User Reviews

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.

A successful legal drama that deals with the investigation of the crimes of the Argentine military junta (1976-1983). In his film, Santiago Mitre depicts the complex hurdles that must be overcome for such a trial. From the failed attempt to initially entrust the prosecution to the military courts, to the doubts and fears of the team led by prosecutor Julio Strassera, to the attempted influence of official bodies, to the threats against the prosecutor's office, to the extensive research in the search for the truth, to the shadows of the past, and to the unsatisfactory outcome from the prosecutor's perspective. It is a film that prevents us from forgetting and that clearly demonstrates how important such a trial is for the victims and a tortured people. Well worth seeing.

Argentina, 1985 is a film that serves as a testimony of those years of dictatorship in Argentina. I think that if you are not argentine and you understand the context in which the film takes place, it's very dificult for you to understand it; but beyond that, the film although it's well constructed historically and has good performances, falls a bit into that Hollywood emotion and you think that the film could have given more.

(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.

It's a great movie based on one of the most important trials of the 20th century. I'm not sure if people outside Argentina will understand every aspect of the film.

Argentina, 1985 é muito bonito e emocionante. Mostra como os Arentinos lidaram com os militares que cometeram inúmeros crimes contra a humanidade. Infelizmente, no Brasil até hoje nada foi feito.

A well-paced court film with great acting and great editing. Of course, we should not skip the design of the film's sets and costumes. In general, the movie was exciting at the right time and made you feel and even made you doubt your beliefs. I hope that one day such a court will be held in Iran

Seeking justice is certainly a noble pursuit, especially when the transgressions calling for it have been particularly egregious. But it can also become a rather precarious undertaking when conducted under conditions that carry potentially serious consequences, such as retribution, vocational ruin and even death threats. So it was in Argentina in the mid 1980s, when the newly restored democratic government sought to prosecute military and civic officials from the previous regime for crimes against humanity, including kidnapping, torture, **** and genocide. These allegations were leveled against authorities who viciously and gratuitously violated their mandates in seeking out possible insurgents, essentially establishing a fascist police state in which suspicions were elevated to a grotesquely exaggerated level, one that was pervasively sadistic and brutal, affected countless individuals, and spanned the entire country for a decade. But the prosecutors appointed to carry out this task were reluctant to take it on given the possible ramifications they could face and the tight time frame under which they would be working. Still, there was justice to be had, and its fulfillment was crucial to fostering a stable future for the new Argentinian republic, especially given the extent of the harm and need for the nation to heal. Writer-director Santiago Mitre’s latest presents a thorough, capably told account of this courageous venture, with a solid screenplay and fine performances that effectively depict the dangers, ironies and nuances involved in this tightrope-like endeavor, as well as the personal impact on its principal figures. The film could stand a little tightening in spots, and some of the background music doesn’t always fit. But, in all, this is an engaging, attention-grabbing project that successfully avoids legal jargon and excessively detailed political considerations while revealing much about one of the most compelling judicial proceedings since Nuremburg, one that, unfortunately, reiterates the same cautionary message to have come out of that landmark event – “Never again.”

THE GOOD: Narrates a truly powerful historical event, accompanied by great performances, humour and emotion. THE BAD: Although appreciating good humour I had some tonal issues every now and then. In terms of visuals and storytelling, Argentina 1985 bring nothing new to the genre.

The basis of the trial is merely functional. Not that it is poorly made, but by no means exceptional, what is important in this case and with good reason is the story it examines. Sad and tiresome, but the harsh realities of dictatorships will always be a tremendous stain on any nation that has endured them, and those that unfortunately suffer from them today. Ricardo Darín is exceptional as always.

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.