film. His closing statement in court adds depth to his role, revealing his character’s ‘true self’. The score is memorable, and despite a potentially jarring narrative structure at one point, Argentina, 1985 delivers an outstanding cinematic experience from 2022. The film concludes with a judicious verdict, followed by historical facts about the fate of the members of the military government that ruled by dictatorship during the 1970s. From a Christian perspective, the film emphasizes obtaining justice for victims through a clear right and wrong framework. It highlights the importance of accountability for wrongdoings and bringing the truth to light for all to see. While the film does not delve into rehabilitation and reconciliation, it ends on a powerful note, showcasing the triumph of justice over evil.

Um retrato ao mesmo tempo pesado e leve (a figura do filho do promotor por exemplo), pra tentar equilibrar esse pesadelo que é uma ditadura e estar rodeado de fascistas. Qualquer semelhança entre o Brasil não é mera coincidência, embora por aqui dificilmente os militares ainda irão sofrer algo do tipo.

Un testimonio histórico que pondría sobre la mesa que nunca es **** para buscar la verdad y hacer justicia ante un crimen contra la humanidad, donde quiera que ocurra. Aunque de manera gradual, la trama se vuelve absorbente, que es justo lo que importa al espectador.

'Argentina, 1985' is a testament to historical memory. I am not Argentine nor do I feel like a patriot, but boy was I moved by the story of Julio Strassera and his legal team; the love they feel for their country is only matched by the outrages of those they face. With a tremendous Ricardo Darín — the final argument of his character should be enough to give him an Oscar nomination —, Santiago Mitre does not need great resources to keep the viewer attentive; instead, the director appeals to the classical elements and the excellent performances of his cast to recreate one of the most important moments in contemporary Argentine history. Here is one of the next nominees for Best International Film at the Oscars.

(Mauro Lanari) "¡Nunca más!", Spanish for "Never again!". It is at least suspicious that Amazon produces a film against one of the South American dictatorships, in fact in the West the debate on the failure of democracy (which begun recently: from a couple of Plato's books) has gradually transformed into unfinished democracy, post-democracy and finally democraship: just as cruel, bloody and cowardly as what it purported to replace, but with different methods. It had already happened in the mentioned Nuremberg trial: history rewritten and judged by the winners, and it is just one of the countless cases. I leave you the honor and burden of identifying the most recent or current ones.