Citizendia

The Official Story

DVD cover
Directed byLuis Puenzo Jaoquin Calatayud
Produced byMarcelo Piñeyro
Written byAída Bortnik
Luis Puenzo
StarringHéctor Alterio
Norma Aleandro
Chunchuna Villafañe
Music byAtilio Stampone
Song:
María Elena Walsh
CinematographyFélix Monti
Editing byJuan Carlos Macías
Distributed byAlmi Pictures
Koch Lorber Films
Production Company:
Historias Cinematograficas
Release date(s)Argentina:
April 3, 1985
Canada:
September 13, 1985
United States:
November 8, 1985
Running time112 minutes
CountryArgentina
LanguageSpanish
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Official Story (Spanish: La historia oficial) (1985) is a Argentine drama film directed by Luis Puenzo and Jaoquin Calatayud and written by Puenzo and Aída Bortnik. Luis Adalberto Puezo (born February 19, 1946 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a Film director, producer and Screenplay Marcelo Piñeyro (born March 5, 1953 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an award-winning Film director, Screenwriter, and Aída Bortnik (born 1938 is an Argentine Screenwriter, nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film La historia oficial Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born September 21 1929 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine Theatre, Film and Television Norma Aleandro Robledo (born May 2 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Argentine Actress, born in Buenos Aires to María Elva 'Chunchuna' Villafañe (born April 9, 1940) is an Argentine Film and Television Actress, born in Buenos Aires María Elena Walsh (born February 1 1930 (age) in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine musician and writer known for her Félix Monti is an award-winning Argentine film Cinematographer. Juan Carlos Macías (born April 28, 1945) is an Argentine Film editor. Koch-Lorber Films, launched in February 2003 is an independent Film distributor and DVD label based in New York. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Events 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. A drama film is a Film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes Luis Adalberto Puezo (born February 19, 1946 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a Film director, producer and Screenplay Aída Bortnik (born 1938 is an Argentine Screenwriter, nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film La historia oficial It has also been released as The Official Version in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located [1][2]

The film features Norma Aleandro, Héctor Alterio, Brett Barocas among others. Norma Aleandro Robledo (born May 2 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Argentine Actress, born in Buenos Aires to María Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born September 21 1929 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine Theatre, Film and Television

The film is about a couple in Buenos Aires with an adopted child. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Adoption is the act of legally placing a child with a Parent or parents other than those to whom they were born The mother comes to realize that her daughter may be the child of a desaparecido, that is, a victim of the disappearances that occurred during Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s. A forced disappearance occurs when an organization forces a person to vanish from Public view either by Murder or by simple Sequestration. A forced disappearance occurs when an organization forces a person to vanish from Public view either by Murder or by simple Sequestration. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film.

Contents

Plot

This story, based on real events that took place in Argentina, looks at a married couple torn apart by the campaign of killings and torture that sent thousands of accused political leftists to unmarked graves in the mid 1970s known as the Dirty War. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film.

The story begins after Alicia (Norma Aleandro), a high school teacher and, Roberto (Héctor Alterio), a wealthy businessman, adopt a little girl named Gaby (Analia Castro). After five years have passed Alicia wonders about the parents of Gaby, a topic her husband has told her to forget as it was a condition of the adoption. Yet, he knows the ugly story of his daughter's adoption.

While hard to believe, Alicia, and others in Argentina, are not aware of how much killing and suffering has gone on in the country until the students that she teaches begin to complain that the "government approved" history books they read were written by government "assassins. "

At this time she also has a long conversation with Ana (Chunchuna Villafañe), an old friend, who had been in exile in Europe for seven years after she was tortured by paramilitary forces loyal to the brutal Argentine government for having lived with a so-called subversive. Elva 'Chunchuna' Villafañe (born April 9, 1940) is an Argentine Film and Television Actress, born in Buenos Aires Alicia begins to do some serious political and personal research on her own.

Alicia learns the identity of Gaby's grandmother (Chela Ruiz), who reveals the identity of the girl's dead parents. She finds out that her husband had a hand in the government's nasty repression and has intensive dealings with foreign business interests. At a family dinner Roberto Ibáñez has an intense political argument with his elderly father and brother where he espouses the political view-point of the conservative military ruling elite, and his father and brother argue from the side of social justice.

The film suggests that the old woman may not actually be Gaby's grandmother, and briefly explores the fact that Gaby's true family may never be known. This juxtaposition of fact and emotion are meant to evoke the mood of hope and hopelessness in reaction to a war environment.

