The Falklands War / la guerra de las Malvinas took place in the spring / autumn of 1982 over a group of small islands in the southwest Atlantic that belong to Britain / Argentina.
On this polemical premise, Lola Arias’ extraordinary documentary theatre piece Campo Minado / Minefield cuts right through the conflicting ‘facts’ of the matter to explore a greater truth. The 100 minute play brings together three military men who fought on the British side with three from the Argentinian side. Together, these former enemies narrate fragmented memories of the 10 week war. Archive materials include public and personal photographs, news items, pieces of clothing and music performed live by the men.
As their stories are told, the unlikeliness of this theatre piece ever coming together are made ever more poignant. There is a sense of treachery at every turn. Neither side were prepared for what to expect. The average age of British veterans was 23. Yet while they were voluntarily in the army, the Argentines were 18-year-old conscripts chosen according to the last three numbers on their ID.
For the British today, the war is recalled as little more than Margaret Thatcher's publicity stunt, used as a way to get voted in again and push through a series of privatization measures and crush trade unions. In Argentina, while it heralded the end of the military dictatorship, the war is still profoundly lived. Argentina suffered heavy losses, half of the casualties went down with the ship the General Belgrano that was sailing away when it was struck by a British torpedo.
Emotions run so high in Argentina, explained Arias, that it took 5 years to receive the backing to bring this project together. Veterans took part at a great emotional cost and amidst accusations of betrayal from former comrades in arms. On both sides, it would have been hard enough were civilians to share stories about the war, said Arias, but these are military men. A sense of camaraderie and loyalty was imperative to their psychological and physical survival.
Yet it is perhaps survival that has brought them together on stage with the enemy. Since the war, many veterans have experienced trauma; the number of suicides, it is pointed out, has exceeded the number of casualties killed in action. Never lost by any of these veterans is the conviction that their cause was the right one. But this is not a story about right and wrong but about responsibility, not just to your country but to your fellow human being. It is a powerful and timely defence of compassion in the absence of resolution.
