MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' war film in Spanish film festival

“Enlightened by fire”, the Argentine film showing how Argentine soldiers were mistreated and humiliated by their own officers during the 1982 South Atlantic conflict will be competing in the San Sebastian, Spain, film Festival next September.

Almost simultaneously the film will be inaugurated in fifty Argentine cinemas September 8.

The film is based on the personal experience of a journalist, now in his forties, Edgardo Esteban who as a conscript of 18 was sent to battle in the Falklands.

The starting point of the film is when Esteban hears about a Malvinas veteran attempt to commit suicide. He then begins recalling the hunger, cold and humiliation experienced by the young Argentine soldiers, to the extreme of being staked to the ground in mid winter for having stolen food.

The horrors of the war are highlighted in the script that also questions what really happened during the Falklands/Malvinas war and the role played by the Argentine military high command.

The Argentine soldiers, mostly conscripts, on their return after defeat were not received at home as expected and according to Mr. Esteban apparently certain indifference towards the whole 1982 events persists.

Furthermore in the 23 years since the war more Argentine veterans have committed suicide than the number which actually died fighting (over 700).

The film was directed by Tristan Bauer with no outstanding cast of actors and the music belongs to Federico Bonasso who includes three songs from world known composer Leon Gieco specially written for "Enlightened by fire".

The University of San Martín, together with the Argentine Cinema and Visual Arts Institute and the Spanish Channel Plus produced the film with collaboration from the provincial governments of San Luis and Santa Cruz.

Most of the filming was done in San Luis and Santa Cruz, and also in the Falklands.