The story ends tragically when Alicia confronts her husband. He wants her to forget about the past and look to the future. He becomes enraged and repeatedly slams her head into the wall. Alicia gets her keys to go get Gaby, and we are left to wonder if she will return to her marriage or take Gaby and live alone.

Background

Main article: Dirty War
Norma Aleandro, as Alicia, seeking the truth.
Norma Aleandro, as Alicia, seeking the truth. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film.

The film is based on the real political events that took place in Argentina after Jorge Rafael Videla's reactionary military junta assumed power in March 24, 1976. Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo (born August 21, 1925 in Mercedes Buenos Aires) was the dictator and President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981 Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. During the junta's rule, the parliament was suspended; unions, political parties and provincial governments were banned; and, in what became known as the Dirty War, between 9,000 and 30,000 people deemed left-wing "subversives" disappeared from society. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film. [3]

Like many progressive actors and others in the country, the lead actress in the film, Norma Aleandro, was forced into exile during this time. She traveled to Uruguay first and Spain later. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. She returned after the fall of the military government in 1983. [4] Aleandro once said, "Alicia's personal search is also my nation's search for the truth about our history. The film is positive in the way it demonstrates that she can change her life despite all she is losing. "[5]

The Official Story can be considered alongside a group of other films that were the first to be made in Argentina after the downfall in 1983 of the last Argentine dictator, General Galtieri, and his autocratic regime. Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli ( July 15, 1926 - January 12, 2003) was an Argentine general and President of Argentina These films deal frankly with the repression, the torture, and the disappearances during Argentina's Dirty War in the 1970s and early 1980s; they include Funny Little Dirty War (1983) and Night of the Pencils (1986). Funny Dirty Little War ( No habrá más penas ni olvido) ( 1983) is an Argentine Black comedy Film. Night of the Pencils ( La noche de los lápices) ( 1986) is a Argentine Drama film directed by Héctor Olivera and written A second group of films, which includes Verónico Cruz (1988) uses metaphor and hints at wider socio-political issues. Verónico Cruz ( Verónico Cruz La deuda interna) ( 1988) is an Argentine and British Drama film. [6][7]

Production

At first, director Puenzo, fearing for his safety, intended to shoot the film in secret, using hidden 16mm cameras. But the junta government fell right about the time the screenplay was completed. [8]

The film was entirely shot in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, including the Plaza de Mayo where the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo congregated in the late 1970s with signs and pictures of desaparecidos who were subjected to forced disappearance by the Argentine military in the Dirty War. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Plaza_de_la_Victoriapng|thumb|225px|1867 view of the Plaza de la Victoria The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo is an association of Argentine Mothers whose children " disappeared quot during A forced disappearance occurs when an organization forces a person to vanish from Public view either by Murder or by simple Sequestration. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film.

Cast

Chunchuna Villafañe and Norma Aleandro as Ana and Alicia.
Chunchuna Villafañe and Norma Aleandro as Ana and Alicia.

Critical reception

The film won many awards when first released and, as such, the drama was widely well received in the 1980s. Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born September 21 1929 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine Theatre, Film and Television Norma Aleandro Robledo (born May 2 1936) is an Academy Award -nominated Argentine Actress, born in Buenos Aires to María Elva 'Chunchuna' Villafañe (born April 9, 1940) is an Argentine Film and Television Actress, born in Buenos Aires Patricio Contreras (born December 15, 1947 in Santiago) is a Argentine - Chilean film actor husband of actress Leonor Manso Walter Goodman, film critic for The New York Times, believes the film was well balanced, and wrote, "Mr. Puenzo's film is unwaveringly committed to human rights, yet it imposes no ideology or doctrine. The further miracle is that this is the 39-year-old director's first feature film. "[9]

Critic Roger Ebert lauded the film in his film review, writing, "The Official Story is part polemic, part thriller, part tragedy. Roger Joseph Ebert (iːbɝt born June 18, 1942) is an American film critic and Screenwriter. It belongs on the list with films like Z, Missing and El Norte, which examine the human aspects of political unrest. Z is a 1969 French language political thriller directed by Costa Gavras, with a screenplay by Gavras and Jorge Semprún, based on Missing is a 1982 Film directed by Costa Gavras, starring Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Mayron, John It is a movie that asks some very hard questions. . . Alicia is played in the movie by Norma Aleandro, whose performance won the best actress award at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The Cannes Film Festival (le Festival de Cannes founded in 1946 is one of the world's oldest most influential and prestigious Film festivals alongside Venice, It is a performance that will be hard to forget, particularly since so much of it is internal. Some of the key moments in the film come as we watch Aleandro and realize what must be taking place inside her mind, and inside her conscience. Most political films play outside the countries that they are about; "The Official Story" is now actually playing in Argentina, where it must be almost unbearably painful for some of the members of its audiences. It was almost as painful for me. "[10]

