Ricardo Darín & Peter Lanzani as Julio César Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo

Set not long after democracy was restored in Argentina, the Chief Prosecutor, Julio César Strassera is pressurized into initiating what was to become the most significant trial in the history of the country.They set out to prosecute the perpetrators behind the excesses during the Military Dictatorship and the horrific ‘Dirty War’ that they unleashed on the population.

This was a trial where no one was safe.  Taking place only one-and-a-half years after the restoration of democracy in 1983, witnesses and prosecutors alike had their lives threatened.  There was a palpable fear in the air. During their 17 years in government, the military forces had infiltrated almost all areas of the country and their power was still very real and ever-present. 

The legal team of young lawyers and volunteers.

Watching this riveting film, with the taste still in our mouths of more recent events, such as the assassination of Natalio Alberto Nissman in 2015, (who was also an Argentine lawyer and Federal Prosecutor), so we can see that this story carries a similar sting in its tale. The ramifications of that extraordinary trial in 1985 were immense, emphasizing the courage and determination of the few that refused to buckle under the pressure. Current global events also add an immediacy to this film that brings this historical story right up-to-date. We We can think of other violent dictatorships that are also accumulating abuses like Vladimir Putin’s in Russia, another individual who, one day, may find himself facing a similar trial.  ‘Argentina 85’, brings some comfort by proving that with tenacity and valour, the impossible can be achieved.

Nine dictatorship commanders were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. With considerable difficulty, the civilian Court of Justice rejected their call for a military court that would have been a white- wash. It is hard to describe the sense of menace that permeated the  room when these men entered. The casting for these nine character  is  very accurate, adding the discomfort.

The 9 Military officers that stood accused of atrocities.

This incisive script was written by the director Santiago Mitre in collaboration with his long-term writing partner Mariano Llinás.   Despite the phenomenal number of files, archives, photographs and material they had to filter, they demonstrated their skill by emphasizing the human element even managing to add wit, irony and humour to this difficult subject.  The editor and director cut the action and sequences of events into a logical structure. What could have become a tedious list of archival info, is transformed into a tense courtroom saga that captivated its audiences and had us on the edge of our seats.

Santiago Mitre: - “It is a film that touches on themes of huge importance, such as democracy within the law in our time. How democratic values were formed and then how they were destroyed by the dictatorship in Argentina. Now, we live in a fractured society, not only in Argentina but in many other parts of the world. I believe that this trial symbolizes the possibility of unifying a deeply wounded country and regaining democracy through something that is good. I believe it is a symbol that will endure…  a very important symbol we can leave to society. This film highlights something that Argentina managed to do ‘right’, which I think is very important.”

 Ricardo Darín and Peter Lanzani in court. Strassera noted the bad smell the accused brought into the courtroom.

The production is further enhanced by Ricardo Darín on top form as the Chief Prosecutor Julio César Strassera.  Mitre, Llinás and Darín have previously worked together on a number of successful productions, such as Carancho -2010 (The Vulture) and ‘El Elefante Blanco’ 2012- (The White Elephant) both directed by Pablo Trapero.  Here in ‘Argentina 85’, this notable team have managed to reveal, beneath all the political issues, the human story of an everyman who ends up a national hero.  

Santiago Mitre: - “Strassera was a man who, well, had not had a very distinguished record during the dictatorship in his fight for Human Rights… He was a person who was given the opportunity to redeem his past, and channel the needs of a society into a precise moment and he occupied that social role with conviction at such an important time.”

A photo of the real Julio César Strassera and his colleague Luis Moreno Ocampo in court.

Darín embodied the character of Strassera and made it his own.  During the shoot, he was unexpectedly accosted by an elderly couple: -

Ricardo Darín: - “During a break while we were filming around the Law Courts, I went to my trailer across the road.  An elderly couple came up to me and the old man said: ‘I was a class-mate of Strassera at school. Then later, I was his neighbour as we lived in the same building, so I knew him fairly well.’  He stared at me and said: “You don’t look anything like him…but you’re exactly the same!

This was an emotional moment for me.”

The actual trial in 1985. On the left with the glasses we can see  Commander Jorge Rafael Videla, who launched the Dirty War in 1976.

Despite being 2h 20 minutes long, this film flows effortlessly and never faulters, dotted as it is with witty moments of irony and humour. 

