Fresh off its recent win for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes, and anOscar nominationfor Best International Film,Argentina, 1985has gained much attention for placing a critical period in the history of contemporary Argentina in center stage. Directed bySantiago Mitre,Argentina, 1985depicts the Trial of the Juntas, the prosecution of Jorge Videla’s dictatorship that exploited and oppressed the country from 1976 to 1981. The film plays out through the perspective of the case’s chief prosecutor Julio César Strassera and his assistant Luis Moreno Ocampo, who worked unremittingly to bring justice to the crimes and human rights violations committed by Videla’s regime. WhileArgentina, 1985creates a true-to-life portrait of the Trial of the Juntas, audiences may crave more background understanding of Videla’s dictatorship and how it led to more than 30,000 estimated disappearances and deaths of Argentine citizens.
What Is ‘Argentina, 1985’ About?
Argentina, 1985concentrates on Strassera, played by Argentine superstarRicardo Darín, well-known for his performances in films includingThe Secret in Their EyesandWild Tales. Strassera is portrayed as a loving family man who resisted the power of the dictatorship before becoming a federal prosecutor in 1983 after Videla’s downfall. Ahead of being named the chief prosecutor for the Trial of the Juntas in the autumn of 1984, Strassera is transparent about his reservations and anxieties concerning the case - how it could impact the safety of his home life and, most importantly, the future of Argentina.
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At the preliminary hearing for the trial, Strassera is assigned a deputy prosecutor - Luis Moreno Ocampo (Peter Lanzaniin the role) - who wishes to combat his familial military ties to bring justice to the victims of the dictatorship. Together, the two men build an unexpected team of young students and non-lawyers to collect evidence and eyewitness accounts of the crimes perpetrated by the junta. From October 1984 to February 1985, the unlikely prosecuting squad travels all corners of Argentina to interview victims of Videla’s regime and gather information to use during the litigation.
When the Trial of the Juntas finally commences in April 1985, Strassera’s team has gathered over 800 witness testimonies, which the film heartbreakingly explores through montage and archival footage from the times. Much of the last half ofArgentina, 1985takes place in the courtroom, building naturalistic tension and supplying historical accuracy to underline the importance of the case and its crucial impact on the future of civil liberty in Argentina. In the film’s depiction of Strassera’s closing arguments in September of the same year, the script employs the prosecutor’s iconic real-life quote: “I wish to use a phrase that is not my own because it already belongs to all the Argentine people. Your Honors: Never again!”
Argentina Under Videla’s Dictatorship
Videla became General Commander of Argentina’s army in 1975 when many South American militaries and right-wing supporters were being backed by the United States as part ofOperation Condor, which aimed to stamp out threats of leftist and communist world powers during the Cold War. Led by Videla in March 1976, the Argentine Armed Forces took advantage of the country’s growing instability,seizing political power in a coup d’état against Isabel Perón, who had taken over the presidency following the death of her infamous husband, Juan Perón.
The Trial of the Juntas
Following the fall of Videla, theNational Commission on the Disappearance of Personswas created in 1983 to investigate the crimes perpetrated by the dictatorship. This led to theTrial of the Juntas, the first and only civil court trial of war crimes in any Latin American country. Videla and 9 of his closest supporters were prosecuted, many of whom were top-ranked military officials complicit with carrying out the crimes of the Dirty War. However, Videla and his followers refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the trial, wishing to be tried instead by a military court, which had already declined to be involved with the case since they had favored the dictatorship.
The Trial of the Juntas lasted from April 22 to June 19, 2025, with chief prosecutor Strassera presenting over 700 cases of accused criminal offenses taken out by Videla’s regime and over 800 witness testimonies. Through the first-hand depositions, the courtroom, press, and audiences of the televised trial were able to learn of personal accounts of the horrendous suppression, brutality, and violence taken out by the dictatorship against the Argentine citizens. When the trial’s sentencing was announced in December,Videla was given life imprisonment, along with another high-ranking military official. Others were also given prison sentences, but 4 of the 10 men were acquitted for their involvement. The Trial of the Juntas proved immensely important in Argentina’s national healing journey following the dictatorship, a damaging and terrifying era of the country’s modern history that still permeates the memory and spirit of Argentina today.
Although the film operates in many ways as a procedural courtroom drama, Mitre’sArgentina, 1985is successful in its portraiture of a nation facing its traumatic past, creating a powerful statement that can be applied to persecuted communities even today. As right-wing principles continue to permeate many parts of our world,Argentina, 1985and its genuine depiction of the country’s most significant court case serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of battling for civil rights and freedom. In addition, this film can function as a riveting and sincere entrance point to exploring the country’s rich political and social history for audiences unaware of Argentina’s past. Audiences can now findArgentina, 1985streaming on Amazon Prime. As just announced,Argentina, 1985has received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Film, marking Argentina’s seventh nomination in the category, which the country has won twice.
