Le silence des autres

When a violent conflict has riven a country, should we seek to impose a winners' justice; or should we simply forgive and forget? In South Africa after Apartheid, a compromise was attempted: a "Truth and Reconcilliation Commission" offered amnesty to those accused of crimes, but only in exchange for full and public confession. In Spain, when those associated with Franco's dictatorship stepped back from power, they simply granted themselves full immunity for anything they may have done: the persistence, revealed in this film, of efforts to protect this law suggests they may have not stepped so far from power at all. Indeed, it's disappointing to see how strongly the contemporary centre-right party, which in theory has little to do with its Falangist predecessor, defends the rights of torturers and murderers, whereas the lives of their victims (and their relatives) continue to be consumed by what has happened to them. In general, I'm not a great belieiver in "justice" as an entity that can be delivered, but 'The Silence of Others' makes a strong case that, at the very least, the crimes of the regime should be counted and accounted for.

Every single person shown in this documentary wants one thing: justice- for themselves, their families, friends, loved ones, for the victims and survivors of the franco-dictatorship. _ It's truly a masterpiece, a brave production, the selected scenes, the music, the slowly but rising number of the people joining the lawsuit during the years, the end of the documentary (a somewhat victory)... but it's still not the end for the people, it's still going on. The struggle truly continues.

A brilliant movie showing the importance of truth, justice and reparation

One of the most sensible documentaries about the fight of a few victims of Franco's dictatorship for justice. I saw it in Barcelona where the director and one of the fighters were. At the end the audience stood up and applauded a lot. The documentary has a few strong emotional moments. Now I understand more why Spain has problems with this part of its history.

I am proud to know this film won the award given in my father's name. It is exactly the kind of film he believed could bring into the light the dark moments in history. Even today Spain refuses to give justice to people who suffered under the Franco regieme. But the people of Spain dont give up.