The Embassy of Argentina and the Cinema Lucerna, with the support of the Czech Ministry of Culture, the Magistrat (Hlavniho Města Prahy, Municipal Authority) of Prague have organized the 12th Annual Argentine Film Festival / Cine Argentino . The opening has been on the 26th October 2023 at the historical cinema Lucerna in the heart of Prague. The opening speeches have been offered by His Excellency Roberto Alejandro Salafia, Ambassador of Argentina in the Czech Republic, and by Jan Rybář, the Artistic Director of the festival.

The selected movie has been “Argentina 1985”.  It is about a real story, crucial for the transition of the country towards Democracy: the trial that has been held against the members of the juntas which have governed the country until the victory of Democracy and which are responsible for heinous crimes committed against citizens, including mothers and children. The movie is focused on the courage of the senior prosecutor Julio Cesar Strassera (interpreted by Ricardo Darin) and of his assistant Luis Moreno Ocampo (interpreted by Peter Lanzani) who, despite threats and difficulties, stayed focused on their mission and finally succeeded, because the Court gave heavy sentences to most of the indicted ones. Memorable is the moment when Strassera (Darin in the movie) concludes his speech in court with the now legendary words “Nunca mas” (Never again). The whole has been very touching and there are a lot of very meaningful scenes.

The movie has been followed by a diplomatic reception.  This event has unfortunately been the last one presided by His Excellency Roberto Alejandro Salafia. His Excellency has terminated his mandate to Prague and, at the moment of writing, has already left the Czech Republic.

The Prague Forum , in the persons of the Director Hans Weber and of the Deputies Milos Janu and Pietro Andrea Podda, expresses its warmest thanks to His Excellency for all the kindness demonstrated during these four years.  Ad Maiora, Mister Ambassador !

By Pietro Andrea Podda
pietro.podda@pragueforum.cz