18-J
Encyclopedia
18-j is a 2004 Argentine
docudrama
. The motion picture is a collection of ten, ten-minute shorts, by ten Argentine directors. The film focuses on the July 18, 1994 bombing of the AMIA Building in Buenos Aires
, where 86 people were killed and 300 others wounded. The perpetrators were never caught. AMIA is the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, a charity, and the attack is considered the largest single incident of terrorism
against Jews
since World War II.
The film is a tribute to the memory of the victims from the Argentine cinema community, producers, and directors, and released on the ten-year anniversary of the attack. Each director portrays his or her memory and impressions of the event in their own way. The ten short films are shown in a sequence. The picture was co-produced by the INCAA
(Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales) and ten of the most active Argentine producers. The film opens with a brief introduction by Argentine actor Norma Aleandro
.
; the Washington Jewish Film Festival, Washington DC; the Haifa International Film Festival
, Haifa
, Israel
; the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, San Francisco; the Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival, Hong Kong
; the Boston Jewish Film Festival, Boston
; and others.
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, liked the various stories and how they provide a "perceptive overview of Argentinian society". He wrote, "This worthy and affecting homage features styles from abstract to hard-hitting. Political fest sidebars are the pic's likeliest destination, along with arthouses in territories with a cultural interest in the tragedy... As a byproduct, pic reps an often perceptive overview of Argentine life at several social levels. Though many of the dead were Jewish, most helmers have significantly emphasized the universality of the tragedy rather than focusing on Jewish victimization."
Cinema of Argentina
The cinema of Argentina has a tradition dating back to the late nineteenth century, and continues to play a role in the culture of Argentina....
docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
. The motion picture is a collection of ten, ten-minute shorts, by ten Argentine directors. The film focuses on the July 18, 1994 bombing of the AMIA Building in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, where 86 people were killed and 300 others wounded. The perpetrators were never caught. AMIA is the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, a charity, and the attack is considered the largest single incident of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
against Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
since World War II.
The film is a tribute to the memory of the victims from the Argentine cinema community, producers, and directors, and released on the ten-year anniversary of the attack. Each director portrays his or her memory and impressions of the event in their own way. The ten short films are shown in a sequence. The picture was co-produced by the INCAA
INCAA
The National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts is an Argentine government film production company in Buenos Aires. It promotes the Argentine film industry by funding qualified Argentine film production companies.-Ratings:...
(Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales) and ten of the most active Argentine producers. The film opens with a brief introduction by Argentine actor Norma Aleandro
Norma Aleandro
Norma Aleandro Robledo is an Argentine actress and screenwriter, born in Buenos Aires to Pedro Aleandro and María Luisa Robledo, both actors. Her sister, María Vaner, was a famous actress in Argentina.- Life and career :...
.
Background
Because the picture involved numerous explosions it was shot on an Argentine Army base. The short films capture Argentine life at several social levels, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The ten directors use a variety of cinematic styles: the sentimental, hard-hitting, and the abstract.Distribution
The film opened in Argentina on August 19, 2004. In Brazil it opened October 4, 2004, at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival. The film has been screened at various film festivals, including: the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, Palm Beach, FloridaPalm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
; the Washington Jewish Film Festival, Washington DC; the Haifa International Film Festival
Haifa International Film Festival
The Haifa International Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place every fall, during the week-long holiday of Sukkot, in Haifa, Israel. The festival was inaugurated in 1983, and was the first of its kind in Israel...
, Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
; the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, San Francisco; the Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
; the Boston Jewish Film Festival, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
; and others.
Production companies
Each of the following Argentine film production companies chose one director for the film:- BD CineBD CineBD Cine is a film production company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.The firm was formed in 1995 by producer/director Daniel Burman and producer Diego Dubcovsky....
(Daniel Burman) - Audiovisual Production Center from the University of Tres de Febrero (Adrián Caetano)
- Cinetauro (Lucía Cedrón)
- Patagonik Film GroupPatagonik Film GroupPatagonik Film Group is an Argentine production company, dedicated to the making of feature films and film production services.Established in 1996 by Pablo Bossi, it is currently the leading company in Latin America...
