The Hour of the Furnaces (1968)

Divided into three segments, namely 1 Neocolonialism, 2 Act for liberation, 3 Violence and liberation, the documentary lasts more than 4 hours this deals with the defense of the revolution ... See full summary »

Directors:

Octavio Getino, Fernando E. Solanas

Writers:

Octavio Getino, Fernando E. Solanas

Stars:

María de la Paz, Fernando E. Solanas, Edgardo Suárez

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
María de la Paz	...	Narrator
Fernando E. Solanas	...	Narrator (as Fernando Solanas)
Edgardo Suárez	...	Narrator

Storyline

Divided into three segments, namely 1 Neocolonialism, 2 Act for liberation, 3 Violence and liberation, the documentary lasts more than 4 hours this deals with the defense of the revolution and the revolution of the third world such as the revolt of the students in the United States and Western Europe, Czech citizens protest against the Soviet Union's State bureaucracy and also the revolution that (probably) is unprecedented in Argentina.

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Plot Keywords:

anti colonial | third cinema | reference to eva peron | reference to fidel castro | united states of america | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish English Portuguese

Release Date:

1 November 1973 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

The Hour of the Furnaces

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grupo Cine Liberacion, Solanas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

260 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was presented in different versions over the years.In 1973, after the fall of the dictatorship, the four minute clip of Che Guevara was replaced by the then more relevant image of Juan Domingo Peron, who was regaining power and with whom the group behind the film sympathized with.

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Connections

Edited from Faena (1960)

User Reviews

Voice for the voiceless

I think any analysis of this film should take into account the context in which it was released. In Argentina in the late 60's there were tremendous injustices inflicted upon the people. Argentina's teenage industry was being undermined by the unrestricted entrance of foreign capitals and products. Factories started to "rationalize" the personnel, workshops were closing, unable to compete with the multinationals that were landing in our fragile economy. This was not new at all for a country which has not yet fulfilled his economic independence, but the signs of underdevelopment were getting more and more evident in a country which has historically considered himself more European than Latin American. Whatisworse, democracy has become an utopia in a country where its major party was banned, and the minority parties which were allowed to rise in power after limb-democratic elections were quickly overthrown by the constant military coups. Argentina lived from 55-83 in a virtual State of Siege where all political activities related to the major party (Peronist Party)were fiercely persecuted. These regime did not hesitate to assassinate and imprisoned popular activists. So the Argentine people arrived to a sideways in those years. Either stay silent and tolerate the injustice, or raise their voice in protest. To raise the voice in those times involved persecution and most probably, death. So there was a new choice to make. Either protest and get killed or to protest and defend oneself. Argentine people were not thirst for blood, they were sick of injustice and were willing to fight for a better existence. The film is not a call for violence, it is a call for understanding, a call for conscience. the movie is the voice of the silent workers fed up with treason and exploitation.