LA CORDILLERA/THE SUMMIT

Argentina, 2017, 115 minutes, Colour.

Ricardo Darin, Dolores Fonzi, Erica Rivas, Christian Slater, Paulina Garcia, Daniel Gimenez Cacho.

Directed by Santiago Mitre.

The Cordillera is a name for the peaks in the Andes – and they are seen to great advantage is the background scenery for this film.

The film is directed by Santiago Mitre who also made the Argentinian political film, Argentina 1985.

The audience is introduced to a political situation amongst the South American countries, especially concerning oil, business deals, collaboration, and connections with the United States. The occasion is a summit meeting in the Andes, hosted by the president of Chile. Central character, played with great dignity by Argentinian veteran, Ricardo Darin, is the new Pres of Argentina, present with his ministers and chief adviser (with whom is in a relationship). His daughter is summoned to the meeting, a fragile personality, married to a government connection, separated.

There is the story of the daughter, her kind of breakdown, hypnotherapy, creation of false memories, news of her drug-taking husband and a collapse, accusations taught her father of being a murderer.

But, there is always the story of the meetings between presidents, especially towards the somewhat arrogant Pres of Brazil, the dealing president of Mexico, a meeting between the Argentinian and an American diplomatic Envoy, played by Christian Slater, interviews with the Pres’s.

The material is interesting, behind-the-scenes, some Wheeler dealing, some deals, compromises. However, the film does not reach definite conclusions in either of its stories, remaining open-ended.

1. The title, the Andes and the mountains, the vistas throughout, background to the summit?
2. Latin American politics, the various countries of Latin America, Argentina, history, presidency, dialogue between nations, setting up of oil companies, agreements? Disagreements? Influence of the US?
3. The opening, the discussions about oil, agreements, politics? Setting the scene? The political discussions throughout the film, the summit itself, the open forum, discussions, the agenda, behind-the-scenes, the role of Mexico, Brazil, the link with the US?
4. Pres Blanco, his background, his aides, Luisa, the discussions, the ministers, travelling to the summit? News of his daughter, bringing her to the summit, her arrival, tensions? Her marriage, her husband, separation, the children, his drugtaking, his hold over the Pres, the threats?
5. The Mariano themes, relationship with her father, the chair out the window, her catatonic state, injuries, the summoning of the psychologist, his session with her, her father’s reaction, the hypnosis, the story of the horse, the neighbour? Her being able to speak? Her father saying that the story was true, the neighbour was before her time, she never had a horse? The psychologist’s explanation about falls memories? The father and daughter discussions, the news of her husband’s collapse, her turning against her father, calling him a murderer? Not having any further hypnosis?
6. The personal life of the president, his relationship with Luisa, the sexual encounter, his referring to it in his discussions with his daughter and her sexual encounters with her former husband?
7. The Pres of Mexico, his agenda, calling Blanco aside, the discussions, the situation, his plans, American help, the central American countries and their collaboration, antipathy towards Brazil?
8. The interviewer, her interview with the Pres of Brazil, his handling of the situation, not an Emperor…? His behaviour in the meeting, walking out? The interviewer and Blanco, parrying her questions, being called out for his daughter?
9. The meeting with the American negotiator, his attitude, knowing the US reputation, yet the pressures on Blanco, the offering of the financial aid, Blanco bargaining? Going back to the meeting, the Mexican proposal, the walkouts, the president of chill and her handling the situation? Putting the issue to a simple vote, the plan for the central American countries and, therefore, American aid behind-the-scenes?
10. The ending of the film, open ended, the Pres and his career, the daughter and her mental health, the collaboration of the Latin American countries, oil, the future?