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Iluminados por el fuego

  • 2005
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Iluminados por el fuego (2005)
ActionDramaHistoryWar

The suicide of an old soldier buddy brings up some old memories for an Argentinian man.The suicide of an old soldier buddy brings up some old memories for an Argentinian man.The suicide of an old soldier buddy brings up some old memories for an Argentinian man.

  • Director
    • Tristán Bauer
  • Writers
    • Tristán Bauer
    • Miguel Bonasso
    • Edgardo Esteban
  • Stars
    • Gastón Pauls
    • Pablo Ribba
    • César Albarracín
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tristán Bauer
    • Writers
      • Tristán Bauer
      • Miguel Bonasso
      • Edgardo Esteban
    • Stars
      • Gastón Pauls
      • Pablo Ribba
      • César Albarracín
    • 17User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 15 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos6

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    Top cast30

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    Gastón Pauls
    Gastón Pauls
    • Esteban Leguizamón
    Pablo Ribba
    • Alberto Vargas
    César Albarracín
    • Juan Chamorro
    Víctor Hugo Carrizo
    Víctor Hugo Carrizo
    • Teniente Pizarro
    Virginia Innocenti
    Virginia Innocenti
    • Marta…
    Juan Leyrado
    Juan Leyrado
    • Teniente Alurralde
    Arturo Bonín
    Arturo Bonín
    • Doctor Prina
    Jon Lucas
      Mario Chaparro
      Tony Lestingi
      Carlos Garmendia
        Lautaro Delgado
        Lautaro Delgado
        Miguel Oscar Acuna
        Marcos Damian Alias
        Gabriel Casal
        Nestor Cordoba
        Juan De Lima
        Mauro Espinoza
        • Director
          • Tristán Bauer
        • Writers
          • Tristán Bauer
          • Miguel Bonasso
          • Edgardo Esteban
        • All cast & crew
        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

        User reviews17

        6.72K
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        Featured reviews

        6matjusm

        An Argentinian perspective on the Falklands War

        As I lived in the UK for a long time, I had mostly heard/seen about the Falklands War from a Briiths perspective. Tried to find a movie from the Argentine perspective, and this came up.

        It shows the experience of three young recruits sent to the Falklands, cutting between their experiences there on the islands and back in modern day Argentina, as the suicide attempt of one of them reunites him with an old war buddy.

        The film largely focuses on the futility of war, and how the soldiers do not want to be in this fight that they have no interest in, and where their own commanders mistreat them. The film doesn't try to make a political statement, it focuses on the human side of things.

        It was very interesting to see this perspective, but the film was clearly done on a limited budget. I'd say the production values were of a cheap made for TV feature. But what lifted it up a bit was that there were some scenes actually filmed on the Falklands, which was interesting to see.
        9nicholas-rogers

        Realism and heroism, without glamour

        Not many war films are made about the terrors of the Falkland, or Malvinas, war. Neither are war films as poignant and thought-provoking as Blessed by Fire.

        War films are so regularly hybrid with other genres, whether its romance, politics, bravery, historical drama, art, or even comedy. This can make them entertaining, such as Apocalypse Now, or silly, like Pearl Harbour. Done to make more sales, make a political statement, to boast a big budget or glamorise real warfare, it's always a gamble if the war film is worth watching.

        I was pleased to have come across Blessed by Fire. I hadn't heard much about it but I was interested in watching a movie about the Falklands War. It's told from the Argentine perspective and based on the memoirs of the soldier, Esteban Leguizamón, played by Gastón Pauls. Twenty years after the war, Leguizamón is contacted to visit his old comrade Alberto Vargas (Pablo Ribba) who is in a coma after attempted suicide. Through flashbacks and newsreels, Leguizamón remembers the ill-treatment by superiors, how his friends would talk of their futures, families and livelihoods, their fear of the invading British armies, and the dank conditions they were living in. It also touches on the neglect soldiers face after the war from their government – bad pensions and no career options. What it does magnificently is touch on the mental horrors of war - the anger and psychological scars that war causes – and without a glamorisation in sight. Another political issue it touches on at the end is the live mines and rusting ammunition left over beautiful landscapes, and how nothing has been done to get rid of them. The political slant against Maggie Thatcher and her reasons for war are thrown in there – whether it's for good measure, I'm unsure. But the result of the war has tarnished political relations between Britain and Argentina for many years, and it is a sensitive issue, particularly for Argentineans.

        It was a film made on a budget, so some of the acting is slightly amateur – but believable. The special affects are okay, but in moments of excitement, the lighting doesn't always make it clear what is going on. However, the sets are gloomy enough to be realistic and the photography of the Falklands is fantastic.

