Imagining Argentina (2003)
Rated: R [See Full Rating] violence, torture brief language
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Theatrical Release: 2004
Synopsis: Set in the magical backdrop of Buenes Aires, Argentina, IMAGINING ARGENTINA features an all-star cast that includes sultry Latin lover Antonio Banderas and esteemed British actress Emma Thompson. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Lawrence Thornton, the narrative follows theatre... Set in the magical backdrop of Buenes Aires, Argentina, IMAGINING ARGENTINA features an all-star cast that includes sultry Latin lover Antonio Banderas and esteemed British actress Emma Thompson. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Lawrence Thornton, the narrative follows theatre director Carlos (Banderas) and his journalist wife Cecilia (Thompson) as they navigate the war-ridden country of the 1970s. When Cecilia is kidnapped by the military junta in power for writing oppositional pieces about their government, Carlos becomes plagued by "visions" of his imprisoned wife and other dissidents who have "disappeared." A daring mixture of luscious magical realism and political commentary, IMAGINING ARGENTINA premiered at the world-renowned Venice Film Festival to great acclaim. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Emma Thompson, Ruben Blades, Maria Canals, Kuno Becker
DVD Info
Release:
Oct 11, 2005
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
- Dual/Single Sided
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - Spanish
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Gimmicky, pat, and just a tad too brutal at times, Imagining Argentina is a powerful statement rendered oddly ineffectual by a consistent desire to avoid controversy.
Despite its flaws, the film does the job in helping us imagine what that must be like for relatives and friends left behind.
Hampton's mixing of thriller and love story, cinematic coincidence and historical fact makes this film flawed but fascinating.
It's sad to see a film which, despite fine work in the various craft departments, fails to succeed on the most basic level.
The concept takes magical realism to a reductive, overtly literal level, trivializing the subject and the people the film tries so hard to memorialize.
Like Life Is Beautiful before it, Imagining Argentina juxtaposes horrific images of torture and humiliation against gooey optimism and thinks it's saying something profound about human resilience in the process.
...fidgety and incomplete, as though either poorly conceived or poorly re-edited after the fact.
Hampton makes a moving job of it, with top-notch cinematography and heartfelt performances.
The power of the film is its roots in official truths which are already melting away.
It's maddening that the film is so weak, because there's a touching and seriously important story here that should have been told with power, honesty and humanity.
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