Silencio roto

I saw this film in Madrid and experienced something I had never encountered in a Spanish cinema--- the audience was completely silent during the film. And the house was packed.

The beautiful setting of the film, in the north of Spain, stood in sharp contrast to the depressing circumstances of the villagers as they attempted to carry on the struggle against the Falange as represented in the film by the Guardia Civil. The drama of this well-acted film was steady and wrenching.

Always interested in the Spanish Civil War, this film made me more aware of the heavy price the Spaniards paid as a consequence of the fascists' victory.

Dramatic picture about the consequences of Spanish civil war , Maquis or Republican guerrillas , the anti-Franco resistance and many other things . "Broken Silence", adapted from a screenplay by the same director Montxo Armendáriz , being realized with academicism and general coldness ; adding a splendid , luxurious photography with juicy atmosphere . This slow-moving and intelligent picture is well set in Spain of the 40s . It happens in Winter, 1944 , a heavily wooded valley of the River Urrobi called Valle Arce . Lucía (Lucia Jimenez) at 21 returns to her small village in the Pamplona mountains to live with her uncle (Pepo Oliva) and aunt (Mercedes San Prieto) . She again meets Manuel (Juan Diego Botto), a young Blacksmith who helps "those in the mountain", the "maquis", these brave Guerrilleros go on battling for their ideas , even at the cost of their own existences . Then , a traitor informs about resistance fighters and Manuel is chased by Franco's Civil Guard (Joseba Apaolaza , Jordi Bosch) . Later on , he escapes to the mountain along with other members (Ramon Barea , Patxi Bisquert , among others) of guerrilla and Lucía uncovers the terror , vengeance , fear , treason and the broken silence.

¨Silencio Roto¨ or ¨Broken silence¨ results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with dramatic deeds regarding the Civil War background and Franco epoch . A familiar theme about the global horrors of a fratricide war , impossible to forget to our cinema .This interesting historical story is a passionate retelling and a touching as well as intense drama . Armendariz , also writes the script and filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement , including the reality of political repression , betrayal , accusation and political facts by that time . This is a Spanish average budget production and obtained enough success in the box-office . The main problem has to face "Silencio Roto", beyond not being able to avoid falling into the politic pamphlet is precisely derived from the coldness of its staging , which eventually become monotonous over two hours of footage . Because the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this slow-moving and sometimes boring film . But anyway, its is compensated with the great performances from main and support cast specially . Agreeable acting by starring couple who plays an enjoyable love story in which beautiful Lucía/Lucia Jimenez is attracted to a young iron-smith Manuel/Juan Diego Botto , because of his smile and the bravery . Secondary players are frankly excellent ; as a magnificent support cast of known and prestigious players , such as María Botto , Rubén Ochandiano , María Vázquez , Patxi Bisquert , Pepo Oliva , Jordi Bosch and special mention to veterans as Ramón Barea , Alvaro De Luna , Mercedes San Pietro , Asunción Balaguer , Francisco Rabal's wife and , in addition , Manuel Lozano , the starring boy in ¨Secretos del Corazón¨ .

Besides , a spotless pictorial cinematography by Guillermo Navarro , Guillermo Del Toro's ordinary cameraman , and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence, every space . A colorful picture , including marvelous frames , being mostly filmed at Arrieta, Vizcaya , Lusarreta, Navarra, Saragüeta, and Villanueva de Arce, Navarra, Spain . Sensitive and emotive musical score by Pascal Gaigne . The picture achieved various prizes such as Butaca Awards 2001 Best Catalan Film Actress : Mercedes Sampietro , CEC Award Best Supporting Actress Mercedes Sampietro , Nantes Film Festival 2002 Won best director and Nominated Goya Best New Actor Rubén Ochandiano .

Well directed film by Montxo Armendariz , including his own story and screenplay , who tried to create an agreeable flick plenty of sensitivity and sometimes violent confrontation between Maquis and Guardia Civil by tackling an evocative description about a particular period in Spain history . The motion picture perfectly produced by producers Puy Oria and Montxo Armendáriz was professionally directed by the latter , a very good Spanish movies director . Armendariz directed a series of award-winning movies firmly establishing him as one of the best Spanish filmmakers and an expert on literary adaptations . Montxo is a well recognized filmmaker both nationally and internationally, and in proof of it he won many awards in several Festivals . Montxo Armendáriz was born in Navarra, Pamplona , and his films are mostly set in this Spanish region . He is a nice writer and director, expert on dramas , being especially known for Tasio (1984) , 27 hours (1986) , Cartas a Alou (1990) , Secretos del Corazón (1997), (2001) Obaba (2005), No Tengas Miedo (2011) and this Silencio Roto or Broken silence .

