La guerra suciaTHE DIRTY WAR. ARGENTINA 1976-1983

Pre-viewing activities

Tomorrow you are going to watch a fictional film which is based on very real events that happened in Argentina during a time period when a military action called the “Dirty War” took place. During this period, dictators ruled Argentina, in part because of a strong base of support within the Argentine military as well as support from other nations.

http://www.yendor.com/vanished/index.html

Pre-viewing activities

How do you say “the disappeared” in Spanish?

Against what groups did the government military forces ostensible fight? A. Right-wing sympathizers

B. Argentine soldiers

C. Left-wing terrorists

Did innocent people die?

Pre-viewing activities

The title of the film you are going to see is La historia oficial. Before you watch the film, briefly write down what you guess the film’s title might refer to. Remember that historia in Spanish means both story and history.

Pre-viewing activities

http://www.desaparecidos.org/GrupoF/des/fecha.html

During what two years did the most people disappear?

Were the disappeared mostly men, mostly women, or both women and men?

Pre-viewing activities

http://www.desaparecidos.org/arg/victimas/muro2.html

Were the people who were disappeared for the most part over or under the age of 30?

Write down the following information of 3 different people: Name, age, and place disappeared.

Pre-viewing activities

This tragic period of military rule was not limited to Argentina. During the 1970s and 1980s several Latin American countries suffered through a similar type of military government.

In Chile (which at one point had the longest democracy in Latin America), Salvador Allende, a democratically elected president, was overthrown by Chilean military forces with the help of the CIA of the United States.

As in Argentina, many people were detained by the government, many of whom never returned.

Pre-viewing activities

Mothers who wanted to know what had happened to their children and grandchildren began to protest.

Pre-viewing activities

On a visit to Chile, the musician Sting was so moved when he saw these women protest that he wrote a song about them.

He sang this song in Mendoza, Argentina and 15,000 Chileans cross the border for the concert.

He also sang for the mothers in Buenos Aires for the victims of the Dirty War.

In Argentina, he danced on stage with the mothers and the grandmothers of the victims.

Danzan solas - Sting

Por que estan aqui, danzando solas? Por que hay tristeza en sus miradas? Hay soldados tambien Ignoran su dolor Porque desprecian el amor

Danzan solas – Sting

Danzan con los muertos Los que ya no estan Amores invisibles No dejan de danzar Danzan con sus padres Sus ninos tambien Y con sus esposos En soledad, en soledad

Danzan solas – Sting (verse 1)

Why are there women here dancing on their own?Why is there this sadness in their eyes?Why are the soldiers hereTheir faces fixed like stone?I can't see what it is that they dispiseThey're dancing with the missingThey're dancing with the deadThey dance with the invisible onesTheir anguish is unsaidThey're dancing with their fathersThey're dancing with their sonsThey're dancing with their husbandsThey dance alone They dance alone

Danzan solas – Sting (verse 2)

It's the only form of protest they're allowedI've seen their silent faces scream so loudIf they were to speak these words they'd go missing tooAnother woman on a torture table what else can they do

Danzan solas – Sting (chorus)

They're dancing with the missingThey're dancing with the deadThey dance with the invisible onesTheir anguish is unsaidThey're dancing with their fathersThey're dancing with their sonsThey're dancing with their husbandsThey dance alone They dance alone

Danzan solas – Sting (verse 3)

One day we'll dance on their gravesOne day we'll sing our freedomOne day we'll laugh in our joyAnd we'll danceOne day we'll dance on their gravesOne day we'll sing our freedomOne day we'll laugh in our joyAnd we'll dance

Danzan solas – Verse 4

Ellas danzan con los desaparecidosEllas danzan con los muertosEllas danzan con amores invisiblesEllas danzan con silenciosa angustiaDanzan con sus pardresDanzan con sus hijosDanzan con sus espososEllas danzan solasDanzan solas

Danzan solas – Sting (verse 5)

Hey Mr. PinochetYou've sown a bitter cropIt's foreign money that supports youOne day the money's going to stopNo wages for your torturersNo budget for your gunsCan you think of your own motherDancin' with her invisible son

Danzan solas – Sting (chorus)

They're dancing with the missingThey're dancing with the deadThey dance with the invisible onesThey're anguish is unsaidThey're dancing with their fathersThey're dancing with their sonsThey're dancing with their husbandsThey dance alone They dance alone

Danzan solas - Sting

http://vimeo.com/92957570