Iluminados por el fuego (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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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

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

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

When a British Hawker Harrier strafes Argentinian soldiers on a beach, there are no explosions. The Hawker Harriers deployed to the Falkland Islands War were equipped with 2 Royal Small Arms Factory 3.0 cm ADEN cannons, which fire explosive rounds as well as shot.

User Reviews

Remarkable telling of an Argentinean's view of the Falkland's War

In 1982 General Galtieri invaded The Falkland's islands – this was widely seen as a way of uniting the country in a common cause and deflect attention away from his dictators rule, mismanagement and the 'disappearances' that were happening domestically. Esteban Leguizamón – whose book this film is based on ('Iluminados Por El Fuego') was one of those sent to fight on the windswept islands in the South Atlantic.

The story begins some time after the end of that unnecessary war when Esteban gets word that one of his erstwhile army buddies has attempted suicide – this is Alberto Vargas and he goes to see him at the hospital where the sight of his friend makes him remember his fifty days of hell in a war he never wanted to fight. This is told in flashback and as we go through his war we also go through his friends fight to cling to a life he wanted to shuck off.

The battle scenes are done really well and you get a very real sense of how bad it was for these mostly conscripts who had to fight the British Taskforce. The Malvinas – as the Argentineans call them- are occupied by British descendants and their right to self determination has never been acknowledged by Argentina and so there is a bit of politicking here too – that some will not agree with. There are scenes that will move you and some that are gruesome and the whole film is made in a way that just reaches out to the viewer. Director Tristán Bauer has only made one film since this and so we are well overdue for another great piece of cinema – like this one – completely recommended.