Too much of everything

One of my all time favorites.

Excellent adaptation.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

In 1982 General Galtieri invaded The Falkland's islands – this was widely seen as a way of uniting the country in a common cause and deflect attention away from his dictators rule, mismanagement and the 'disappearances' that were happening domestically. Esteban Leguizamón – whose book this film is based on ('Iluminados Por El Fuego') was one of those sent to fight on the windswept islands in the South Atlantic. The story begins some time after the end of that unnecessary war when Esteban gets word that one of his erstwhile army buddies has attempted suicide – this is Alberto Vargas and he goes to see him at the hospital where the sight of his friend makes him remember his fifty days of hell in a war he never wanted to fight. This is told in flashback and as we go through his war we also go through his friends fight to cling to a life he wanted to shuck off.The battle scenes are done really well and you get a very real sense of how bad it was for these mostly conscripts who had to fight the British Taskforce. The Malvinas – as the Argentineans call them- are occupied by British descendants and their right to self determination has never been acknowledged by Argentina and so there is a bit of politicking here too – that some will not agree with. There are scenes that will move you and some that are gruesome and the whole film is made in a way that just reaches out to the viewer. Director Tristán Bauer has only made one film since this and so we are well overdue for another great piece of cinema – like this one – completely recommended.

I just saw 'Iluminados por el fuego' at the 'Filmar en America Latina' film festival in Geneva, which takes places here every year and lasts about three weeks in November. Fist of all, I would like to say that I have read all the 3 comments posted so far and found all the three useful. What I would also like to say is that even here, people who had seen the film I talked to also felt like me that it was very strong and extremely intelligently made because, instead of depicting details of military operations, it really focused on the real drama, the drama of young conscripts who DID NOT want to go to war and were sent to a completely useless slaughter and the tragic aftermath of it. Another strong point of the film is that is also emphasizes the total lack of humanity of a bloody dictatorship, which, non content of having already killed about 30'000 people (I think this is the official number of the 'disappeared', and I heard there might have been more; anyway, anyone who might confirm or correct what I say here is welcome)could not, before leaving power, perform another final act of abominable criminal madness, which, in many respect, reminds of the criminal madness of the Nazis at the end of WW II in Germany,which also sent thousands to a useless death simply because they knew their time was over. This very war, which many people around the world tend to forget nowadays, is the final tragic demonstration of the Nazi-like nature of this military dictatorship, and it is even more disgusting to know that many of those involved in it have benefited from amnesty, instead of being sentenced to death by hanging like their models!!! This, I think, is one of the very reason why films such as 'Iluminados por el fuego' are important.

Iluminados por el fuego shows a reality that has been forgotten for many years in Argentina. A military Government that should be over is trying to continue in power trough an unforgivable sin. The blood of the young conscripts.It's unbelievable that the Argentinian society was blinded of the truth of what happened.Argentina will recover the islands, i have no doubt of it, but only when the people finally understand what happened and why it happenedAs a message to the world, for a war that should never happen, please, see this movie.

Iluminados Por El Fuego is a cruel and real story about a tragic war between Argentina and Great Britain, struggling for the Islas Malvinas in the South Atlantic. That was decided by Argentinean Military Government in 1982 in order to gain popularity among citizens trying to distract attention in a moment where Argentina was close to a civil war. Any strategic or tactic analysis of that tragic war will explain all the mistakes that put Argentina in disadvantage to win the war, but the movie itself shows the cruel reality that lived the 17 and 18 year old recruit soldiers, today still suffering war veterans. Iluminados Por El Fuego shows perfectly how the boys (because the were just boys) lived a war they didn't ask for, suffered a war they were not ready to face or fight, with almost no food, no weapons and no training. The movie shows how the boys of war became today's suffering veterans struggling to survive with no help, trying to live alone in a country that seems to be ignorant to the terrible reality they lived. Iluminados Por El Fuego is, 23 years after the war, the very first real important Movie about Malvinas War, a clear example of how human life can be so cheap.