The Eternaut
- Eduardo Montes-Bradley
- May 5
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
This time, I’m not writing about one of my films in production or reflecting on the creative process behind a documentary. I want to take a moment to highlight a cultural event that deserves our attention: the new screen adaptation of El Eternauta.
An Argentine Story, Told Without Apology
El Eternauta signals something new for Argentine cinema. For the first time, we are seeing a production that stands on its own without imitating the tropes of international (especially American) storytelling. It’s not about achieving universality through abstraction—it’s about being unapologetically Argentine, and in doing so, achieving something truly universal.
Beyond the Oscars
Argentina has won two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film—The Official Story and El secreto de sus ojos. And while those recognitions brought attention to our cinema, they felt, in hindsight, like politically convenient choices by the Academy. Those films were rewarded more for their context than their craft.
With El Eternauta, we are witnessing a story that doesn’t need the backdrop of global politics to be relevant. It earns its recognition with artistic integrity and bold direction.
The Eternaut: Why It Matters Now
This story of snowfall, survival, and resistance isn’t just science fiction—it’s an allegory that speaks to Argentina’s own history of repression, collective trauma, and endurance. The series doesn’t wallow in nostalgia. Instead, it meets the present moment with defiance and creative clarity.
Conclusion
El Eternauta may very well be the moment Argentine cinema has been building toward for decades: a mature, locally grounded, and globally resonant work that doesn’t have to explain itself. It just is. And that, finally, is enough.
Thank you, Rosemary. I’m glad to hear from you! What I enjoyed most about this series was how directly it appealed to my personal experience growing up in Buenos Aires. The locations are all along the northbound railroad corridor that connects the city with the Delta.
Also, the experiences of the veterans of the Falklands–Malvinas War struck a deep chord. That conflict affected everyone, but most directly the draftees of my class. In my memory, they all remained twenty years old—but I see now they look just like I do in the mirror. As you can tell, my comment was triggered by a very personal reaction. I think I felt more represented in this series than ever before in any other film…
I just finished watching the series last night, noting that Ricardo Darín was the lead, one of my favourite actors. Although the series became melodramatic and at times dragged, it was a most satisfying science fiction film. You probably know most of the cast, director and producers.
Thank you for all your news of all your projects, I think you are amazing, Eduardo.