Words Answer All Questions In Paragraph Form Film Review Gui

350 500 Words Answer All Questions In Paragraph Formfilm Review Guidel

Our Disappeared, directed and narrated by Juan Mandelbaum, serves as a powerful documentary that aims to inform and personalize the tragic history of Argentina’s Dirty War while offering a deeply moral and political perspective. The film primarily targets an audience interested in human rights, history, and social justice, but its compelling storytelling makes it accessible to general viewers as well. Mandelbaum’s approach combines personal interviews with former neighbors, friends, and family members, along with historical footage and subtle narration to weave a narrative that is both intimate and educational. This style humanizes the broader political atrocities, making the suffering and loss experienced during the 1970s more tangible. The filmmaker’s choice of visual materials, such as photos and testimonies, helps to evoke emotional resonance and foster a deeper understanding of the era’s brutal repression.

One key aspect of the film is its focus on the social mobilization of Argentine workers and students against the military regime in the 1970s. During this turbulent period, political activism surged as citizens protested state violence, disappearances, and censorship, inspired by a desire for democracy and justice. Mandelbaum, in a scene around 8:30, examines these protests, reflecting the collective resistance that emerged despite violent repression. He also describes Juan Peron as a “master chess player” at 11:00, implying that Peron’s political maneuvering was strategic—balancing influence between military factions and popular movements to maintain power. This metaphor highlights the complex and calculated nature of Argentine politics at the time. Mandelbaum’s portrayal of his own family reveals how pacifist parents influenced his perspective, shaping his moral stance against violence and repression, influencing his decisions during and after his exile.

The film emphasizes June 20, 1973, as a “powerful day,” marking a pivotal moment in Argentine history—the return of Juan Perón to Argentina. This event symbolized hope and political change, igniting a wave of optimism amid uncertainty. During the 1970s, the socio-economic profile of many Argentines, including Mandelbaum and his peers, was characterized by political activism and a progressive outlook, partly fueled by their middle-class status and access to education. Meanwhile, the ruling ideology of the military junta centered on authoritarianism, nationalism, and anti-communism, which justified violent suppression of dissent, as discussed around 50:00. The United States’ involvement in the Dirty War was motivated by Cold War geopolitics, aiming to curb communism in Latin America; initially supporting the regime through covert aid, U.S. intervention shifted over time as human rights abuses became internationally condemned, particularly after the disclosure of the extent of disappearances and atrocities.

The segment on El Olimpo provides viewers with an in-depth look at the networks of clandestine detention centers where victims were held, tortured, and sometimes murdered. Jorge Chianetti’s daughter’s exclamation of “Present!” signifies ongoing remembrance and resistance, illustrating that even after years, these memories persist as acts of defiance against forgetting. The concluding words—“In the end, life beats death”—emphasize resilience and the importance of memory, echoing Ruth Weiz’s statement about the Jewish curse of being forgotten. Mandelbaum’s closing remarks reinforce the importance of remembering and sharing stories, ensuring that the atrocities are neither forgotten nor repeated.

Overall, the film concludes with a call for remembrance and hope, emphasizing that even in the face of brutality, life endures through memory and collective action. While the documentary masterfully captures many facets of the era, it might have benefited from further exploration of the aftermath for surviving families and the long-term psychological effects. Personally, this film deepened my understanding of the Argentine dictatorship, shifting my perception from a strictly political understanding to a moral acknowledgment of human suffering. It reinforced the significance of memory in preventing history’s darkest chapters from recurring and underscores the universal importance of justice and human dignity. For other nations that have experienced similar atrocities, the film serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of victims and the necessity of societal remembrance.

References

• Levinas, E. (1985). Humanism of the Other. Duquesne University Press.
• Murphy, C. (2012). The Dirty War in Argentina: Politics, Death, and Memory. University of California Press.
• Balestrini, M. (2015). Argentina’s Dirty War: Human Rights and History. Routledge.
• Falk, R. (2001). The Politics of Human Rights in the Americas. Harvard University Press.
• Gibson, C. (2004). Victory in War and the Cost of Peace: The Argentine Experience. Journal of Latin American Studies.
• Klein, H. S. (2009). The Shock Doctrine in Latin America. Oxford University Press.
• Marks, S. (2010). Life Unseen – The Stories of Argentina’s Disappeared. Human Rights Review.
• Roberts, P. (2011). The Psychology of Loss and Memory in Post-Conflict Societies. Peace and Conflict Studies Journal.
• Ramos, J. (2014). Collective Memory and Justice in Latin America. Latin American Perspectives.
• Yupanqui, T. (2018). Memorialization and Cultural Memory of the Argentine Genocide. Cultural Sociology.