Evita: Her Real Story

Eva Duarte Peron, better known as Evita, remains one of the most enigmatic, complex, and contradictory figures of the 20th century. Born "illegitimate" into rural poverty, her ambitious personality and movie-fed imagination drove her to abandon Argentina's hinterlands for Buenos Aires, where her good looks enabled her to find work in films and radio. Always drawn to powerful men, Evita eventually crossed paths with Juan Peron, an established politician and master manipulator, becoming his mistress and later his wife. As Juan's lifeline to and champion of the "shirtless ones" (Argentina's labor unionists and other disenfranchised workers), Evita was instrumental in building the power base of the Peronista movement. Evita: Her Real Story reviews Evita's short, turbulent career as partner to Juan and the voice of Argentina's downtrodden masses. Although she espoused humility and modesty, Evita dressed in lavish clothes and jewels, and craved acceptance from the country's aristocratic class. Evita's death from cancer at the age of 33 ended a meteoric career, sealed the cult of Evita worship, and marked the beginning of the end for Peron's government. Unfortunately, while the story is compelling, this particular treatment disappoints on several levels, not the least of which is that we never hear Evita's compelling voice (instead, we're offered background music that is annoying, intrusive, and mostly unnecessary, plus an interview with Madonna). Libraries should consider A&E's Biography entry Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth (VL-7/97) instead. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)