'Do Not Kill,' the Documentary on the 70s Guerrilla That Offers an Unprecedented Look and Reopens the Debate

Argentina's turbulent past, particularly the violence of the 1970s, continues to be a subject of intense debate and reflection. La Nación reports on "No Matar," a new documentary by Juan Villegas that tackles this delicate subject head-on, offering a perspective that challenges conventional narratives. The film's extended runtime of three hours and 42 minutes signals its ambition to delve deeply into the complexities of a decade marked by political upheaval and armed conflict.

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It's time to empathize once and for all with the pain of the families of those victims.

Villegas's approach is particularly noteworthy. By incorporating testimonies from individuals who participated in guerrilla movements, alongside the pain and loss experienced by victims' families, the documentary seeks to bridge divides and foster a more nuanced understanding. The film explicitly states its intention to "empathize once and for all with the pain of the families of those victims," a sentiment that resonates deeply within a society still grappling with the legacy of that era.

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It might be a bit of an exaggeration to call it a taboo, because a lot has been said about this topic, and sometimes in a different way, using these testimonies for political or partisan ends which is not my intention.

This documentary arrives at a time when discussions about the 1970s in Argentina often become politicized. Villegas aims to move beyond partisan interpretations, focusing instead on the lived experiences and the undeniable human cost of violence. By presenting a "look that is unprecedented" and reopening the debate, "No Matar" challenges Argentinians to confront uncomfortable truths and to acknowledge the suffering of all those affected by the conflict. It is a powerful call for memory and empathy, urging a nation to reckon with its past in a more comprehensive and humane way.

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We have to move beyond that dichotomy and tell the stories because they happened. I was interested in interleaving them with testimonies of people who participated in the guerrilla and who I wouldn't even say are repentant. What they do is self-criticism and at the same time they are aware that at the time they felt that was a legitimate way to change the world.