Hour of the Furnaces, The (3 Parts)

Synopsis

The three-part series is intended as a political weapon. Fernando Solanas said that he wanted it to be ‘cinema like a gun, a guerilla film, a film of and for the masses.
1: Consists of 13 parts and a prologue dealing with the history of Argentina, neo-racism, dependence, cultural violence, models, ideological war and options.
2: Notes, testimonies and debate on the recent liberation struggles of the Argentine people, and is divided into two sections. The first, ‘Chronicle of Peronism’ (1945-55), examines the ten years of national life that saw the first eruption of the exploited classes into the political process and the struggle for popular power are critically analysed. Peron was elected by an overwhelming majority in 1946 and ousted by a military coup in alliance with the ruling oligarchy and the church in 1955. The second part, ‘Chronicle of Resistance’, is an account of the struggles sustained by the Argentine proletariat during what the film calls ‘the violent decade’ (1955-65). Data, reports and interviews analyse the most significant actions of the resistance.
3: A study, based on the testimony (letters, interviews, reports) of the meaning of violence in the process of national liberation. The final section is open and invites ‘new testimonies of combatants’; it is meant to encourage debate and discussion.

Language

English

Country

Argentina

Medium

Film; Video; Film. 16mm. sd. b&w. 95, 120, 45 min. Videocassette. VHS. col. 95, 120, 45 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1968

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Notes

Still in distribution on 16mm 12/2/97.

Uses

Courses on Latin American political cinema; Latin American politics, sociology, humanities and history; courses on the history and theory of art; cultural iconography.*

Subjects

History

Keywords

Argentina

Credits

Director

Fernando E Solanas

Producer

Fernando E Solanas

Writer

Fernando E Solanas; Octavio Getino

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Sections

Title

Neocolonialism and violence

Synopsis

1: Consists of 13 parts and a prologue dealing with the history of Argentina, neo-racism, dependence, cultural violence, models, ideological war and options.

Title

Act for liberation

Synopsis

2: Notes, testimonies and debate on the recent liberation struggles of the Argentine people, and is divided into two sections. The first, 'Chronicle of Peronism' (1945-55), examines the ten years of national life that saw the first eruption of the exploit

Title

Violence and liberation

Synopsis

3: A study, based on the testimony (letters, interviews, reports) of the meaning of violence in the process of national liberation. The final section is open and invites 'new testimonies of combatants'; it is meant to encourage debate and discussion.

Distributor

Name

Metro Tartan Distribution

Phone

020 7494 1400

Fax

020 7439 1922

Address

3rd Floor, Atlantic House
5 Wardour Street
London W1V 3HE

Notes

Formerly: The Other Cinema