Thursday, October 2

Movie Screening: Imagining Argentina

LGS screened the movie “Imagining Argentina” – a film that explores political corruption and human rights violations in Argentina during 1970s and 1980s. Before the movie began, LGS freshmen Maggie Felisberto shared her experience studying abroad in Argentina, allowing students to get a sense of the lifestyle and culture of Argentina. Students got a chance to taste mate, a traditional and typical drink in South America. The drink is served and made through a calabash gourd and bombilla (straw).

Maggie’s presentation was followed by Professor DeBartolo’s introduction of the political situation in Argentina during the “Dirty War.” The movie was about “disappeared” and one family’s experience with the human rights abuses that took place during that time. “The Disappeared” are people who’ve protested against or criticized the Argentinean government, and who later disappeared without a trace because the secret police kidnapped, imprisoned, and/or killed them.

The movie illustrates the story of a man and his family who fall victims to the military dictatorship in Argentina. In a mission to find his wife who was kidnapped, the protagonist, played by Antonio Banderas, develops a psychic ability which helps him see into the future. As a result, he tries to help other families whose loved once have become victims of the state. The movie was definitely captivating and touching.

Students learned that such injustices have occurred or are still continuing all over the world. There are thousands of lives that have been lost and millions of people still missing. After the film, Professor DeBartolo led a discussion based on the movie, revealed facts about the political situation in Argentina and other parts of the world where people have “disappeared,” and introduced the work of civil society organizations promoting peace and reconciliation in societies where masses of people have been tortured, killed or imprisoned.

Written by Roshini Givergis