Santiago Mitre: - “The humour arose during the investigations because Strassera was a very singular person with a great sense of humour and he really enjoyed practical jokes.  We couldn’t always include them because, well, they were so difficult to translate. But also, talking to the people that took part in the trial, on such an horrific subject, we found that they often smiled. [We realized that] they were proud to have been a part of something that worked so well. We saw at that point, that the film should not have a lugubrious tone, but something lighter and more optimistic.”

Strassera had the good fortune that the young lawyer Luis Moreno Ocampo (played by Peter Lanzani) was appointed as deputy Prosecutor, a hitherto non- existent position. While Strassera was a veteran with years of experience behind him, Luis Moreno Ocampo was a complete novice. Peter Lanzani's performance is superb  and the chemistry between the two leads is electric, adding depth to that important relationship. Without them working so closely together things might have been very different. Luis Moreno Ocampo interestingly came from a family with a long tradition in the military. Perhaps this helped him understand what they were up against.

  Peter Lanzani as Luis Moreno Ocampo

The film outlines the difficulties Strassera had to face when he was tasked with the prosecutions. Given the fact that the return of democracy was still new and fragile and there was still a heavy undercurrent of support for the military, the usual members of his legal team refused to participate, fearing for their lives, their families and ultimately, their careers.  

Santiago Mitre: - “The attorneys had no faith in this trial. They were scared, especially after having been silent for such a long time, so it had to roll over to the younger generation. These novices went on to contribute an amazing energy to the process. It would not have been achieved any other way.  it was a powerful symbolical image, of facing the future. For Strassera, this experienced man, it opened up the chance of redemption, and his association and work with a group of youngsters provided the necessary energy to enable this important trial to take place. A value of huge significance that they have been able to leave to society.”  

Director Santiago Mitre

Santiago Mitre has been meticulous to the last detail.  He chose a 1,56 ratio for the cinematographic framing. This matches the proportions of the photographic material they had for the period. This ratio also allows for a form of close-up that adds intimacy and a palpable texture. 

“All our [visual] references were photographs of the period. We also realized that that the heart of the film would be the moment when you watched the witnesses talking, so we needed the camera to be close to them, to fill the screen with their faces and expressions.”

Santiago Mitre has always had an interest, even an obsession, with political issues, of shining a light on the darkness. In many ways, there are message he wants to convey, but he is above all a filmmaker.

Santiago Mitre: - “Of course, ever since my first efforts, my films have occupied a political universe. I have always said that film is a way of thinking, not a way of telling. A way of thinking that permits a transformation into a territory of important reflexion, even a form of meditation, because I have always understood film as film. That is, a film must be entertaining, have good characters and connect with the public.”

 Ricardo Darín as Julio César Strassera

The closing argument, the final indictment was superbly delivered by Ricardo Darín. Even as they carried out the shoot, he found the whole experience overwhelming: “I never think, I only feel!” he exclaims.

Ricardo Darín: - “The final indictment was, obviously a synthesis of what the whole actual accusation consisted of, as that took [a full] five days [to be delivered]. For obvious reasons, we couldn’t include it all, so Mariano and Santiago chose sections, not only those that were descriptive, but those that reflected something that had been felt throughout the film, beyond the political arena and that was the human aspect. This indictment appealed to humanity, that is why I believe it’s a speech that crosses frontiers and becomes universal. When you have the good fortune to have a screenplay, a text, that is so well written, then it makes it all so much easier.

We were extremely worried for a long time, especially the director. He was constantly, during the shoot, even while we were filming other scenes, coming over and whispering in my ear:’ We must think about the indictment…. We have to look at the indictment…’ Well, I must admit it helped to make a number of last-minute corrections… but I was always calm saying: ‘Trust me! I know how this has to go’. But in the end, we filmed it 20 or 30 times and every time it got better, which confirmed that we were definitively on the right track. Especially when I saw that the whole audience [of extras] on set were focussed, with their full attention hanging on every detail...there was not a single time I looked at the audience, that I did not find eyes that were full of tears.”

In effect, London audiences were similarly affected and despite being a dense drama, it definitely leaves you full of emotion with a good feeling.

‘ARGENTINA 85’ (2022) was screened as a part of the Official Competition for Best Film at the BFI London Film Festival 2022.

Available on Amazon Prime Video.

CREDITS: - Director: Santiago Mitre/ Screenplay: Santiago Mitre and Mariano Llinás/ Producers: Axel Kuschevatzky p.g.a, Federico Posternak, Agustina Llambyu-Campbell, Ricardo Darín, Santiago Mitre, Santiago Carabante, Chino Daríin, Victoria Alonso p.g.a./CAST:  Ricardo Darín, Peter Lanzani.