Camila is an Argentinean film set in the mid 19th century, during the
Rosas regime. The film focuses on the lives of a young girl, Camila, and
her Jesuit priest Ladislao Gutierrez. Camila and Ladisalo fall in love and
the film follows their troubles. Through following the events that happen
with Camila and Ladisalo, the director shows how restrictive and devout
followers of Rosas were and of the resentment against him. The unjust
ways of the Rosas regime were illustrated passively. Instead of having
Rosas a central character issuing orders to be carried out, Rosas was
instead placed in the background of the film. You would see Rosas
through the actions of the church, military, and of the common people.
His picture adorned the towns, everyone was to wear a red ribbon
symbolizing their loyalty to Rosas. His supporters spoke of him proudly
while those against him had to hide in silence. To illustrate the inherent
problems of the Rosas era, the director chose to show the injustices
through the ordeals of Camila and Ladislao. First of all, in everyday
life, Rosas demanded public showings of loyalty. Every citizen had to
wear a bright red ribbon symbolizing their faith in their leader. Slaves,
commoners, and even priests had to wear this ribbon. Through the
execution of the bookseller, the tyranny of the Rosas regime is clear. He
will tolerate to questions to his authority or allow anyone with a dissenting
opinion to speak without fear of retribution. At the end of the film when
the two young lovers are captured, Rosas rears his head again. Wishing
to set an example to inspire terror into the masses, he doesn't hold
Camilas execution even with the knowledge that she is pregnant. To
further illustrate this point, the film makes it appear that Rosas is
operating directly in contrast with the blessings of god. While never
specific in historical events, overall the films third person look into the
regime of Rosas does provide interesting historical insight about life in
mid 19th century Argentina. Costumes and settings in Camila illustrate
the lengths that the director made to make the film historically accurate.
Entertainment wise, Camila isn't the worst foreign film that I have seen,

but isn't the best. The story is a bit jumbled at the beginning and for the
most part, the plot is entirely predictable.