The Official Story (1985)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: B-
Some people, particularly critics, are simply floored by
Luis Puenzo’s international hit The Official Story (1985), citing its
great mix of political and personal story.
Maybe it was more impressive in its time, but even then, I do not
remember being so impressed the one time I looked at the film years ago and had
a mixed reaction watching it a second time.
A history teacher (Norma Aleandro, who carries the film
very well) in Argentina ironically discovers that she knows nothing of her
history. That includes the possibility
that her adopted daughter is actually that of a political prisoner who was
murdered for his beliefs. The
“Pandora’s Box” she opens brings out the usual ugliness and corruption that was
intended to stay hidden otherwise, including the resurfacing of those in the
past who crossed her that she gets to confront again.
This is not exactly Roman Polanski’s Death & The
Maiden (1994), but is a good drama that happens to have dated a bit. The acting and dialogue is rich, thanks to
the screenplay by Aida Bortnik and Puenzo, who are good about detail and create
enough density to carry the film through how it has aged. The problem is how many films have had this
story to the point of pop trivialization, so most films with this story are not
only tired, but often announce this very situation in their lame trailers that
should warn paying audiences to go elsewhere.
On the other hand, this is one of the originals to do this
and a classic for all the right reasons.
Also, one other thing that makes this film defy its vague imitators and
wanna-bes is in how many strong women are here in one film. That is one way in which the film is way
ahead of its time, in a way that does not seem forced. All in all, this is high class if dated
cinema that everyone should see at least once.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image shows the age
of the film and the print, which looks dated in its lack of fine detail, muted
colors beyond what cinematographer Félix Monti even intended and a lack of
depth that suggests the film will need some work for when High Definition rolls
around. The sound has been remixed for
Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, but it cannot hide the age of the audio, for which
even less can be done than the image. A
Dolby 2.0 Stereo with faint Pro Logic surrounds also exists, but does not offer
much of a difference than the 5.1 version.
There are no extras except for the trailer on this film and about a
dozen others of key films on Koch DVD.
This is one of the more interesting entries and fans in particular will
only wonder why this was not a special edition.
- Nicholas Sheffo
