She had her moments, she had some style

[ivyfic]

I have fallen into a deep hole of Evita love (the 1996 movie, to be clear). All it took was playing the soundtrack once.

I can't really defend it? It's a musical about a controversial Argentine political figure by a British dude based on an apparently ahistorical and defamatory biography that uses Che Guevara (!) as a narrator (I know in some productions the narrator is more anonymous but come on he's named Che there's only one Che) who criticizes Eva Peron but ultimately comes around to grudging respect, a thing it is in no way controversial to have Che Guevara do for the wife of the authoritarian that invited the Nazis into Argentina. Apparently Tim Rice became interested in the subject because he collects stamps and had some with Eva Peron on them. Then the movie is performed by Madonna, whose voice is not in the right range for the role, and Antonio Banderas who makes a creditable effort for not a singer. And some of the lyrics--woof! "And if I need a moment's rest/give your lover the very best/real eider down and silence." And my personal favorite terrible mixed metaphor: "Although I've been dressed to the nines at sixes and sevens with you."

And yet I love it SO MUCH. I would say I want to be in a fandom for it except I really don't. I told my wife I just wanted to find something else that made me feel the way this makes me feel and she said--so you want something that makes you feel like you did when you were 16? And--fair.

But if anyone knows of any other media that follows an arc of deeply cynical antagonism to sincere respect without being a romance, with a whole pile of emo, point me at it. Or if anyone wants to talk to me about Evita.

I did go look on AO3 and there are in fact fic. Five of them. One is a roommate AU where Eva Peron is a youtuber and Che is her nonbinary ace roomie with a crush and--how is this Evita fanfiction at that point. The other had the tags "Margaret Thatcher/Eva Peron" and "Eurovision song contest" and I did not investigate further.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

I remember the movie vividly and saw it in the theater.

I am a huge Madonna fan so you don't have to convince me!

[ivyfic]

I watched it on double VHS in my high school dorm common room cause someone else rented it. There were a lot of movies inflicted on me that way (Romeo + Juliet, The English Patient, Angels & Insects) but this is one of the only ones I liked. I remember seeing the credits roll and being like--Banderas is supposed to be Che Guevara? What?

[pauraque]

I feel about Evita the way I feel about a lot of the Rice/Webber collaborations, which is like... a lot of this makes no sense and WHAT are these lyrics and how did ANYONE think this was the optimal way to fit words to music, but when you get the right performers in it it kinda works in spite of itself. Though of course you're right that Madonna's voice wasn't right for it, she was truly passionate about the role and I think that really elevated the movie. Passion is what you need for Rice/Webber shows, because if you think too hard about them... well, just don't think too hard about them.

[ivyfic]

well, just don't think too hard about them.

That is definitely true. Especially when I finally saw Jesus Christ Superstar years later and realized that Webber had ripped himself off by just doing the Judas/Jesus dynamic again. Except this time with Che Guevara and Eva Peron. I have tried to look into some of the real history, but only gotten far enough to know there's not a whole lot in English and everyone's got an angle on it. But there's an unmistakable feel to the way Latin American politics are portrayed in this that meshes with the American fear-mongering around Noriega and Chavez that makes me a little suspicious about the accuracy. And apparently the whole she slept her way to the top thing is anti-Peronista misogynist propaganda so what else is new.

I'm just going to sit here reveling in how hot Banderas is in this and the world-record setting number of costumes Madonna is wearing.

[pauraque]

Webber had ripped himself off by just doing the Judas/Jesus dynamic again. Except this time with Che Guevara and Eva Peron

Ha!! I had never thought of it this way, but you're absolutely right.

[jethrien]

I love the bonkers-ness of the "dressed to the nines" line.

I always kind of wanted to do "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" as karaoke except that it would be TERRIBLE karaoke.

The thing is, I've never actually seen Evita -I had a "Best of Andrew Lloyd Weber" cassette tape I listened to for basically all of fifth grade. So I have the oddest songs memorized.

[ivyfic]

I would propose a viewing but god knows when that would happen. Definitely needs to be when I can drink again, though.