In the mid-1980s, Argentina was still reeling from the aftermath of the Dirty War, when its military dictatorship maintained control through disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Democracy was fragile, but by 1985, Argentina had a civilian government that had lasted two years since the end of the dictatorship. Santiago Mitre’s historical legal drama, Argentina 1985, follows attorney general Julio César Strassera and his colleague Luis Moreno Ocampo as they prosecute nine powerful generals for crimes against humanity. The story centres on Strassera as he faces a president hesitant to back him, threats to his personal safety, and a legal system stacked against him, while he assembles a team of young lawyers to gather evidence and testimonies from victims across the country.
The film interlaces moments of Strassera’s anxiety at home with the high-stakes tension of the courtroom. The use of archival footage and witness testimonies heightens the emotional impact, while Ricardo Darín’s performance, conveying warmth, heroism, and humanity, allows viewers to feel his vulnerability in the most intense moments and a sense of triumph when courtroom battles are won.
Winner of the Golden Globe, Goya, and Ariel Awards, Argentina, 1985 is a must-watch for its tense, gripping depiction of moral courage and the determination of individuals to uphold justice against overwhelming odds.