MundoAndino Home : Andes Argentina Guide at MundoAndino
Camila (film)
Camila is a 1984 Argentine film directed by Maria Luisa Bemberg, based on the story of the 19th-century Argentine socialite Camila O'Gorman. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Synopsis
Camila O'Gorman is the daughter of Adolfo O'Gorman, a wealthy socialite whoe family sympathizes with the brutal then-president of Argentina, Juan Manuel de Rosas. She is forcefully engaged to Ignacio, with whom he does not wish to be married, and secretly reads forbidden literature critic of Rosas, like Esteban Echeverria's. One day, during confession, she meets a new priest, Father Ladislao Gutierrez, after which tension between them ensues. Camila and Ladislao fervently oppose their surroundings - Gutierrez is critical of Rosas' tyrannical presidency and shows it during mass, while Camila openly speaks her mind about her views, which scandalizes her family.
They escape the family villa and go hide to Corrientes, where they pose as a teaching couple. They are, however, discovered during a party in Easter by a priest known to them, Father Ganon. Ladislao resorts to praying and forsakes Camila, claiming that he will always be a priest first. This causes a rift between them, and neglect the opportunity of escape offered by the same soldier who eventually arrests them.
The couple is sent to prison; neither receive trial. Rosas orders them to be executed despite the fact that the law forbids killing pregnant women (and Camila has found out that she is pregnant). They are confronted by a firing squad of Rosas' men, who promptly kill Ladislao, but hesitate before killing Camila (threatened by their captain). The couple is then dumped in the same coffin. Their final words are told once more in voiceover.
Trivia
The story had previously been adapted in 1910 by Mario Gallo, the now considered lost film ''Camila O'Gorman''.
This was Argentina's second nomination in history to an Academy Award.
Need more information for your travel research or homework?
Ask your questions at the forum about Argentine films or help others to find answers.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Camila (film)
