This film was based upon the novel by Augusto Roa Bastos "Man's Son". Even when nothing is said in the movie, it deals with the war between Paraguay and Bolivia at the beginning of the 30's in the XXth Century. Behind these really very poor countries there were two famous international oil companies. What is remarkable is the director's talent to film an epic tragedy. Unfortunately, Lucas Demare was never recognized in Argentina because of political reasons but it must be said that this film is one of the best in the history of Argentinian cinema. On the other hand, the cinematography and the editing are outstanding. Everybody's job should be underlined as powerful here, because technicians and actors did their best. The Spanish actor Francisco Rabal -directed by Buñuel and Antonioni among others- and the Argentinian Olga Zubarry -who received her deserved prize at the San Sebastián Festival- offer the portrait of two desperate and lonely soldiers in a senseless war. But it would be unfair not to mention everybody's job as paramount. Incidentally, Zubarry's name in the movie is Salu'ì -as it is written in the novel-, and her character was called that way ironically duo to her sexual activities. It was a smash hit from the very beginning an it is a pity that no perfect copy is available at present.
