Blessed by Fire (2005)

The suicide of an old soldier buddy brings up some old memories for an Argentinian man.

Director:

Tristán Bauer

Writers:

Tristán Bauer, Miguel Bonasso

Stars:

Gastón Pauls, Pablo Ribba, César Albarracín

15 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Gastón Pauls	...	Esteban Leguizamón
Pablo Ribba	...	Alberto Vargas
César Albarracín	...	Juan Chamorro
Víctor Hugo Carrizo	...	Teniente Pizarro
Virginia Innocenti	...	Marta / Maria Vargas
Juan Leyrado	...	Teniente Alurralde
Arturo Bonín	...	Doctor Prina
Jon Lucas	...	(voice)
Mario Chaparro
Tony Lestingi
Carlos Garmendia	...	(voice)
Lautaro Delgado
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Miguel Oscar Acuna
Marcos Damian Alias
Gabriel Casal

Storyline

Blessed By Fire is the story of two young men sent to fight the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands (or as they are known in Argentina, the Malvinas) who return home bearing the brutal scars of war. Twenty years after the war's end, journalist Esteban Leguizamón is informed that Alberto Vargas, one of the men he served with, has attempted to commit suicide after suffering from years of depression brought on by his experiences in the war. Esteban visits the comatose Vargas at the hospital, and in a series of extended flashbacks, revisits the scene of Argentina's "unwinnable war." Esteban and fellow soldiers Vargas and Juan are living in foxholes on the remote, windswept Falklands, battling hunger, boredom, abuse, and the deprivations of war as they await the arrival of British forces. A series of harrowing battle scenes with British forces ensue, and the Argentines realize the futility and violence of their mission. They're cannon fodder, overwhelmed, outnumbered, pawns in a futile ...

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Plot Keywords:

journalist | hospital | argentina | memory | friend | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Leguizamón mentions that over 290 veterans had committed suicide after the war, and indicates that this is the same as the name number of casualties there during the war. Argentine casualties during the war totalled 649, of which 321 were killed when the General Belgrano was sunk. If Leguizamón was counting only the casualties on the Falklands themselves, his figure is roughly correct. Source: Wikipedia

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Goofs

The sweat patterns on Leguizamón's jacket change in the two shots immediately after he leaves the infirmary.

User Reviews

A harrowing call against oblivion

I just saw 'Iluminados por el fuego' at the 'Filmar en America Latina' film festival in Geneva, which takes places here every year and lasts about three weeks in November. Fist of all, I would like to say that I have read all the 3 comments posted so far and found all the three useful. What I would also like to say is that even here, people who had seen the film I talked to also felt like me that it was very strong and extremely intelligently made because, instead of depicting details of military operations, it really focused on the real drama, the drama of young conscripts who DID NOT want to go to war and were sent to a completely useless slaughter and the tragic aftermath of it. Another strong point of the film is that is also emphasizes the total lack of humanity of a bloody dictatorship, which, non content of having already killed about 30'000 people (I think this is the official number of the 'disappeared', and I heard there might have been more; anyway, anyone who might confirm or correct what I say here is welcome)could not, before leaving power, perform another final act of abominable criminal madness, which, in many respect, reminds of the criminal madness of the Nazis at the end of WW II in Germany,which also sent thousands to a useless death simply because they knew their time was over. This very war, which many people around the world tend to forget nowadays, is the final tragic demonstration of the Nazi-like nature of this military dictatorship, and it is even more disgusting to know that many of those involved in it have benefited from amnesty, instead of being sentenced to death by hanging like their models!!! This, I think, is one of the very reason why films such as 'Iluminados por el fuego' are important.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Movie site

Country:

Argentina Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

8 September 2005 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Blessed by Fire

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$775,186

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Gobierno de la Provincia de San Luis, Gobierno de la Provincia de Santa Cruz

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1