The World

Cossacks in Argentina

In 1961, an American film crew arrived in Salta, Argentina, to make “Taras Bulba”, an old-style Hollywood epic: it’s set in 16th century Ukraine and features massive battle scenes on horseback. For some Salteos, the film seemed realer than real life. Federico Windhausen was intrigued by the strange folklore that’s bubbled up around it.

In 1961, an American film crew arrived in Salta, Argentina, to make “Taras Bulba”, an old-style Hollywood epic: it’s set in 16th century Ukraine and features massive battle scenes on horseback. For some Salteos, the film seemed realer than real life. Federico Windhausen was intrigued by the strange folklore that’s bubbled up around it.