Imagining Argentina (2003)

Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson star in this gripping political thriller about a man with the power to see the fate of missing people - with the exception of his own beloved wife.

Director:

Christopher Hampton

Writers:

Lawrence Thornton (novel), Christopher Hampton

Stars:

Antonio Banderas, Emma Thompson, Rubén Blades

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Irene Escolar	...	Eurydice
Fernando Tielve	...	Orfeo / Enrico
Héctor Bordoni	...	Pedro Augustín
Antonio Banderas	...	Carlos Rueda
Emma Thompson	...	Cecilia Rueda
Maria Canals-Barrera	...	Esme Palomares (as Marí'a Canals)
Rubén Blades	...	Silvio Ayala
Leticia Dolera	...	Teresa Rueda
Anthony Diaz-Perez	...	Policeman 1 (as Anthony Díaz Pérez)
Luis Antonio Ramos	...	Policeman 2
Carlos Kaniowsky	...	Rubén Mendoza (as Carlos Kaniowski)
Stella Maris	...	Concepta Madrid
Concha Hidalgo	...	Octavio Marquez's Grandmother
Ana Gracia	...	Hannah Masson
Horacio Obón	...	Victor Madrid

Storyline

Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson star in this gripping political thriller about a man with the power to see the fate of missing people - with the exception of his own beloved wife.

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Plot Keywords:

clipping a hedge | operation condor | tongue cut out | the disappeared | military | 

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Taglines:

An extraordinary story of love, compassion and danger.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/torture and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

When it became clear that two additional scenes would help the script, a) the quarrel about whether Cecilia should publish her article and b) the flashback scene why Cecilia and Carlos got married, there was a little competition going on between Writer and Director Christopher Hampton and Dame Emma Thompson, who wrote their versions of those scenes. Thompson's version of the flashback scene was finally agreed on.

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Goofs

When Cecilia is seen by Carlos in the roof of "Casa Rosada", there is a modern surveillance camera near the characters. Those cameras were not available in 1976.

User Reviews

Finally, A Film With Purpose

This was truly enjoyable movie in many ways.

The acting was great all around. Powerful emotions were realistically portrayed by seasoned actors, relative newcomers and unknown extras alike. Direction, filmography and locations really come together to set a scene more realistic than most films even aspire to.

This film succeeds in projecting, through the characters, the full range of emotions that any individual must feel when their freedoms are seriously undermined by a corrupt ruling power, the same power that they would normally look to to resolve such issues.

This is not a feel-good movie, and anyone expecting comic relief at any time may be disappointed. This movie sets out to instill feelings in the audience that may help them to relate to the people in the story. It does not abuse concepts such as violence in order to get a kick out of the audience.

Unfortunately, many of those who have posted comments on this movie have failed to grasp part of the point. This is not merely a movie designed to remind the viewer of the past. It intends to remind the viewer that such actions continue to occur worldwide, and that it is only the people themselves who can keep their governments from resorting to such inhumane measures, by reminding their rulers repeatedly that they will not stand for it, in their country or any other.

Frankly, it disturbs me that films this deep go virtually unnoticed by the masses, while flashy but hollow explosion-fests receive awards.

Details

Official Sites:

Manga Films [Spain] UIP [UK]

Country:

Spain UK USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 April 2004 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Aconteceu na Argentina

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,752, 13 June 2004

Gross USA:

$8,899

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$383,106

Company Credits

Production Co:

Multivideo, Arenas Entertainment, Myriad Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1