"Argentina, 1985": Oscar-Shortlisted Film Depicts Historic War Crimes Trial of U.S.-Backed Generals

We speak with director Santiago Mitre about Argentina, 1985," his dramatization of the Trial of the Juntas, when a civilian court prosecuted Argentina's former military leaders for brutal crimes committed during the U.S.-backed right-wing military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. The film just won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language and is also shortlisted for an Oscar for best international film. Mitre talks about following the landmark trial in Argentina as a boy, just a short time after the end of the dictatorship, and why he felt compelled to tell the story as a filmmaker. The decision of the government to do this trial was very brave and very important, and it founded the basis of the new democracy," says Mitre.