The Official Story (La historia oficial)
by Luis Puenzo
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Chunchuna Villafa?e, Guillermo Battaglia, H?ctor Alterio, Hugo Arana, Norma AleandroDirector: Luis Puenzo
Brand: Koch International
Cinematographer: F?lix Monti
Writer: Luis Puenzo
Editor: Juan Carlos Mac?as
Producer: Marcelo Pi?eyro
Writer: A?da Bortnik
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Original Language); English (Subtitled)
Format: Color, Dolby, Enhanced, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-09
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Koch Lorber Films
Movie Reviews of The Official Story (La historia oficial)
Movie Review: Overcoming the banality of evil, corruption in adoption
Summary: 4 Stars
La Historia Official is a well-made film about awakening from passive complicity in evil, in this case, forced adoption. The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo were and are an inspiration to those who struggle to uncover and resist abuses in adoption practices, be they the enslaved Irish women of the Magdalen laundries or the many indigenous peoples who had children forcibly removed from homes to be adopted by whites. Most of adoption does not involve abduction, but to turn a blind eye to the fact that it does exist, is to be passively complicit, as was the protagonist in this film.
The scene in which the teacher realizes that tremendous evil has indeed been perpetrated, and that she may very well be the beneficiary of such evil, is staggering. Norma Aleandro is a talented enough actress that we believe her initial rejection of this revelation, and her gradual evolution from passive cohort to courageous seeker of the truth.
Summary of The Official Story (La historia oficial)
An Argentine teacher lives in blissful ignorance of the evils perpetrated by her country's government. Over time, however, her students' rejection of the "official" versions of their history leads her to question things herself. Suspecting that her adopted daughter may have been the child of a murdered political prisoner, she attempts to unearth the truth. But her investigation reveals levels of political corruption so abhorrent that the illusions of her past life are irrevocably shattered.This is one of those rare political films that transcend politics with a stirring emotional story. Argentinean first-time director Luis Puenzo tells the story of a strong-willed teacher who tries to learn the true identity of her adopted daughter's father, coming to suspect that he was a political prisoner. Her political awakening is actually an emotional one as well because of her detached persona. Ironically, even though she is a teacher, she doesn't connect with people very well, thinking of history in the most abstract terms. But she learns the painful truth of present-day life. Tautly directed by Puenzo, The Official Story was a 1985 Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Film, with a riveting performance by Norma Aleandro. --Bill Desowitz
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