Argentina, 1985 (2022)

Nominated for Best International Feature    This was a very compelling court drama that I probably would not have seen otherwise.  Content warning:  war crimes, discussion of rape and torture

In 1985, Argentina's highest court decided to prosecute high-ranking military officials for their part in the violent dictatorship from 1976-1983 after a military tribunal declined.  The prosecutor, Julio Strassera (Ricardo Darín), must put together a case that the generals and higher-ups knew and actively encouraged the policies of kidnapping, torture, false imprisonment, murder, and rape on a country-wide scale.  Assisting him is a young, untried lawyer named Luis Moreno Ocampo (Peter Lanzani) and a team of interns.  

It gets right to the point, laying out its premise and jumping straight into Nuremberg comparisons.  It doesn't fetishize the ordeals or exploit the material, but it doesn't shy away from the horror either.  The only detrimental aspect for me was the focus on Strassera's kids, especially in the beginning.  It took away from the plot.  But that's a personal beef and your mileage may vary.  I will say again, overall it's a very good movie about holding monsters accountable.

It's currently streaming on Amazon Prime.