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Kamchatka (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Kamchatka' is a 2002 Argentine-Spanish historical drama film directed by Marcelo Pieyro and written by Pieyro and Marcelo Figueras. It stars Ricardo Darn, Cecilia Roth, Toms Fonzi, Hctor Alterio and Leticia Bredice.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320042/ 'Kamchatka'] at the Internet Movie Database.

The story is set in Argentina in the 1970s, during the country's last civil-military dictatorship, and chronicles the life of a family hiding from the military government in rural Argentina. 'Kamchatka' was Argentina's official submission for the 2002 Oscar Awards in the foreign language film category.

Plot



The film is seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy, Harry (Matas del Pozo), who does not know that Argentina's 1976 coup d'tat is impacting his life.

After witnessing the "disappearance" of dissident friends, a human rights lawyer (Ricardo Darn) and his research scientist wife (Cecilia Roth) flee the city and hide from the military police in a vacant summer house. With them are their two kids: Harry, who is fascinated with the escape artistry of Harry Houdini, and 'El Enano', his little brother. (Translated as "Little Guy" in the English subtitles, played by Milton de la Canal. The literal translation would be "dwarf".) The family adopts new identities and attempts to lead a normal life. Later, they are joined by a student who is using the alias 'Lucas' (Toms Fonzi).

Their new life is difficult, but a visit with their estranged grandparents (Fernanda Mistral and Hctor Alterio) reveals that they are still a close-knit family. Subtly hinted, however, and used as a metaphor, is the mother's constant smoking and 'El Enano's' renewed bed-wetting. Both serve to show how stressful and precarious their situation is.

Cast



* Ricardo Darn as Dad, David Vincent (alias)

* Cecilia Roth as Mom

* Matas Del Pozo as Harry (alias)

* Milton De La Canal as Simn, 'El Enano' (alias)

* Hctor Alterio as Grandfather

* Fernanda Mistral as Grandmother

* Toms Fonzi as Lucas

* Leticia Bredice as Teacher

* Mnica Scapparone as Bertuccio's Mother

* Evelyn Dominguez as Nia Morena

* Maria Socas as Mom's Friend

* Nicols Cantafio as Bertuccio

* Gabriel Galndez as Military Guard

* Juan Carrasco as Priest

* Demin Bugallo as School Mate

* Oscar Ferrigno Jr. as Father Juan

* Alberto Silva

Background



Basis of film



The film is based on the real-life political events that took place in Argentina after Jorge Rafael Videla's reactionary military 'junta' assumed power on March 24, 1976. During the junta's rule: the parliament was suspended, unions, political parties and provincial governments were banned, and in what became known as the Dirty War, between 9,000 and 30,000 people deemed left-wing "subversives" disappeared from society.[http://www.yendor.com/vanished/ The Vanished Gallery].

Screenplay

According to the Internet Movie Database, the screenplay was written by Marcelo Figueras, based on an original story written by Figueras and Marcelo Pieyro. When the time for the nominations came, the Argentine Film Critics Association credited the authorship of the final script to both of them.

Title of film

The title refers to the Russian northeastern state, which, in the movie, is used by the family's father in the boardgame TEG as the ultimate stand-off, and who uses it as his last resort to win. The title thus alludes to the family situation of hiding away from imminent peril as a final act of defiance before their ultimate downfall. Most scenes were shot at remote or isolated rural locations, such as a farmhouse in Ezeiza, the surroundings of Tandil and Laguna La Brava.

Politics in Argentine films

'Kamchatka' is part of what can be considered a second generation group of films to be made in Argentina since the downfall of the 'Proceso' dictatorship (1976–1983). Another film in the second group is 'Veronico Cruz' (1988).

The first group, including such films as 'The Official Story' (1985), 'Night of the Pencils' (1986), and 'Funny Dirty Little War' (1983) dealt with the bare facts of repression, torture, and forced disappearances during the Dirty War.

This second group of films uses metaphor and suggestive images, and hints at wider socio-political issues.[http://www.fipresci.org/festivals/archive/2003/havana_2003/havana2003_msmoray.htm Santos Moray, Mercedes] . FIPRESCI, "A Trip to Kamchatka," film review at the Havana Film Festival, 2003.[http://www.newint.org.au/issue192/reviews.htm 'New Internationalist'] . Issue 192, February 1989.

Critical reception



In a review, critic Anji Milanovic called the film an "heartrending drama" and liked the look of the film. He wrote, "The cinematography is gorgeous, and the Argentine countryside looks like a fairytale, all the more distressing given the killing and torture that occurred. The terror they feel is shown in little vignettes of family life."[http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/kamchatka.html Milanovic, Anji]. 'La Plume Noire,' film review, 2003.

Film critic A. Fernandez-Santos, critic for the Spanish daily 'El Pas,' wrote "Kamchatka has many features to be considered a masterpiece, it's cinema at its best, gifted with a great strength of emotional impact. It is a tender, grievous and touching elegy. Underneath the intense silent walls of captivity, it hides the thud and rage of the immeasurable collective tragedy."[http://www.menemshafilms.com/index.php?src=news&prid=7&category=Kamchatka&PHPSESSID=188adffe341cf4b327ccb1e6aad4556a Fernandez-Santos, A]. 'El Pas,' film review, November 29, 2002.

Mercedes Santos Moray, reporting from the Havana Film Festival, liked that director Pieyro delivered in giving the audience a suggestive image of the tragic, historical events, and wrote, "The painful memory is represented in an intimate way. Pieyro works both with the feelings and the reason. His film is a metaphor about the dimensions of freedom. The people still suffer but the danger has disappeared. There are only the phantoms of the past... A family in the film escape the repressions for a moment, but at last their lives are affected by the violent events."Santos Moray, Mercedes. Ibid.

Awards



'Wins'

* Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor; Best Sound, Carlos Abbate and Jos Luis Daz; 2003.

* Cartagena Film Festival: Golden India Catalina; Best Screenplay, Marcelo Figueras and Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

* Havana Film Festival: Best Screenplay, Marcelo Pieyro; Grand Coral - Third Prize, Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

* Vancouver International Film Festival: Most Popular Film Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

* Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award; Best Young Ensemble in an International Film, Toms Fonzi, Matas Del Pozo and Milton De La Canal; 2003.

'Nominations'

* Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor; Best Actor, Ricardo Darn; Best Art Direction, Jorge Ferrari; Best Cinematography, Alfredo F. Mayo; Best Original Screenplay, Marcelo Figueras and Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

* Cartagena Film Festival: Golden India Catalina; Best Film, Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

* Flanders International Film Festival: 'Grand Prix', Marcelo Pieyro; 2003.

References




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