The first time I heard about the Dirty War, a time in Argentine’s history where the country was governed by a dictatorship, was fall semester of this year in my Spanish Conversation class. We learned about how more than 10,000 people disappeared during the war, supposedly abducted by the dictator’s regime. Many of them were murdered. As for the children, many of them were adopted by families only to find out later in life that their parents are not their birth parents.
I think Brynne Miller’s documentary was shown at a very relavent time. As college-aged students, it is especially important that we bare global citizens and know what is happening in other countries. Something that affected so many people should be known about. Almost 400 hundred children are still missing, and I think Miller is right about this being a film about human identity. Imagine growing up in a family, and then finding out your parents are not your real parents. Then imagine realizing the parents that raised you for most of your life might have also had something to do with the torture and murder of your real parents. Talk about an identity crisis.
After learning so much in my conversation class, I could not believe I had never heard about this war until now. I encourage everyone who can to attend the 7 p.m. showing of "Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo and The Search for Identity" on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Miller will be at the showing for a Q&A after the film to answer questions and talk more about her first-hand-experience with this story.