Evita (1996 film)

Evita is a 1996 American musical historical drama film directed by Alan Parker, based on the 1976 concept album Evita and the 1978 musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The film stars Madonna as Eva Perón, Jonathan Pryce as Juan Perón, and Antonio Banderas as Ché.

The film chronicles the life of Eva Perón, the wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. Beginning with her humble origins, it depicts her rise to fame as an actress, her marriage to Juan Perón, and her subsequent influence in Argentine politics and society, culminating in her death at the age of 33.

Evita was a significant undertaking, and its production involved extensive location filming in Argentina, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. The film faced some controversy in Argentina due to its depiction of Eva Perón and Argentine history.

The film features a mostly sung-through score, with the majority of the dialogue presented through musical numbers. Several songs from the original stage production were included, while new songs were specifically written for the film.

Evita received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising Madonna's performance and the visual aspects of the film, but criticizing its length and pacing. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $141 million worldwide. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") and three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Madonna.