El lado oscuro de la juventud. Sexo, drogas y modernización cultural en el cine negro argentino de los años sesenta

Abstract

This article analyzes three Argentine films from the 60s: La Patota (Daniel Tinayre, 1960), Orden de Matar (Román Viñoly Barreto, 1965), and Humo de Marihuana (Lucas Demare, 1968). In them, youth and their customs are central. The protagonists seek a life of pleasures but find tragic destinies. The films present sexuality, violence, rock & roll, social gatherings, fashions, and drugs as threats to their lives and social order. Reflect the conservative perspectives of the time, which viewed with concern the youth getting involved in renewing activities. The films contrast with the thematic and aesthetic renewal of the Generation of 60 and represent the opinions of the most conservative sectors of Argentine society, which from 1966 would impose a dictatorial regime that saw youth as the cause of many of the country’s problems.