Patria

Amazing series on a harrowing subject...the fact that I lived in Bilbao a few years before the central part of the story happens affects me of course, but the acting, the drama and the characters as well as the cinematography is deeply authentic and hugely moving...

It begins slow... but later takes off and gets deeper. I guess the book is better, but the miniseries does not disappoint; I must confess it gets to my nerves how this violent act happens. The consequences. Anyway, I strongly recommend the series and implore patience to let the story to be developed at its pace.

I swear I wanted to go to sleep early yesterday... But this series is just too good. It shows that there's always two (ot three, or four...) Sides of a story. It's naked of all the clasdic American ornamentation of drama. Barely any music, just plane great acting and directing. It puts you on the skin of the characters in every second... It should b shown in highschools...

This series is a landmark in Television, having as much to say about Northern Ireland and Cataluña as the Basque Countries. It speaks so eloquently about the iniquity of violent separatism that would see countrymen, neighbours, even friends sacrificed to petty vendettas in that precarious slope from idealism to complete moral bankruptcy. The series focuses on senseless death of Txato, a countryman, innocent, brave and beloved. The killing scene is revisited several times but always from different perspectives, always in the rain, but each time shedding just a little more light, in a discovery-trip to a well-reasoned but explosive climax. A production of true genius, a must-watch. Embarrassed to be just the 23nd reviewer here.

Homeland (Patria) the book is an extraordinary exploration of terrorism and community. The HBO series has captured the mood and impact of the book with great effect. An excellent cast and terrific direction and film craft have combined to a create a brooding, emotionally claustophobic atmosphere in which all sides are depicted with sympathy and depth. For Spanish and Basque people, Patria is an emotional and possibly cathartic experience in which all lose.

This is not a series for viewers who like stuff to happen quickly and the plot to gallop on. For viewers who relish depth and development: this is for you

So, I have reached the end of the series. We have sat down together each week and watched this series and discussed afterwards. What we have discussed: that the story is driven by the women. More than anything this is a series about women: about their resolve, their passions, their commitment and the role they play. The men, by contrast, are not cyphers but shades. The extraordinary silences: in the culture, in the family and how these are represented and enacted in different ways. How spoken words are rarely answered or heard, how we are cut off in our dialogue.

In its final resolution we see both the power of silence and the power of gesture.

Thank you HBO for this series.