Open Air Cinema - Norita

Before becoming a prominent figure in the human rights and women's movement in Argentina, Nora Morales de Cortiñas was a mother, wife, and "housewife" in the traditional Castelar neighborhood of Buenos Aires Province. Her entry into Argentina's political scene occurred in the most gruesome and dramatic way: through the disappearance and kidnapping of her 24-year-old son Gustavo in 1977 by the ruling military dictatorship—along with thousands of other young activists.

Nora faced rejection from the government, the church, and the media, so she took to the streets with other mothers of the "disappeared" and founded the resistance movement of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo. Together, they embarked on a long journey of resistance against the violent and authoritarian regime of General Jorge Videla, demanding the return of their daughters and sons—alive. Despite the kidnapping, torture, and murder of three members of the Madres, the group survived the dictatorship and became a symbol of human rights, resistance, and protest during the transition to democracy in the early 1980s.

For over 45 years, Norita has been a beacon of struggle—both individually and collectively—in her homeland and beyond. Her long struggle to imprison the military leaders responsible for the genocide caught the attention of a new women's movement in 2018, also fighting against the church and the patriarchal state—this time for the legalization of abortion. As portrayed in the film "Norita," the women's movement elevates Norita as the "godmother" of their struggle, honoring her tenacity and ethical steadfastness in the face of the countless hurdles she faced in seeking justice for her son and thousands of others.

Nora's life represents a process of intergenerational and historical reparation. Her story is an extraordinary tribute from mother to son—and a powerful testament to what is possible through collective action.

Directed by Jayson McNamara and Andrea Tortonese, 2024

About the film

• www.noritafilm.com/about

The event is realized in cooperation between the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation - Social Analysis and Political Education and the hofkino.berlin - open-air cinema in the FMP1