Anarchists (2000) [N/A]
Written by:
Virginia Martínez
Directed by:
Virginia Martínez
Release Date:
June 6, 2000
Original Title:
Ácratas
Genres:
Documentary
Production Countries:
Uruguay
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 73
Armed based on photography, period films, archival materials and testimonies of survivors, family members and historians, the documentary accurately and exquisitely reconstructs the course of the “expropriating anarchists” in the Río de la Plata and specifically in Montevideo del First third of the 20th century.
A short and very interesting documental about the anarchists in Argentina and Uruguay in early XX century. Who were and what were the thoughts of Severino de Giovanni and Simón Radowitzky? Who was Rosigna? The movie begins showing the Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) prison, where Radowitzky lived a lot of years after killing Ramón Falcón, chief of the Federal Police (who had killed a lot of workers during a manifestation). Then, it goes to the arrival to Buenos Aires of thousands of Italians, Spanish and Jewish immigrants, the origin of half the population of Argentina and Uruguay, between them the first anarchists and socialists of the River Plate. Nowadays can be curious to see that such idealists could attack a bank (sometimes killing people) and steal a lot of money only for editing books or pamphlets, as their lives went on in a pathetic material poverty. It is interesting to see how was planned the escape of anarchists from Punta Carretas prison of Montevideo. One anarquist settled a coal shop in front of the prison, and a tunnel was dug from there to prison. Some decades before, there was a flight of Tupamaros prisoners in the same way. The anarchists were defeated by militar dictatorships and because the appearing of peronism in 1946 (the creol working class had less contact with European political ideas). Di Giovanni was executed in prison, Radowitzky after being put free fought in the Spanish Civil War, Rosigna was put free in Uruguay but disappeared (killed indeed). Perhaps there are few emphasis in the origin of their ideals and the difference between the pacifists and violent ways they employ for fighting. The testimony of anarchist writer Osvaldo Bayer, a niece of Rosigna, a former Tupamaro and old anarchists contribute to have a wider viewpoint.
