MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Next-of-kin premier documentary of war and post war Argentina
Under the poignant motto of “ One is like the memories we chose to preserve” and before a packed auditorium the Families Commission that groups the next-of-kin of servicemen killed during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict premiered its documentary film “Locos de la bandera” “Lunatics of the flag - A documentary on the war and post war in Argentina”.
The two hour film was scripted and directed by Julio Cardozo (who travelled the islands earlier the year) and was produced the Families Commission that groups the next-of-kin of servicemen killed during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict, the organisation who recently completed the construction of a monument in memory of the Argentine dead of the 1982 South Atlantic War at Darwin Cemetery in the Falklands Islands.
The film combines interviews with Argentine next of kin of servicemen killed during the conflict intermixed with archive footage of the war, the visits by next of kin to the islands in the 1990s, the planning and building of the Darwin Monument as well as recreating some of events which took place during the war.
At a downtown theatre on a Saturday afternoon before an eclectic guest audience which included numerous next of kin, former servicemen, Locos de la bandera deservedly got a standing ovation as it clearly touches on very deeply felt issue which is how Argentina has handled its recent past, in particular the veterans and the next of kin in the post war years.
Unlike other post war films, Locos de la bandera shrewdly keeps a long way from making any sweeping statements about ways ahead or possible solutions to the conflict itself. Instead it focuses on presenting the testimonies of those people directly involved in different parts of the war and post war experience.
The testimonies given are in many cases extremely moving and come as a rude shock to an audience who in many cases are simply unaware of details which the next of kin have had to come to terms with concerning the circumstances of the deaths of their loved ones.
To listen to a mother describe how she is told that her conscript son was literally torn in two by the explosion that killed him on Mount Longdon, or hear a sister of a young officer describe his death in the Goose Green is truly strong stuff, yet it is presented in such a caring manner that the audience has the chance of both learning and understanding at the same time. The Families Commission - which in recent years has proved with its handling of the construction of a monument in memory of the Argentine dead of the 1982 South Atlantic War at Darwin Cemetery in the Falklands Islands - that there are both individuals and organisations working in this area that a light years ahead of their governments when it comes to dealing with the matters related to the disputed islands; have again moved the long overdue debate another step forward. For this they, director Julio Cardozo and Barakacine Producciones responsible for this film ? which was also supported by the forward thinking National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) ? should be, most warmly congratulated. For giving Argentina the extremely accurate motto of "One is like the memories we chose to preserve" they should also be thanked by a society which has spent very little time trying to understand its recent past and sadly too much time harping on about old falsehoods, breeding new generations nurtured on misinformation and hatred. Nicholas Tozer (MP) Bs. Aires
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