Film critics Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, of the website Spirituality and Practice, were painfully touched by the story they viewed. They write, "The Official Story is a wrenching and painful drama that crystallizes the horror and the obscenity of political activities that annihilate family solidarity in the name of ideology. . . The Official Story packs a shattering visceral punch. "[11]

Critic Ken Hanke of the North Carolina Mountain Xpress finds fault with the story, which he felt at times played out like a soap opera, but argues that it is still close to being a textbook example of how to use a personal story to tell and illuminate a much larger view. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States The Mountain Xpress is a free alternative newspaper covering news arts local politics and events in Asheville and Western North Carolina. He believes that Alicia's political awakening is what gives the film "its strength and its resonance. "[12]

A few critics were dismissive of the story Puenzo tells. For example, The Chicago Reader's Dave Kehr thought "Puenzo's methods are so crudely manipulative. The Chicago Reader is an Alternative newsweekly in Chicago, Illinois, USA . . that the film quickly uses up the credit of its good intentions. "[13]

Currently, the film has a 100% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on nine reviews. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. [14]

Distribution

The Official Story first opened in Argentina on April 3, 1985. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) It has also been featured at various film festivals including the Toronto Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Mar del Plata Film Festival. The Toronto International Film Festival ( TIFF) is a publicly-attended Film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading Film festivals and most reputable media events held in Berlin The Cannes Film Festival (le Festival de Cannes founded in 1946 is one of the world's oldest most influential and prestigious Film festivals alongside Venice, The Mar del Plata International Film Festival ( Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata) is a prestigious international film festival that takes place every year during

Awards

Wins

Nominations

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Channel 4 film review. Maria Eugenia Sampallo (born on an unknown date in 1978 is an Argentinian known for being the first person to take a couple who illegally adopted her as a baby to court for
  2. ^ Time Out London. Time Out Film Guide 13, 2007.
  3. ^ The Vanished Gallery.
  4. ^ Curran, Daniel. Cinebooks: Foreign Films, McPherson's Publishing: 1989, page 132.
  5. ^ Blommers, Thomas J. "Social and Cultural Circularity in La historia oficial," California State University-Bakersfield. California State University Bakersfield (often abbreviated CSUB or shortened to CSU Bakersfield or Cal State Bakersfield) is a Public university
  6. ^ Cinergía movie file by Cristina Molano-Wendt, Amy Bianchi, Shannon Tierny, and Brian Sabella. For educational purposes.
  7. ^ new internationalist. Issue 192, February 1989.
  8. ^ Curran, Daniel. Ibid, page 133.
  9. ^ Goodman, Walter. The New York Times, "Argentine Love and Lost", November 8, 1985. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar)
  10. ^ Ebert, Roger. Chicago Sun-Times, film review, November 11, 1985. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Last accessed: January 8, 2008. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  11. ^ Brussat, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Spirituality and Practice, film review. Last accessed: January 8, 2008. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
  12. ^ Hanke, Ken. North Carolina Mountain Xpress, film review.
  13. ^ Kehr, Dave. The Chicago Reader, film review.
  14. ^ The Official Story at Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. Last accessed: January 8, 2008. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

External links


Preceded by
Dangerous Moves		Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
1985		Succeeded by
The Assault
Preceded by
A Passage to India		Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film
1986		Succeeded by
The Assault
Allmovie (previously All Movie Guide) is a commercial database of information about Movie stars movies and television shows. Cinenacionalcom is a Web portal and web -based Database about Argentine cinema. Dangerous Moves is a 1984 French language Film about Chess, directed by Richard Dembo and starring Michel Piccoli The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars handed out annually by the U The Assault ( De Aanslag) is a 1986 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Harry Mulisch. A Passage to India is a 1984 adventure - Drama film directed by David Lean, based on the novel of the same name by The Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the awards presented at the Golden Globes, an American film awards ceremony The Assault ( De Aanslag) is a 1986 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Harry Mulisch.
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