简介：Directedby:FernandoNogueira Montage:GustavoCataldi Producedby:MariaCabrejas Date:2004 Country:Argentina Language:Spanish(Spanishsubtitles) Runningtime:49' AvailabilityintheUK:QueenMary,UniversityofLondon,Library MissionnaireisadocumentaryaboutSisterIvonnePierron'songoingmissionary workinaremoteareaintheProvinceofMisiones(Northeasterncornerof Argentina).AlthoughthefilmissetinPuebloIllia[IlliaVillage](Misiones),it openswithpanoramicviewsofthecityofBuenosAires,whilearadionewsreader tellsusaboutFrance'srequestforCaptainAlfredoAstiz'sextraditionforthe disappearanceandmurderoftwoFrenchnunsduringthelastArgentine dictatorship(1976-83).Then,thetitlesequencegivesusthebackgroundfor Missionnaire'sstory:'SisterIvonnePierron,comradeduringthoseyearsofAlice DomonandLéoniDuquet,thedisappearednuns,survived.' Thefilmshowsindetailthebeautifulandcolourfullandscape–greensoiland greenvegetation–ofthisruralarea,butalsothedeprivationofitsinhabitants. Mostofthemhavesmallfarms,puttheirproducecommandsinsufficientpricesin themarket.Thatiswhytheyfinditsohardtosurviveandmanychildrenhaveto work.Withinthiscontextofpovertyanddeprivation,SisterIvonnesetupa shelterforchildrenwheretheyreceiveeducation,havetheirmealsandpray.The filmpresentsinterviewswiththesechildren,theirparentsandtheirteachers. Manyofthechildreninterviewedsaythattheywouldnotbeabletostudyif Ivonnewasnottherewithhershelter,becausetheylivetoofarfromtheschools. Therearealsosequencesofclassroomsituationswherethepupilslearnaboutthe historyofhumanrightsinArgentinaunderthelastmilitarydictatorship.Itisthen whenSisterIvonneexplainstothepupilswhat'dictatorship'means,andhowthe conceptshouldnotonlybeappliedtothemilitaryregimeoflate1970sandearly 1980sArgentina,butalsotothe1990sbecausethegovernmentdeprivedpeople ofthepossibilityofsurviving,andthusmanypeasantsandshanty-towndwellers diedinindigence.Ivonneaffirmsthatonlythesurvivorsofadictatorshipcantell thetruestory.PhotographsofVidelaandAstizareinserted,andinsomeofthem theyareinchurches,whileIvonnesaysthattheCatholicChurchsinnedduring thelastdictatorshipbecauseitdidnottakeapositioninrelationtotheongoing violationofHumanRightsanddidnotcondemnthoseresponsibleforthem. IvonneconsidersherselfarevolutionaryasJesusChristandCheGuevarawere, andshowsherphotographofChe–whichwasgiventoherbyChe'sfather– whileshetellsusthattheshelter'schildrenknowwhohewas.Therearelong interviewswithIvonne,inthelastofwhichsheexplainsherconceptof 'liberation',drawingourattentiontothefactthatthepooraremoreliberated frommaterialwealthwhentheyfacedeaththantherich,andinthisrespectthey diefreerthantherich.Thefilmendswiththetestimonyofamotherwhosays thatIvonne'isanotherpeasant,anothernurse,anotherteacher.Ivonnneis everything.'…