Cinema
Cerro Cora
Cerro Corá
Guillermo Vera · 1978
Synopsis
The film follows the itinerary of Marshal Francisco Solano López during the War of the Triple Alliance, which from 1864 to 1870 pitted Paraguay against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. It reconstructs a few of the great episodes of the conflict, the Paraguayan victory at Curupayty, the allied attack on Piribebuy, up to the last camp at Cerro Corá that gives the film its title. Roberto De Felice plays López and Rosa Ros his companion, Elisa Alicia Lynch; the battle scenes involve thousands of extras.
Context
The film was financed by the government of Alfredo Stroessner and produced by Paraguay Sono Film, with a budget given as one and a half million dollars. Shot on thirty-five millimetre film and in colour over several months, with more than five thousand extras, it had Argentines as its director of photography, camera operator and head of special effects. An opening message places it under the nationalist and patriotic guidance of the government, and the dictatorship presented it as a tribute to Stroessner. The original negative is lost; a copy reconstructed from television recordings and private collections returned to cinemas in May 2002.
Who it is for
In Spanish and Guarani, nearly two hours. It is best to know that the film carries the dictatorship's official view of the war and of López.
Prizes and reception
The first feature film produced entirely in Paraguay and the country's first major success in cinemas; regarded ever since as a propaganda film.
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