Santiago Mitra AND Ricardo Darin They come traveling together, accompanying Argentina, 1985 from the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, when it competed for the Golden Lion, around September 2022. And today, in a few hours, they can make history, if the film about the historic Trial of the military juntas of the last military dictatorship wins the ‘Oscar for best international film.
We’ve already done many interviews with both of them, together or separately, during the film’s run, but this one is special because it’s hours away from the awards ceremony at the Dolby Theater.
-Well, how are you, how are you? Anxious, calm, hopeful?
-Santiago Mitra: Full of adjectives, so whatever you say I’ll say yes, yes. In principle we are happy, the film has had a wonderful journey, we have achieved many more things than we would have expected when we started shooting the film, in the midst of the pandemic. Our only fear was that we couldn’t make our film, that the film might be finished. It was finished, it was exhibited in Argentina with full halls, with a reaction from the public…
-Ricardo Darin: fabulous.
-Miter: Fabulous and moving, it was shown in many places around the world, it was an incredible reception. We came here to enjoy the end of a tour which was wonderful.
-What do you think of this that in Argentina they are waiting for them to take the third, the third statuette, that sensation so worldwide…?
-Darin: And that’s a hard edge to control, because it’s a general expectation in society, a large group of excited and enthusiastic people. But the truth is, we’ve already done our job, a long time ago. And now everything is in the hands of others. Of course, that expectation and anxiety is understandable. And we have some of it too. We also try to keep calm, because we know how these things are.
-Miter: I love it, in a certain sense I find it funny, the comparisons they make between Darín and Messi amuse me, they seem spectacular to me…
-Darin: Hahaha.
-Miter: It amuses me, but at the same time cinema has nothing to do with sport.
It’s not a competition, really.
-Miter: Unclear.
-Darin: Which shows how much love is behind it, what people upend. Before coming here, a week before, with the date approaching, I met many people on the street, in my neighborhood and outside. And what people have filed a load of expectations for this event is amazing. I mean, there’s no way to accept that, it’s like you have to turn them down a little bit, tell them “it’s okay, it’s okay, calm down.” Because it’s a lot, it’s a lot.
-Miter: The other day I told one of the directors nominated in the same category for an Oscar, Messi’s post. And he was amazed at how the country took a film as if it were part of its flag. And that doesn’t happen in the country where it comes from. And I also find it a little touching.
-Darin: Yes.
-Miter: How is this film taken, as something important to society. It is logical in a way, because it is a film about this Judgment, which is so important, and which should make us feel so proud as Argentines. On the other hand, it is true that the Oscars are a kind of icon…
-Darin: Yes, and the most watched by everyone who has a film project in hand.
-And if they (anulo mufa) were to go on stage and so on, what would it matter to you to get that award?
– Darin: The same as we just said, if we don’t understand it. (laughs)
-Miter: It seems to me that awards like this one, or those at film festivals, the importance they have is that they serve to amplify the arrival of a film. In this, then, everything that helps the film to continue watching, discussing, reflecting on the film will be a source of joy for me.
However it’s over, it’s already happened, it’s already given us so much. We hope it will give us more and I’m sure it will continue to give us more. I don’t know if it’s an Oscar now or in the future, but the film will stay.
-Darin: It will age well.
headed for the Oscars
How will you get to the ceremony? Will they get together first? What are you planning?
-Darín: We are many. We are many. I don’t know if there’s another delegation so…
-Miter: There’s a lot of Irish too, huh? I’m half argentes in this, it seems to me.
-Darin: I don’t know, we will each go as we can. Here I have the 152 in the corner leaving me at the door, I have no problem.
-You’ve been friends for a long time, this is your second film together, after “La cordillera”, are you planning, thinking about making a new film?
-Miter: I want to work with Ricardo Darín more than anything in the world (Darín nudges him). What happens is that this is also a tough guy. He has many projects ahead. But I post it…
-Darin: We should have a project in hand, which brings good luck. No, we sit down and think about something.
-After spending these six months following the film everywhere, surely they have learned a lot more. I wish you could define a quality that you, Santiago, find in him, and you in Santiago.
-Darin: Don’t make him do it because that would be too kinky, he’s showered me with praise all my life, everywhere, and it makes me shy too. What I can tell you about him is that every time I see how he’s evolving as a director, the clarity he has to tell a story and know where he wants to go. And I particularly stress dealing with the actors. For me he is part of that small group of directors who love actors. That there aren’t many…
-Miter: Thank you. Ricardo is a spectacular companion, and he is also much more than an actor. He is a friend and he is a director, a person with whom I can talk about everything. And also, as a fellow traveler, I think anyone who’s seen him in an interview can tell that he’s the funnest guy to be with.
-Darin: We enjoyed ourselves very, very well.
The Angels. Special delivery
Source: Clarin
