IMAGINING ARGENTINA

UK, 2003, 107 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Banderas, Emma Thompson, Reuben Blades, Maria Canals, Kuno Becker, Leticia Dolera, John Wood, Claire Bloom, Anton Blesser.
Directed by Christopher Hampton.

Imagining Argentina is a very disappointing film. It has a very serious theme: the disappearance of so many people during the regime of the generals in Argentina in the mid to late 70s, early 80s. The period was also treated in the Argentinian film The Official Story as well as a number of films from Argentina shown more locally. It was also the subject of an international film, Prisoner, with Roy Scheider and Liv Ullman.

The film begins promisingly with overtones of the myth of Orpheus and his looking back and losing his wife. The setting is a children's theatre. When his wife is taken in the night, the director of the theatre starts to search for her. He discovers that he has a psychic gift, in contact with some of the relatives of those who have lost their dear ones, he is able to see what has happened. He uses this gift to help others and then it increasingly helps him to know what has happened to his wife. He visits General Guzman, one of the generals in charge, an implacable man with his anti-communist stances and his patriotic vision. He also discovers a young man who is an officer who tortures people and is sent to spy on the psychic sessions.

While this may seem excellent on paper, somehow or other it does not work well on t screen. While Antonio Banderas does well in the central role, the supporting performances are not very persuasive at all. Emma Thompson, with a strange accent, has the very difficult role of the tortured wife but is not entirely convincing either, except in her strength. John Wood and Claire Bloom appear briefly as Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany who have a farm, with many birds, called La Esperanza, Hope, who encourage Antonio Banderas in his search.

Much of the dialogue, written by playwright and screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons), does not always work or ring true. The cumulative effect of the film is that this is a most worthy subject, but not handled particularly well, leading many audiences to laugh at episodes of the film rather than take them seriously. Altogether, a disappointment.

1. The impact of the film? The seriousness of its themes? The 30,000 men, women and children who disappeared in Argentine without a trace? The regime of the generals, the cruelty and torture? The grief of the relatives, especially the mothers who demonstrated outside the presidential palace? The aftermath and President Menem pardoning unconditionally those who had done criminal acts in the time?

2. The Argentinian and Spanish locations, the city of Buenos Aires, the children's theatre, apartments, government buildings? The Pampas? The Esperanza farm? The warehouses and buildings of torture? And authentic atmosphere?

3. The mythical atmosphere with the story of Orpheus, its being played out by the children? The resumption of the theme at the end, Carlos wanting to give it a happy ending? And the film having a happy ending with the reuniting of husband and wife, despite the tragic torture and death of their daughter?

4. The credibility of the plot, the nature of Carlos and his psychic gift, the way that it was visualised, dramatised, for others, for himself? The role of the authorities towards his gift, allowing him to have the meetings, yet infiltrating with the spy?

5. The structure of the film: the focus on Carlos at the theatre, the arrest of Cecilia, the intercutting of the episodes in their lives, his search? The visions, his dreams? The arrest of his daughter, mother and daughter together, the torture and rape? Death?

6. Carlos as a credible character, his place in Buenos Aires society, the children's theatre and his skills? Working with Silvio and Esme? His response to his wife's disappearance, finding her glasses? With his daughter? Ordinary life, yet his going to the officials, his seeing the protesters and joining them? The flashbacks to their life together, Cecilia and her writing, their trying to persuade her not to write about disappearances? The memory of them walking along the waterfront, Cecilia talking about the proposal, her asking the difficult question? The foundation for understanding their love and his devotion for his wife? His sessions, helping others? Going to the church, meeting Gustavo and his hesitance, his coming to the meeting, unmasking him as an actor and as a spy, fabricating his story? The visit to General Guzman and the sinister response of the general, knowing all about what he did? His going to the warehouse, being savaged by the dog? Driving into the country, watching the people tango at the wayside inn? His finding the birds, the flamingos and the owl? The visit to the Sternbergs and the discussions about hope, listening to their stories about Auschwitz and the connections between concentration camps and the Argentinian experience? His return, later visiting the son, buying the birds? His daughter's being taken, his grief, knowing what happened to her? Silvio and his scepticism, Esme and her support? The performance, the story of the plague, the attack on the generals? Silvio and his arrest and torture, Carlos knowing what would happen, Silvio being thrown from the plane and declaring himself an Argentinian? The build-up to the finale, that Cecilia would have to find him? The birds, the carnival, his seeing her, being reunited?

7. Cecilia, strong woman, her marriage, journalism, causes, demonstrations? Abducted, questioned, tortured? Her appearing in Carlos's visions? The continued rape? Her daughter in the cell, supporting her daughter during the rape, refusing to make the decision about who would rape her? Her decision to escape, killing the guard after being seductive with him, getting away? Her survival, being reunited with Carlos?

8. Silvio and Esme, the critic and the supporter, their work in the theatre? Silvio and his continued comments, the final irony of his being the martyr? Esme and her help with Teresa?

9. Teresa, her love for her parents, grief at her mother's being taken? Innocent, naïve? At the meetings? The arrest, in the cell with her mother, Gustavo and the interrogation, the rape? The exercise yard and the women? Her being taken with the group of young women and all shot?

10. The Sternbergs, their story, peace in the Pampas, the symbolism of the birds, their encouragement of Carlos?

11. Gustavo, typifying the young men who were the torturers? The torture methods, the group of soldiers standing around, watching? Rape and violence? The doctors? The officials, the green cars coming, the shooting of the theatre? Arrests in the night?

12. General Guzman and his typifying the regime, ruthless, ideological, cruel? Carlos following him to shoot him - but seeing him with his daughter and not being able to do it?

13. The film intended as a tribute to those who suffered in Argentina - the overall effect of the film and its not working well and the damage done to the cause?