Juan Manuel de Rosas

Juan Manuel de Rosas was the ruler of the Argentine Confederation from 1830 to 1852. He became a controversial character in Argentine history. He was dismissed in history texts as a bloody tyrant (this is the version I learned at school). This was partly true; he ruled (and dealt with opposition) with an iron hand. Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (later president of Argentina) wrote in 1845 a book called "Civilization and Barbarism" where he (Sarmiento) and other intellectuals represented civilization whereas Rosas and other caudillos like Facundo Quiroga stood for barbarism. It should be noted, however, that Argentina's founding father, General José de San Martín was a staunch Rosas supporter from his exile in France.

In the twentieth century a school of historians later called "revisionists" had a new take on Rosas; his harsh rule, they argued, was justified by the state of anarchy and violence he found in taking power and by the fact that most of his opponents (the Unitarians) were in cahoots with European powers and against Argentine interests (Unitarians, when in power, were even more ruthless than Rosas). Rosas was also successful defending Argentine sovereignty against persistent foreign interference, especially from England and France. Today, Rosas' role in history is judged with more equanimity.

This movie is scripted by the revisionist historian José María Rosa and the director Manuel Antín. The direction is brisk but tending to the naive. The excellent Rodolfo Bebán brings Rosas to life in all his complexity and supporting actors do a solid job. A film worth watching, no doubt of special meaning to Argentinians.