(Alejandro Doria) - Zarlek Producciones (Alberto Lecchi)
- Kaos (Marcelo Schapces)
- Guacamole FilmsGuacamole FilmsGuacamole Films is a film production company in Buenos Aires, Argentina.The firm in known for producing award winning films and have taken all of their films to film festivals around the world...
(Carlos Sorín) - Aleph Media (Juan Bautista Stagnaro)
- Pol-KaPol-kaPol-ka Producciones is a television and film production company in Buenos Aires, Argentina, commonly referred to as Pol-ka.The company was launched in 1994 and is owned by Adrián Suar and Fernando Blanco...
(Adrián Suar) - Cinema Digital (Mauricio Wainrot)
(1) 86
- Synopsis: The pain of the victims showing the effects of a bomb on objects: flowers, books, a birthday cake; as recalled by a blinded man.
- Directed by: Israel Adrián CaetanoIsrael Adrián CaetanoIsrael Adrián Caetano is an Uruguayan-Argentine film director, producer and screenplay writer.-Biography:He's often credited as Adrián Caetano. He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina and at times obtains funding for his films in Europe. He lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.At age of sixteen his...
- Written by: Roberto Gispert
- Editing: Israel Adrián Caetano
- Cinematography: Julián ApezteguiaJulián ApezteguiaJulián Apezteguia is an Argentine film cinematographer. Three of his most recent films have been critically well received: Bolivia , 18-j , and Crónica de una fuga .-Filmography:...
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(2) La Memoria
aka The Memory- Synopsis: A minimalist homage of pain of the victims: headshots of the victims to the accompaniment of a HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
aria. - Directed by: Carlos SorínCarlos SorínCarlos Sorín is a film director, screenplay writer, cinematographer, and film producer. He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina....
- Written by:
- Editing: Alejandro Alem, Alejandro Parysow
- Cinematography: Hugo ColaceHugo ColaceHugo Colace is an Argentine film cinematographer.Three of his most recent films have been critically well received: La Ciénaga , Historias mínimas , and 18-j .-Filmography :...
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(3) Untitled
- Synopsis: Revolves around a delivery occurred in a Public Hospital on the same day of the attack in the OnceBalvaneraBalvanera is a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Origin of Name and Alternative Names:The official name, Balvanera, is the name of the parroquia centered around the church of Nuestra Señora de Balvanera, erected in 1831.The zone around Corrientes avenue is known as Once after Plaza Once de...
neighborhood, where the attack took place. - Directed by: Daniel BurmanDaniel BurmanDaniel Burman is a film director, screenplay writer, and producer.According to film critic Joel Poblete, who writes for Mabuse, a cinema magazine, Daniel Burman is one of the members of the so-called "New Argentina Cinema" which began c...
- Written by: Daniel Burman
- Editing: Alejandro BrodersohnAlejandro BrodersohnAlejandro Brodersohn is an Argentine film editor.Some of the films he has edited have been critically well received: Buenos Aires Vice Versa, Whisky Romeo Zulu , 18-j , and El Abrazo partido ....
- Cinematography: Alejandro Giuliani
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(4) La Llamada
aka The Call- Synopsis: Set in Quebrada de HumahuacaQuebrada de HumahuacaThe Quebrada de Humahuaca is a narrow mountain valley located in the province of Jujuy in northwest Argentina, north of Buenos Aires . It is about long, oriented north-south, bordered by the Altiplano in the west and north, by the Sub-Andean hills in the east, and by the warm valleys in the...
, a village far from Buenos Aires, a woman experiences anguish. Her son lives in Buenos Aires and she is desperately waiting to hear from him. - Directed by: Alberto LecchiAlberto LecchiAlberto Lecchi is an Argentine film, screenwriter and film producer.Born in Buenos Aires, Lecchi started working in Argentine cinema in 1979, as a second assistant director to Hugo Sofovich in the three films he directed that year...