I recently noted that one of the most forgotten men groups in the history about the terrible spanish civil war (1936-1939) are the "maquis". They were the fighters for freedom that resist in the mountains after the General Franco´s victory. They fought till nearly 1950, in several fast hits... they only wanted the liberty for the spanish people, then in the hands of the fascist ideology. But in more than 25 years of pacific democracy and progress, and a lot of movies about that war... very poor was the number of them that spoke about "maquis". Montxo Armendáriz, director of the 1998 Best Foreign Language Academy Award nominee "Secrets from the heart" has done it. It is a truly movie. With very good performances, specially Mercedes Sampietro and Lucía Jimenez, and a good screenplay he has done a spectacular movie for the heart. For the remenbrances. For the people who didn´t know nothing about this phenomenon, and for those that lived it... A song to the liberty... not only a movie.

After the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1938, Republican guerrillas continued to fight against the Franco government carrying out sabotage actions and executions of Francoist authorities and members of the hated Civil Guard guilty of crimes against civilians. During WWII they substantially contributed to the fight against Nazi Germany and the Vichy regime in France, both as members of the Resistance and as soldiers in the Free French army.

By 1944, with German forces in retreat, the guerrillas refocused their attention on the liberation of Spain. That year, there was an invasion by a maquis force through Val d'Aran and other passes in the Pyrenees with the hope of being supported by the invading Allied Armies in France. However, the Germans were still a formidable menace, the Allied command was wary of opening a new front, and help didn't materialize.

Guerrilla activities intensified right after the end of WWI in 1945. Due to its support for the Nazis during the war Spain was internationally isolated, its economy collapsed, and an uprising seemed imminent. However, the Franco government joined the nascent crusade against Communism and opened Spain to American bases. The enemy now was Communism, and Nazi crimes were discreetly swept under the rug. The Spanish government carried out a savage campaign against the guerrillas where civilians suspected of collaboration were tortured and murdered without trial. Savagery worked, and the guerrillas gradually faded away. All the while the regime suppressed every bit of information about this war, which may be the reason for the title Silencio Roto (Broken Silence).

The movie begins in 1944, with Lucía (Lucía Jiménez) returning to her birthplace, a village in Navarra and getting involved with Manuel (Juan Diego Botto), a blacksmith that acts as contact for the guerrillas and joins them shortly after. However the romance, realistically presented, is not the main subject. Navarrese director Montxo Armendáriz weaves an atmospheric tale of day-to-day life in the village, where guerrilla successes translate in savage reprisals, not reporting suspicious activities may be fatal and where neighbors denounce each other for survival or to avenge old grievances. Cinematography captures skillfully the melancholic landscapes and shady interiors and acting is excellent not only from the principals but from all the supporting cast, with special mention for Maria Sampietro. The movie can be found in the streaming services with the title Time of Honor.

Montxo Armendariz film about an episode of the Spanish history is interesting, but at the same time it is very confusing, as proven by the samples heard after the projection at the recent film cycle at the Walter Reade theater in New York.

Most of us in the audience obviously knew about some of the history that is shown in the film, but not enough as the first person, Ossanser, from Valencia, Spain who wrote the first commentary on the opening page . That is why at times we are lost in trying to think how was it possible to see the rebels fighting when both the Civil War and World War II were over.

The film was interesting to watch, but there are a lot of loose ends that are not resolved, as far as we are concerned.

Loved the women in this film the best. Lucia Jimenez, Mercedes Sanpietro and Maria Botto were very restrained. It's about the best quality I find with Mr. Armendariz's films, in contrast with some other Spanish directors, he's the captain of the ship and nothing seems to be out of place, contrary to other 'geniuses' from Spain who sometimes let the cast get away with murder.

One can only wish the best to this director in future films.