Reel American History - Films

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Crowdus, Gary. "The Missing Dossier: An Interview with Costa-Gavras." Cineaste 12.1 (1982): 30-35.: Costa-Gavras reveals some interesting insights into his thoughts about Missing. Costa-Gavras hoped that his movie would open eyes towards the human rights of mankind, but he couldnâ€™t plan on the movie having an actual political impact, just an increase in discussion about the issue of disappearing. Costa-Gavras exposes the lack of truth in Flora Lewisâ€™s New York Times article. He also comments on how the movie was started, why it didnâ€™t mention Chile, and how Charles Horman was depicted in the film as a neophyte.
Greenberg, Peter. "Art, Lies, and Reality." Rolling Stone 13 May 1982: 15-19+: Interview with Costa-Gavras.
Grenier, Richard. "The Curious Career of Costa-Gavras." Commentary 73 (April 1982): 61-71.: Sharp and mainly negative analysis of the politics of the film (no basis for the accusations of America's involvement in the coup) in the context of Costa-Gravas's other films.
Lewis, Flora. "New Film by Costa-Gavras Examines the Chilean Coup." New York Times 7 February 1982: 2-26.: Offering an incredibly comprehensive outline of the events leading up to the military coup of 1973, the days that followed, and the role of a young man named Charles Horman, Lewis does a fine job in presenting a history lesson. This review is particularly well known, since the author made a name for herself coming to the defense of the United States government. She cites evidence to support their denials of collusion in the events of 1973 and refers to an interview with the director Costa-Gavras as a means to illustrate the fictitious dramatization of a film that presents itself under the guise of being â€œbased on a true story.â€
Michalczyk, John J. Costa-Gavras: The Political Action Film. Philadelphia: Associated University Presses, Inc., 1984.: In this book dedicated entirely to the works of film director Constantin Costa-Gavras, Michalczyk examines the process through which the story told in a book titled The Execution of Charles Horman becomes the controversial topic of the film Missing. From the moment he was introduced to the script, Costa-Gavras worked diligently to ensure that the events he was seeking to capture would be done with more care than in all his past films. Michalczyk makes note of the directorâ€™s relationship with the Horman family and his determination to make the actors depicting the real life people feel and understand the story of Charles Horman. The disapproval with which the film is met from both the United States government and patriotic film reviewers, as well as the criticism Costa-Gavras receives for his personal politics are discussed in some detail. The author of this book highlights the work done in preparation for filming and the opposition and contention with which this project is faced. Synopses of the film, the â€œreal story,â€ and the political nature of Chile, are offered for supplementary information.
Robards, Brooks. Beyond the Stars. Eds. Paul Loukides and Linda K. Fuller. vol. 4. Bowling Green: Bowling Green University Popular Press, 1993.: Robards examines â€œHollywoodâ€™s fascination with the Latin settingsâ€ in its filmmaking, in particular the use of Mexico as the setting for many films of a Latin American context or theme.Â He discusses Hollywoodâ€™s relationship with the countries south of the border and makes note of how those countries have been used in numerous films to cater to a perception Americans seem to have about the nature of Latin American life and cultures.
Rubenstein, Lenny. "An Interview with Thomas Hauser." Cineaste 12.1 (1982): 35ff.: The author of the book on which the film is based.
Silberman, Robert. "The Political Thriller." The Political Companion to American Film. Ed. Gary Crowdus. Chicago: Lakeview Press, 1994.: Silberman examines the genre of film he calls â€œpolitical thrillersâ€ by discussing many films by an array of directors. From The Manchurian Candidate to Z to JFK, Silberman offers brief synopses of the films and reviews their impact and roles in presenting political and historical content. Silberman identifies a type of formula that seems consistent with each of the films, thus categorizing them as political thrillers. Films in this classification tend to evoke certain emotions from the audience, which he also gives some consideration to in this article.
Toplin, Robert Brent. History by Hollywood: The Use and Abuse of the American Past. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1996.: Toplin gives the historical background information of how Missing came to be made. He talks about the introduction of Ed Horman, the father of the disappeared and executed young American journalist Charles Horman, to Thomas Hauser, a Wall Street attorney. Hauser would later write The Execution of Charles Horman, detailing Charles Hormanâ€™s story and the complicity of the United States government in his murder by the Chilean military. Toplin talks a bit about the director Costa-Gavras, examining his cultural background and his movie-making tendencies and thoroughly examines Missing as a political film and a personal story, with historical and societal implications. This film is reviewed, firstly as a movie created to draw in and entertain an audience and, secondly, as a film with a deeper message of a political nature. Toplin also provides readers with a history lesson, describing the nature of Chile, its people, and Salvador Allendeâ€™s government before the military junta seized power.
Wood, Michael. "In Search of the Missing." American Film March 1982: 39-43, 78-79.: Wood explains the writerâ€™s experiences on the set of Missing and looks at some of the deeper thoughts of director Costa-Gavras. Wood is convinced the film is more personable than earlier films he made. Other films focused on the political issues at hand, whereas Missing involves the evolution of two characters as they both come to realize something is up with the disappearance of Charles Horman.
Yakir, Dan. "'Missing' in Action." Film Comment 18.2 (1982): 57-59.: Yakirâ€™s interview of Costa-Gavras in relation to his films attempts to portray the filmmaker as a humanist looking to discuss major issues rather than his own agenda. Costa-Gavras and Yakir have a very personable chat and talk about many of the subtler filmic devices used in film as well as the social consequences of the medium. Costa-Gavras comments on the purpose of his medium in that â€œfilm should serve as a mirror to society, to make people think, to be a reference source -- but to change it is a bit too demanding.â€ In discussing the specifics of Missing, Costa-Gavras confesses some interesting tidbits on why and how he made the movie, but on the whole he doesnâ€™t get asked any truly moving questions by Yakir.

Online Resources

Edelman, Rob. "Constantin Costa-Gavras." Film Reference. http://www.filmreference.com/Directors-Co-Du/Costa-Gavras-Constantin.html: Facts and brief analysis of Costa-Gavras's career.
Film Scoutsâ€"Costa-Gavras http://www.filmscouts.com/SCRIPTs/person.cfm?Person=43: This site offers people a chance to hear the voice of the man behind so many films. Costa-Gavras is captured in short audio clips speaking about his experiences as a director. Though this site focuses primarily on his film Mad City, it is still a unique opportunity to hear segments of an interview conducted with this director.
Films that Illuminate Foreign Politics http://astro.temple.edu/~bstavis/courses/film.htm: A compilation of films dealing with political issues in many different countries is found at this site. Listed next to the film is the country that it focuses on. This will serve as a helpful resource for those searching for films of this particular genreâ€"political dramas, political action films.

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