Argentina 2001This Spanish-language series chronicles the politics and events leading up to the most severe economic and social crisis in Argentina’s history since its return to democracy. At the center of a government in crisis, a political appointee works as a liaison between the current administration and opposition party figures who seek to rise to power.
DirectorBenjamín Ávila
WritersMario Segade, Miguel Bonasso
The Beginning of the End
Jun 7, 2023
December 20, 2001 marks the end of a government in freefall, but also a day of tragedy as violent repression to protests results in the loss of 39 lives. Fourteen months before this infamous day, President Fernando de la Rúa seeks to overcome Argentina’s economic crisis by appointing an unpopular minister of economy.
The Money Isn’t Coming
Jun 7, 2023
New minister Cavallo's plan to rescue the country’s troubling economy with IMF support faces a major setback after 9/11; talk of a devaluation begins to build. The government is pummeled at the ballot box by Peronism and scratch votes, and De la Rúa continues to look at a potential co-government with a controversial figure.
A No-Good Face is Better than a New One
Jun 7, 2023
Duhalde maneuvers to form an opposition and meets with the IMF in hopes of having his moment. De la Rúa continues to back Cavallo, resisting calls from his chief of cabinet and former president Alfonsín. A government measure intended to prevent capital flight sets Argentina on a course for economic collapse.
December 2001
Jun 7, 2023
The president's declaration fails to quell the unrest as people from all walks of life take to the streets in protest and unite with demands for the government’s removal. Meanwhile, internal negotiations go on through the night of December 19, and a chorus calling for Cavallo’s resignation begins to grow louder.
The Beginning and the End
Jun 7, 2023
The Argentine crisis hits its peak on December 20. Government forces employ violence to repress the protests, after being given the order to clear Plaza de Mayo and indiscriminately detain whomever. Peronism rejects the government’s calls for national unity and the only recourse left for the president is to resign.
Will We all Triumph Together?
Jun 7, 2023
Peronism oversees the transition while the president of the Senate assumes the presidency on an interim basis. Behind the scenes, a debate takes place on whether to call early elections. An unprecedented five presidents are sworn in over a period of eleven days. In early 2002, Duhalde makes a bold promise.
Splinter
@Splinter
This film is a timely reminder that Argentina fails to learn from the past and illustrates in stark reality the catastrophic social consequences of economic mismanagement and corruption. With actual footage of the events leading up to the popular uprising on 19th/20th December 2001, this theatrical dramatisation shows a president, De la Rua, completely out of his depth and lacking in any leadership skills whatsoever. The acting and direction for a budget film such as this are top notch and one can literally feel the tension, frustration of the people and the horror of the police repression in the Plaza de Mayo and beyond. Behind the scenes, most of the 'actors' are so busy looking after number one that they fail to see the stark reality outside the comfort of the Casa Rosada or indeed the Quinta Presidencial as they bury their collective heads in the sand. Living in Argentina, as I do, I am well aware that this scenario could well be acted out again because the country is now in debt to the IMF to the tune of $60bn, which is not very far off the figure defaulted on in 2001. December 2001 was a time bomb literally in the making since March 2001 and possibly before. Today, that time bomb has returned and the lesson still hasn't been learned.
