Eva Peron

Biopic Overview

The film Eva Perón:  the True Story is a biographical motion picture of Eva Perón, the polarizing female political leader of the Argentine Peronist party.  Directed by Juan Carlos Desanzo, this film provides viewers with a representation of Peron, affectionately known as “Evita” by her supporters, as a wife to President Juan Domingo Peron, political leader and public figure.  Her time as first lady to Juan Domingo lasted just six years from 1946-1952, but her impact is still seen today.  The Peronist party appealed to members of the working classes of Argentina.  Evita’s presence as a member of the party instilled the working classes with a sense of hope and gratitude towards her. She was understood as caring for them as a mother or saint would, and she did enact enact policies which would benefit them. 

Her charismatic demeanor and powerful image has lent itself to both criticism and praise.  She was an excellent public speaker desired to take measures that would improve the quality of life for her supporters while maintaining power for the Peronist party.  Support for her involvement in the country’s politics was not universal.  Many military leaders within the party detested that a woman wield such power over the people of the country. Although some view her as a power hungry woman who rose to fame for questionable reasons, her image as a political leader is also revered.  Often, the perception of revolutionary figures is open for interpretation, and Eva Perón is no exception.  Those outside of the working poor in Argentina are more skeptical of her true lasting impact.   Her role as a politically active first lady and along with her self representation as a submissive wife to Juan Domingo Peron in her autobiography, played perfectly into the appeal of the Peronist party.  Eva Perón:  the True Story aims to depict Evita in a light which will garner appreciation for he life and contributions.  After her death in 1952, her life has been celebrated across many mediums including music, theater, and film, most famously in the song “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” by Julie Covington which references and pays tribute to her last days in office.

Screen shot of Eva Péron (Esther Goris) being held up by husband Juan Domingo Péron (Victor Laplace) during one of her final speeches from the film