The Mystery of Eva Peron

Next to general Peron, Evita Peron was the most powerful figure of the Peronist movement. She was a symbol for the Peronists and became a myth during her lifetime. 'Dame de la Esperanza' and 'Abanderada de los Humildes' were epithets conferred upon her. Her enormous charisma was the sole base of her political power; she did not have any official function. After her death, rumours about her escalated because her corpse had disappeared. Attempts to cover this up had failed. El Misterio de Eva Peron reconstructs the true story of Evita Peron without mythicizing it, and barring her political opponents' slander. In the film, many people are interviewed who knew her well. People who are interrogated about the kidnapping were even involved in it. It took three years to complete this documentary owing to the great complexity of shooting, which is self-evident considering the versatility of the character involved. Looking at film archives about her, one always wonders who is really on the screen. When she is on a balcony, being cheered at by a frantic crowd, she looks like a populist; when she travels through Europe she appears more a filmstar than a politician, and amongst the poor she changes into an Argentinian Mother Teresa. She was it all. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)