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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful portrayal of Latin America's most powerful woman, December 9, 2003
This review is from: Eva Peron (DVD)
Eva Peron was born in rural Argentina in 1919. At the age of 15 she made her way to the capital, Buenos Aires, to pursue her dreams of cinema stardom. By 26 she was the first lady of the nation, becoming the liaison between the people of Argentina and her husband, Juan Peron. She presided over the creation of the Eva Peron Foundation, the first real welfare system the nation had ever seen (for the first time in Argentine history there was no inequality in health care), created entire cities where thousands of homes were given to the impoverished, pushed for legislation that benefited women (including granting women the right to vote), and challenged just about every notion Latin America had about women's roles, defying even her husband's requests that she slow down. Argentine director Juan Carlos Desanzo has decided to focus on the years 1951-52 in Evita's life. She has decided that she would like to become the first female vice president in her country's history, the first in world history. But she has two adversaries: the oligarchy, who would be horrified to see a woman of her "common" background officially recognized; the military, who would not stand for the possibility of a female commander in the event of their president's death. Can Evita, with the wild enthusiasm of the people for her candidacy, defeat them? Will her husband support her bid? The majority of EVA PERON is devoted to posing and answering these questions. Is this the definitive version of Evita? There is no way to know for sure. But I can assure you that the producers succeeded in their attempt to offer a counter-point to the Madonna version, to put more substance to the story. In fact, it's hard to believe the respective movies concern the same figure. Argentine actress Esther Goris brings Eva Peron to life, amazingly making human a woman who has become superhuman, an archetype, a legend, and a myth. Andrew Parodi
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eva Peron immortalized yet again. Politically charged and fascinating., June 27, 2005
This review is from: Eva Peron (DVD)
This Argentine feature was release around the same time as Alan Parker's film version of the hit musical EVITA. For those interested in learning about Argentina's controversial first lady, I recommend both films. Desanzo's version is lower-budget and therefore not as spectacular as Parker's interpretation, but EVA PERON is alot more historically accurate and fair in it's treatment of Evita.
The film deals with the final stages of Eva Peron's life. It chronicles her bid for the vice-presidency and her illness in detail. Several other stages of Eva Peron's life are also touched upon by the use of flashbacks.
My only (minor) complaints lie with Esther Goris. Admittingly, she does resemble Evita during her final stages but when playing the younger Eva Duarte de Peron, Goris doesn't even come close. All one has to do is look at the hundreds of photo's of Eva Peron pre-1950 (before her disease) and one will be able to see the extraordinary differences in physical appearance. The real Eva's beauty was more radiant, her hair more elaborate and her body was more voluptuous. Goris is too thin, to abrasive to portray the young Evita during her earlier years as the First Lady. I usually have difficulties watching a bio-film when the leading actor does not resemble the person they are portraying. I had a similiar problem with Leonardo DiCaprio portraying Howard Hughes in THE AVIATOR.
Goris's voice and personality are also too authorative and at times, over-bearing. Granted, the real Eva Peron, according to many, was just that and Eva's voice was shrill and authorative when giving her impassioned speeches on the balcony of the Casa Rosada but during her less intense speeches such as speaking to her Descamisados over the radio, her voice was calm and peaceful and according to those who knew her best, she also had a sweet and gentle side to her. That's not really seen in this film. Eva Peron was a diamond with some rough edges, Goris is just rough around the edges.
Now that I got that out of the way, Goris does capture Evita's essence physically and vocally since, for the most part, she is portraying her during her final years and I will frankly state that her performance is moving. Like Madonna in Parker's film, Goris became Eva Peron and her passion for the role is clearly evident in her performance.
Those thinking that this Argentine version will portray Eva as a saintly deity will be quite shocked. This interpretation portrays an Eva Peron who liked to wear nice clothes and hats but had the will of a survivor. A young, strong woman who talked the talk and walked the walk and was able to change an entire nation forever due to her overwhelming fire and passion. This is a much tougher Evita than in Parker's film.
Despite my above comments, Esther Goris is outstanding in her portrayel and the production as a whole is excellent. Considering the tremendous amount of MIS-INFORMATION about the real Eva Peron on film: LITTLE MOTHER, EVITA PERON with Faye Dunaway and even the rock opera, this film is a blessing. And for those, like me, who are thirsty for the truth, we finally have a film that is pretty accurate historically and un-baised in it's treatment of it's leading lady and her legacy.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ester Goris Shines as Evita in this Argentine Movie, April 19, 2005
This review is from: Eva Peron (DVD)
I recently recieved this as part of a birthday gift after purchasing Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA a few months previous to it. While I found Webber's version a bit dry with substance it led me to this DVD which provided me with an understanding to how Argentina viewed their political figure.
Unlike Webber's version, the Director shows Evita in several political situations, such as meeting a woman from the Charity Association, and talking to the railroad workers when they begin a strike. Also unlike Webber's version, the director in this one concentrated solely on Eva's vice presidency which Webber short-changed during the filming of his Evita.
Ester Goris, looks impressively like the real Evita and also has the ability to show emotions very well. For example, when Peron ignores Evita going up for the vice presidency she launchs into a tirade about how she has been discriminated against all her life, and when Eva finds out about her cancer Ester calmly sits down in front of a mirror before striking it four times with her fist.
I highly recommend this movie as a resource to all Evita fans who have a project or are just curious about the life and death of Eva Peron.
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