ARGENTINA, 1985

When the film hits its stride, Argentina, 1985 makes for compelling viewing. The problem is: it takes the movie an awfully long time to hit that stride.

Argentina, 1985 recounts one of the most important events in Argentina's history: the trials against the military junta who violently suppressed all rebellion against their regime during the Dirty War of the late seventies and early eighties.

When the film hits its stride that makes for compelling viewing, never more than in a handful of scenes that show the testimony of people who were tortured and humiliated by military officers. The problem unfortunately is that Argentina, 1985 takes a very long time to hit that stride.

The film's first hour in particular is an almighty slog that is too forensic in its approach to lure you into the narrative and isn't helped by a lead character who might be admirably righteous - and played by acting royalty Ricardo Darín to boot – but has hardly any other defining traits.

The picture's second half does improve and builds towards a climax that deftly hammers home the importance of the subject but you can't help but feel the movie's potential isn't fully realised.

release: 2022

director: Santiago Mitre

starring: Ricardo Darín, Peter Lanzani, Alejandra Flechner, Norman Briski