- Written by: Santiago Giralt
- Editing: Alejandro Alem
- Cinematography: Hugo ColaceHugo ColaceHugo Colace is an Argentine film cinematographer.Three of his most recent films have been critically well received: La Ciénaga , Historias mínimas , and 18-j .-Filmography :...
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(5) La vergüenza
aka Shame- Synopsis: A survivor of the attack, Ana, revives her memories while preparing in her mind the testimony she will present in Court. Also covers the political cover-up following the bombing.
- Directed by: Alejandro DoriaAlejandro DoriaAlejandro Doria was a noted Argentine cinema and television director.-Life and work:Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, he first worked for Argentine television in 1965 as a writer for a local variety show, Show rambler....
- Written by: Alejandro Doria and Aída Bortnik
- Editing: Sergio Zóttola
- Cinematography: Willi BehnischWilli BehnischWilli Behnisch is an Argentine cinematographer, film director, and screenplay writer. Most of his work is as a cinematographer...
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(6) Mitzvah
- Synopsis: Centered on an elderly Jewish couple as they prepare for a bar mitzvah. Their daughter lives in Israel and they plan to visit her soon.
- Directed by: Lucía Cedrón
- Written by: Victoria Galardi
- Editing: Rosario Suárez
- Cinematography: José Luis GarcíaJosé Luis GarcíaJosé Luis García is an Argentine football midfielder. He currently plays for Almirante Brown.-External links:*...
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(7) La comedia divina
aka The Divine Comedy- Synopsis: The pain of the victims.
- Directed by: Juan Bautista Stagnaro
- Written by: Juan Bautista Stagnaro
- Editing: Alejandro Alem
- Cinematography: Andrés Mazzon
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(8) Lacrimosa
aka The Tearful- Synopsis: In purely artistic fashion four dancers from the San Martín Theater perform.
- Directed by: Mauricio Wainrot
- Written by: Carlos GallardoCarlos GallardoCarlos Gallardo is a Mexican actor, producer and occasional screenwriter and director, and frequent collaborator with his friend, director Robert Rodriguez.-Life and career:Gallardo was born in Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico to a Mexican father and an Irish mother....
and Mauricio Wainrot - Editing: Marcela Sáenz
- Cinematography: Abel Peñalba
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(9) La ira de Dios
aka The Wrath of God- Synopsis: The pain of the victims.
- Directed by: Marcelo Schapces
- Written by: Paula Romero Levit and Pablo Fidalgo
- Editing: Miguel Schverdfinger
- Cinematography: José GuerraJosé GuerraJosé Antonio Guerra Oliva is a male diver from Cuba. He represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 2000...
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(10) Sorprensa
aka Surprise- Synopsis: The pain of the victims, and shows the arbitrariness of terrorismTerrorismTerrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
in selecting its victims. - Directed by: Adrián SuarAdrián SuarAdrián Kirzner Schwartz, better known as Adrián Suar is an Argentine Jewish former actor, and a current media producer and businessman, better known as the programme director of Canal 13....
- Written by: Josefina Trotta, Sebastián Noejovich, Lucía Victoria Roux, María Laura Meradi, Francisco Sánchez Azcárate, Damián Fraticelli and Mariano Vera
- Editing: Alejandro Alem, Alejandro Parysow
- Cinematography: Miguel Abal
Critical reception
Jonathan Holland, film critic for VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, liked the various stories and how they provide a "perceptive overview of Argentinian society". He wrote, "This worthy and affecting homage features styles from abstract to hard-hitting. Political fest sidebars are the pic's likeliest destination, along with arthouses in territories with a cultural interest in the tragedy... As a byproduct, pic reps an often perceptive overview of Argentine life at several social levels. Though many of the dead were Jewish, most helmers have significantly emphasized the universality of the tragedy rather than focusing on Jewish victimization."
External links
- 18-j at the cinenacional.comCinenacional.comCinenacional.com is a web portal and web-based database about Argentine cinema.The site provides a vast array of information, including: films, television programs, directors, actors, cinematographers, film editors, production designers, and other production professions in Argentina...
- 18-j film review at Cineismo by Silvina Rival
- 18-j informational video at You Tube