Cast

Camila, played by Susú Pecoraro

Ladislao, played by Imanol Arias, and dubbed by Lellio Incrocci

La Perichona (Camila’s grandmother), played by Mona Maris

Adolfo (Camila’s father), played by Héctor Alterio

Also Starring

Elena Tasisto, Carlos Muñoz, Héctor Pellegrini, Juan Leyrado, Cecilio Madanés, Claudio Gallardou, Boris Rubaja

With

Alberto Busaid, Lidia Catalano, Zelmar Gueñol, Jorge Hacker, Carlos Marchi, Roxana Berco, Alejandra Colunga, Alejandro Marcial, Oscar Núñez, Jorge Ochoa, Fernando Iglesias (Tacholas)

Crew

Director: María Luisa Bemberg

Screenplay: María Luisa Bemberg, Beda Docampo Feijoo, and Juan Bautista Stagnaro

Cinematography: Fernando Arribas

Editing: Luis César D’Angiolillo

Art Directors: Miguel Rodríguez and Esmeralda Almonacid

Assistant Director: Alberto Lecchi

Camera: Daniel Karp

Production Delegate: Paco Molero

Wardrobe: Graciela Galán

Make-up: Oscar Malet

Hairdresser: Rodolfo Spinetta

Production Managers: Martha Parga, Clara Zappettini

Sound: Jorge Stavropulos

Music: Luis María Serra

Producer: Lita Santic for Gea Producciones (Argentina) and Impala (Spain)

Awards

Nominee, Best Foreign Film, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Hollywood

Winner, Best Actress (Susú Pecoraro), Karlovy Vary, 1984

Winner, Best Actress (Pecoraro, shared), Havana, 1984

Plot

Film opens with establishing shot of the pampas; panning shots of the O’Gorman estate. Camila’s grandmother, La Perichona, alights from her horsedrawn carriage; is greeted by her son Adolfo, who wishes her well during her house arrest in the tower. Domestic scenes around the estate. In church Camila is seen confessing the contents of a sexual dream; Camila sees the new priest and asks who he is. Camila buys a prohibited book in Mariano’s bookshop. During a party at the O’Gorman household Camila falls in love with the new priest, Ladislao. Mariano is murdered, and Ladislao uses his sermon to criticize the perpetrators. Camila praises his action at dinner, and is asked to leave the table by her father. Camila gives some clothes to the Church. In a highly charged confession she confesses her love to Ladislao. Ladislao and Camila have a secret rendez-vous in the belfry and snatch their first kiss. They elope and settle in Goya City, miles from Buenos Aires, and set up a school. Some strains appear in their relationship. Ladislao is discovered by Padre Gannon in a tavern. They are offered horses to flee, but they remain and the Comandante arrives and arrests them. They are both imprisoned, and sentenced to death because of their sacrilegious actions.