The Official Story (La historia oficial)

An interesting symbol I've noticed in the film:
The opening and closing of doors.
----Alicia watching the doors swing back and forth while witnessing the birth of a child in the hospital
----Alicia seeing a door at Roberto's office suddenly close, to hide a criminal act in progress
----Roberto closing the door on her fingers, as if to keep her from passing through the door
----Alicia's departure, the silence leading up to the heavy close of the door, as we see her profile finally pass through.
(These are the examples that come to mind. I'm sure there are more)
In the context of Argentine history in the mid 1980's, the country itself was passing through a door to democracy.

(Un pasito para allí, que miedo que me da...) The music is a perfect thematic instrument in the film as well.

What a complex and aesthetic film this is!

Very few films have reached this level of excellence. This multiple award winner (Oscar, Cannes, etc.), is magnificently directed by Luis Puenzo and superbly acted by everyone in the cast (Norma Leandro is extraordinary). The beauty of the cinematography, with its sharp contrasts of red and blue, the editing, the script...it's all a marvel.

One of the things this film is about is how the truth can unravel a seemingly "perfect" situation when it's based on wrong motives and actions.

This film will capture you...you won't just watch it, you'll live it. Don't miss this incredibly powerful cinematic experience.

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   Written on March 29, 2000
   Summary: Just fabulous!
I am a Spanish teacher who talks about Argentina and the Dirty War and I use this film to perfectly illustrate how people were made to "disappear" and how power was abused, etc, and how the smallest of children became innocent victims. "The Official Story" does all of that and more. I also relate the film to the Holocaust, as these leaders may not have killed as many, but they used the same techniques. The movie is so well done.