Nope, three more Internationals to go (and four documentaries).
The lucky film is Argentina, 1985, the represented country should be obvious. Santiago Mitre's courtroom drama won the corresponding Golden Globe, and it could win if all goes quiet with All Quiet on the Western Front's chances. Let's see how it is.
It actually starts in Argentina, 1984, a year after its last junta, the National Reorganization Process, was forced out of power. Several of its leaders, including a few of its former presidents, are about to stand trial for crimes against their people. And much to his horror, Julio Cesar Strassera (Ricardo Darin) is tasked to prosecute the case. He and his deputy, Luis Moreno Ocampo (Peter Lanzani), have a few months to gather the evidence. They leave that to a bunch of college-age kids. Amazingly, they get it done.
It's now the titular year. The trial begins that February. Several witnesses, including victims of the junta, testify throughout the year. Strassera receives numerous threats against him and his family. But he persists for a single ideal. Two words: Never Again.
As I prepared to write this post, word came that co-star Claudio da Passano, who plays Strassera's good friend Carlos Somigliana, suddenly died today at 65. I am not even kidding. It's a shame because Passano was pretty good as Somigliana. One of his last scenes, in which he assists Strassera in crafting his closing argument, highlights their great chemistry the most.
Anyway, what about the rest of the film?
It's a tough but rewarding sit. You'll be on edge as Strassera is threatened by anonymous thugs. You'll be shocked as victim Adriana Calvo (Laura Paredes) testifies of the abuse she endured in junta captivity. This makes the junta leaders' defiant arrogance during the trial all the more righteously infuriating. You'll laugh as Strassera and Somigliana interview their potential legal team. All of these "hopeless" candidates are all hired and get the job done! There's some levity with Strassera and his family, particularly with his son Javier (Santiago Armas Estevarena) and wife, Silvia (Alejandra Flechner). That is, when they aren't threatened too.
Darin is quite compelling in making Strassera a reluctant hero. He'd rather listen to Wagner's Tannhauser overture (which he does, twice) than confront his boss, Bruzzo (Gabriel Fernandez). He keeps tabs on his daughter, Veronica (Gina Mastronicola), and her new boyfriend. He and she separately learn the unseen boyfriend is a married man. Her confronting him about the spying is a memorable scene. All in all, he believes in justice but not making waves. That's why taking on the case horrifies him. But over time, he realizes how right it is to prosecute the junta leaders.
Meanwhile, Lanzani is quite likable as Moreno Ocampo. He's as idealistic as Strassera, who can't initially remember his name, but isn't willing to stay silent. His military family supports the junta, which puts them at odds with him. But after Calvo's testimony, his mother calls him ready and willing to see the junta imprisoned for their crimes. To say that's a powerful moment is an understatement.
Argentina, 1985 is ready to stream for free on Amazon Prime now. It's 140 minutes, so you need to make room on your schedule for the proceedings. Anyone unfamiliar with Argentinian history will be thoroughly educated. It's that good a courtroom drama. Now, as for the other international films, they're not on streaming yet. So, who knows when I'll get to them.
Again. Tick tock, tick tock...
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