        It's a symbol of what war is really about. Not the most exciting. But realism and heroism, without glamour. I give this film 9!
        7Hunky Stud

        This is a sad epic movie, very emotional.

        This epic movie is emotional and sad. Most war movies are about winners, but this one is exactly the opposite. I don't think that I have ever seen any movies made from Argentina, I hope that I can see more in the future.

        Now, here are some of the problems of this movie. Some scenes seem to be too long, I lost a little interest in watching. For example, the night scene when they were running away from the British offense. There was no scenes about the British soldiers, so it seems as if they were just running away from nothing although it was quite bloody.

        Scenes change from current time to the war time, it got a little confusing. Some of the scenes were too dark, i can't hardly see anything on my TV.

        The condition which the soldiers have to live was horrible, if they had better equipment and food, they could have won the war. I feel sorry that Argentina lost this war. And it is probably interesting to see how each country calls that island. In China, that island is still named after the name Argentina uses.
        10FilmCriticLalitRao

        Tristan Bauer : a truly great film from the director of Después de la tormenta (1990)

        Iluminados por el fuego is one of the finest anti war films.It is based on a book by Edgardo Esteban who fought at Falklands Islands as a soldier for more than 50 days.It is a sad tale of a journalist Esteban Leguizamón (Gastón Pauls) who is informed that his colleague at war Vargas (Pablo Ribba) has attempted to commit suicide as he was disturbed due to recurrent images of war.Esteban visits his colleague at hospital.This sad visit forces him to go back to the memories of the past.Argentinian auteur Tristan Bauer acquaints viewers with one of the most stupid wars waged at Falkland Islands (Islas Malavinas) in 1982 between Argentina and United Kingdom.Falklands war was horrendous for Argentina can be explained from the fact that it was responsible for the killing of more than 400 soldiers due to suicide.It is believed that some 267 soldiers lost their lives while they were defending the false pride of Argentina.Tristan Bauer shows us the madness of a futile war.His film proves that when a soldier dies, humanity also loses with him.Tristan Bauer is highly critical of Argentinian army generals who are shown as cowards.He tells that young soldiers have no choice but are forced to die for their motherland.
        8fedesoria

        Malvinas war, 1982

        The first real movie about Malvinas war, telling the cruel way the incompetent heads of the Argentinian army sent those boys to a war they didn't want to go. And the movie is short telling the real story, which was worst than it is depicted here. Frozen, hungry boys, fighting a war for keeping in their throne the decadent military government. Acting is of good standard. Gaston Pauls confirm his great moment, and the moods and language of the Argentinean military men is very well depicted. The war scenes are not so good, but you can feel the frozen wind in your feet when the soldiers are waiting for the enemy. No love to motherland, no hating the enemy, only waiting for an early ending, and back home to mom, girlfriend, and family. No special effects, no needing of it. You get involved with the characters, in a very special way. The storytelling is quite slow, but accordingly with the interminable waiting for the enemy, in that frozen tundra, with inadequate equipment. Iluminados por el fuego is not a documentary film for those interested in history, but a testimony of the useless suffering of those soldiers. Don't expect CGI and special effects as in "Saving Private Ryan". This is real life, and it hurts.

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        History
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        War

        Storyline

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        Did you know

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        • Trivia
          Leguizamón mentions that over 290 veterans had committed suicide after the war, and indicates that this is the same as the name number of casualties there during the war. Argentine casualties during the war totalled 649, of which 321 were killed when the General Belgrano was sunk. If Leguizamón was counting only the casualties on the Falklands themselves, his figure is roughly correct. Source: Wikipedia
        • Goofs
          When a British Hawker Harrier strafes Argentinian soldiers on a beach, there are no explosions. The Hawker Harriers deployed to the Falkland Islands War were equipped with 2 Royal Small Arms Factory 3.0 cm ADEN cannons, which fire explosive rounds as well as shot.

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        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • September 8, 2005 (Argentina)
        • Countries of origin
          • Argentina
          • Spain
        • Official site
          • Official Movie site
        • Language
          • Spanish
        • Also known as
          • Blessed by Fire
        • Filming locations
          • Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina
        • Production companies
          • Canal+ España
          • Gobierno de la Provincia de San Luis
          • Gobierno de la Provincia de Santa Cruz
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Box office

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        • Gross worldwide
          • $775,186
        See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

        Tech specs

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        • Runtime
          • 1h 40m(100 min)
        • Color
          • Black and White
          • Color
        • Sound mix
          • Dolby Digital
        • Aspect ratio
          • 1.85 : 1

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