CORDERO DI DIOS (LAMB OF GOD)

Argentina 2008 91 mins colour
Mercedes Meran, Jorge Maralle, Malena Solda
Directed by Lucia Cedron

A country that has needed truth and reconciliation is Argentina. After the dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s, followed by the Malvinas/Falklands conflict, the oppression and the disappearances, the country has continued to come to terms with this past with its violence and betrayals. This has been a central feature of Argentinian cinema for almost twenty years.

Lamb of God is an evocative title for someone who sacrifices their life for another in the manner of Jesus.

Cordero di Dios moves from 1978 to 2002 and back and forth. In 1978, a couple work for the underground movements and the husband is killed, the woman blaming her father for his betrayal. In 2002, her father is kidnapped and her daughter has to pay the ransom. The mother returns from exile in Paris (and intends to come back home to testify in hearings against the 70s authorities). She is hostile to her father and unwilling to ransom him. She undergoes a profound experience of realisation that vengeance harms only herself and her daughter and that she must forgive unconditionally. The audience knows at the end the father’s motives for betraying his son-in-law. They are nobler than we had expected but are even more tragic because of this.

1. An Argentinian story? The impact for Argentinians, remembering the 1970s and its consequences? Universal message about oppression and betrayal?

2. The Argentinian experience, the dictatorship, the generals, the oppression, the betrayals, the secrecy, the disappearances, crime and justice, the forgiveness?

3. The title, the image of the lamb in the film, the toy lamb given by the grandfather to his grand daughter? Evoking the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

4. Buenos Aires, the countryside, the 1970s and the generals, the winning of the world cup? The vet, the race horses? Families, poorer, richer? 2002 and the changes, modern Argentina, the school?

5. The structure, the inter-cutting of the two periods and the effect, the clues about what had really happened, the revelation of the motivation of the father at the end?

6. 1978; Anna and Paco, their happy marriage, their love for their daughter, their visiting her father, his wealth? The children playing? Callitos and Anna’s best friend? The visits to the grandfather, wanting to ride the horse, the little girl and the party, the gifts? The danger for the parents, clandestine activity, revolution, deaths? Anna and her going to the dying man, her medical skills, staying, the rest, naked in the cell, her escape? At the cemetery? The sadness of her husband’s death? The effect on the little girl? The daughter wanting her father to remain in the cemetery rather than go to Heaven?

7. Clandestine activities at the time, Anna and Paco, the group, the shootings, the knocks on the door, going to help, Paco’s death and the elite squads? Anna, remaining, going to her friend, confronting her father, blaming him for what had happened? Her going to France, leaving her daughter behind, her bitterness?

8. Paco, his friends, love for his wife, his daughter, the scenes in the car with his daughter, going into action, his death?

9. The grandfather as a vet, the owner of the horses, their discussions, his love for his grand daughter, his relationship with Anna? Informing the race horse owner about Paco and his location? The final revelation of his motivation, to save his daughter? The opening of the film and his being kidnapped? His being held, no reason given? The scene of his possible execution, the flash back, the explanation of his betrayal, his wanting pardon from his daughter, wanting to save her? Tragic all because of this personal and family motivation?

10. The daughter, adult, getting the news, her mother’s arriving from Paris, meeting her at the airport, the hostility, not wanting her to smoke? Her reaction to her mother, seeing her mother as cold? The mother and her age, return, tense relationship with her daughter? The pathos of the memories of their past relationship? The daughter and her desperation, the phone calls, the abrupt information, trying to find the money, the visit to the general and the clash about ideologies? Anna’s decision to return to testify, the general trying to persuade her not to and give her the money for the ransom? The visits with the lawyer? The issue of the house, the sale, Colitos helping with the packing? The arguments with her daughter about responsibility?

11. The change in Anna, her decision to sell the house, her remembering the past, her vengeance, the change to forgive her father? Going to give the money, the train, finding her father?

12. The daughter’s change, attitude towards her mother?

13. The phone calls, the decision about the money, packing it, throwing it out the train window? The audience on edge with the father’s possible execution? His return?

14. The theme of forgiveness and unconditional love? Reconciliation?