Missing (1982 film)

"Missing" is a political thriller based on the real-life disappearance of Charles Horman, an American journalist who was executed during the 1973 military coup in Chile. The film dramatizes the subsequent search by Horman's father, Ed, who uncovers the United States government's complicity and cover-up in the aftermath.

The film stars Jack Lemmon as Ed Horman, the conservative Christian Scientist father, and Sissy Spacek as Beth Horman, Charles's wife. Jack Lemmon's dramatic performance earned him the Best Actor award at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.

While nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, "Missing" only won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1983 ceremony. The screenplay was written by Costa-Gavras and Donald E. Stewart, adapted from a book by Thomas Hauser.

Tragically, Charles Horman was found dead in the days following the September 1973 coup, though his body was not immediately identified or returned to his family. Decades later, a Chilean court ruled that American intelligence played a role in his death, validating the central claims made by the film.