Evita is the 1996 film adaptation of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on the life of Eva Perón. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce. It was released on December 25, 1996 by Hollywood Pictures and Cinergi Pictures.

Plot

Evita traces the life of Eva Duarte (later Eva Duarte de Perón) (Madonna) from a child from the lower class to becoming the first lady and spiritual leader of Argentina. Early in the film, Eva is seen as a small girl attempting to attend her father's funeral in the town of Junin with her mother and siblings. But her father's wife and other family (who are middle class) ban Eva's family from entering and carry Eva out screaming after she runs in on her own.

At age 15, Eva decides to leave Junin to seek a better life and hitches a ride to Buenos Aires with a tango singer, Augustin Magaldi, with whom she's having an affair. She progresses through several relationships with increasingly influential men until her fateful meeting with Colonel Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce) at a fundraiser. Perón's connection with Eva lends him a populist air since she is from the working class as is Peron himself. Eva has a radio show during Perón's rise and uses all her skills to promote Perón even when the controlling administration has him jailed to try and stunt his political momentum. The groundswelling of support Eva generates forces the government to release Perón and he finds the people enamored with him and Eva. Perón wins election to the presidency and Eva promises the new government will serve the "descamisados" (literally, "those without shirts", i.e. the working poor). Eva establishes a foundation and does distribute aid while the Perónists otherwise plunder the public treasury. Argentina is very class based and the military corps and social elites despise Eva's common roots and affinity for the poor. During a world tour Evita becomes ill and is rushed home. Towards the end of her life she understands she is terminally ill but rationalizes that her life was short because she shone like the "brightest fire" and helps Juan prepare to go on without her. The film ends with a large crowd surrounding the Casa Rosada in a candlelight vigil praying for her recovery when the light of her room goes out, signifying her death.

Cast

• Madonna as Eva Duarte Perón
• Antonio Banderas as Che Guevara (the narrator)
• Jonathan Pryce as Col. Juan Perón
• Jimmy Nail as Agustín Magaldi
• Victoria Sus as Doña Juana
• Julian Littman as Juan Duarte Jr.
• Olga Merediz as Blanca
• Laura Pallas as Elisa
• Julia Worsley as Erminda
• María Luján Hidalgo as Young Eva
• Servando Villamil as Cipriano Reyes
• Andrea Corr as Perón's Mistress
• Peter Polycarpou as Domingo Mercante
• Gary Brooker as Juan Bramuglia

Production and casting

Production of the film began several years back. Several actresses had been considered for the role. Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted an actress of Spanish descent to play the part; he considered casting Charo. Then Meryl Streep was given the role, but production was canned. Meanwhile, Madonna was campaigning for the role and spent a lot of money doing so over the next few years. When Parker was ready for filming, several people objected to Madonna playing the part. Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Olivia Newton-John and Michelle Pfeiffer were also rumored for the role. Pfeiffer almost got the role before Madonna did, but director Alan Parker wanted to shoot the picture on location, not in a sound studio in Hollywood, which was what Pfeiffer had originally wanted.

Filming began on February 1996 and it finished in May. On set, Madonna received vocal training to ensure she had the best possible voice.

Soundtrack

Album

1. Evita - The Motion Picture Music Soundtrack

Singles

1. You Must Love Me - Madonna
2. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina - Madonna
3. Another Suitcase in Another Hall - Madonna
4. Buenos Aires - Madonna

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song (You Must Love Me).
• Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Song from a Movie (Don't Cry For Me Argentina).
• Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Song and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture.
• LAFCA Award for Best Production Design.
• Golden Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture Costume Design and Outstanding Original Song.

Box office

Box office performance

Box Office Revenue
United States	International	Total	Reference
$51,047,179	$91,000,000	$142,047,179	--

Reception

The film received a warm reception from many critics. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the award for "Best Song" for "You Must Love Me". Evita also had five Golden Globe nominations and three wins (Best Picture - Comedy or Musical; Best Original Song, "You Must Love Me"; and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, Madonna) and was one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of the Year.

Following the success of the film, the government of Argentina released its own film biography of Peron, entitled "Eva Perón," to correct alleged distortions in the Lloyd Webber account.

World record

The movie earned Madonna a Guinness World Record title, "Most costume changes in a film". Madonna broke Elizabeth Taylor's 1963 record for Cleopatra (65 costume changes), in her Golden Globe-winning turn as Eva Peron in Evita. She changed costumes 85 times (which included 39 hats, 45 pairs of shoes and 56 pairs of earrings). In addition to the normal challenges of creating that many costumes for one actress, the costume designer and wardrobe department also had to deal with the fact that they had to conceal Madonna's real-life pregnancy throughout the production.

References

External links

• Complete list of actors who were considered for roles