"El Último Malón" it is one of the early Argentinean silent films that has survived until today. It was the only film that was directed by Herr Alcides Greca, a man with many cultural interests as a journalist and writer and with other more useful interests as a lawyer and politician.
The film depicts the revolt of the Mocovies, Argentinean Indians, in the city of San Javier in 1904. Herr Alcides Greca was a native of that city and thus his interest to tell the world what happened in his town. (the director appeared at the beginning of the film showing the audience didactically where San Javier is located).
"El Último Malón" can be divided in different parts or genres: its first part it's an anthropological documentary in which can be seen many of the real persons who lived or participated in the unsuccessful revolt, such as Mariano López, Mocovi cacique Indian leader of the uprising (which finally was an unsuccessful revolt because at the end even the Indians want what everybody wants, wealthy, power and the girl, natürlich!...) There are also images of the habits and life of the Mocovies Indians in their reservation, living a poor life, as servants or fishing and hunting alligators in the swamps to survive
a very different life in comparison with the wealthy people in the city of San Javier.
The second part of the film it is the dramatization of those events, an interesting adventure film very well paced in spite its amateur film direction, using and making use of the landscapes of the region for the benefit of the story. Real village Indians played the main characters of the film from the neighbouring San Juan along with Greca himself and many of his relatives. The only professional actors were the rebel cacique, Jesus Salvador and Rosa Paiquí, his mate.
For its anthropological interest and Herr Greca's craftsmanship and direction, it is interesting for a German aristocrat to watch early silent films from exotic nationalities. "El Último Malón" it's a very advisable film.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must watch his servants in order that they don't imitate the Mocovies bizarre habits of uprising.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien