Padre Mugica

Biography of Carlos Mugica (1930-1974), an Argentine priest linked to the Movement of Priests for the Third World and to the popular struggles of Argentina in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of his community work took place in Villa 31 de Retiro, which unofficially bears his name. Due to his "option for the poor," embodied in active social activism and his political independence, he received criticism from all sectors, death threats, and various attacks and assassination attempts. He was ultimately shot and killed, and the crime was attributed to the "Triple A" (Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance).

Directed by Gabriel Mariotto, Gustavo E. Gordillo, Padre Mugica leans on a strong ensemble — Rubén Stella, Marilina Ross, Mario Firmenich — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1999.