Güemes - la tierra en armas

The subject is the guerrilla war waged by the people of the northern provinces of Argentina against Spanish invading armies trying to reach and subdue the city of Buenos Aires, seat of a government that had declared independence from Spanish power. The movie centers on the commander of the guerrilla forces, General Martín Miguel de Güemes, a wealthy landowner turned military man by circumstances.

The script is naive and declamatory; the feeling is that of a high school history book. Principals Alfredo Alcón and Norma Aleandro and the rest of the cast do their best with lines riddled with clichés. Alcon's characterization of Güemes is excellent; he looks very much alike the general's portrait, known to every Argentinian. Battle scenes are somewhat schematic and listless (budget limitations?). The movie is entertaining and historically accurate, but probably of interest only to Latin American history buffs.