Mourir à Madrid

It is rare to see such unanimity in comments, and I can only add my 10/10 to the list. I first saw it in 1961 at the Larkin Theater in San Francisco. I was fortunate to catch it on British TV many years ago and taped it - poor quality but better than nothing. Not only is it a wonderful film but it has been influential in shaping the political and social outlook of several generations, as is evident from the comments above. The Spanish Civil War ended seventy years ago but the passions it stimulated still persist. As in any war, it is easy to find heroes and villains (which is which depends on your political point of view) but, also as in any war, one can also see victims. They are poignantly evident in this great film.

I saw this film 40 years ago--it was the first I saw that did more than merely entertain. It's a movie for those who ponder larger issues. I recall the contagion to the viewer of the spirit of those fighting for liberty, and the hope for the future, unfortunately only to finish in futility.

As I recall, the opening scene was of a peasant walking a burro along a road--the ending scene was exactly the same, denoting that despite the fervor of many, sometimes nothing much changes in this world. I thought it was genius to depict the futility in this way.

irenerose

Saw it as a young girl, and it changed my life. It was shown in an art-house as part of a double bill, with Guns of August - about World War I. I was prompted learn move about the Spanish CIvil War, became more committed than ever to populist movements and cherishing of life.

I have ever since been a passionate fan of political documentary. In recent years docs are intended to 'educate with facts'. Facts are meaningless without heart and a vision of what makes life beautiful. I yearn for the return of this type of documentary instead of the talking heads that dominate now.

WHY ISN'T THIS OUT OF DVD OR VHS? An outrage.

I thought I had watched all the works about the Spanish Civil War. But this suddenly came across me. An incredible documentary from 1963. It puts today's so-called documentaries to shame. I saw images about the civil war that I had never seen before. For example, I had read a lot about the burning of churches, but I saw it here in detail for the first time. I deducted one point. The reason for that was that the images of death were displayed in a somewhat pornographic way. If it were a documentary from today, I would have deducted more points, but a work should be judged according to its period. When we judge this work according to its period, I think that the discussions on ethics were not as advanced at that time. Apart from that, you can find the answer to the question of how a documentary should be in this work...

First caught this documentary back in the early seventies at an art-house, and beyond my political beliefs at that particular moment, it filled me with sadness. Sorrow for the opportunities lost, for the needless cruelty, for the unnecessary deaths, for the destruction of the hopes of a nation. Nor victors neither vanquished enjoyed nothing but pain, exile, hard work, and tyranny, some of them or all. And, of course, death everywhere.

I do have the DVD, french language with Spanish subtitles. Last night I foolishly decided to watch it again, only to find myself with my soul filled with grief, and on the brink of crying (and I'm 50).

Having had the opportunity to know well the Spanish people, as well as too many an expatriate since '39, I must praise this chef d'oeuvre beyond all criticism. It's simple, it's linear, it's predictable, it's sometimes a little corny, and it's profoundly TRAGIC, as it retells forever the tragedy a a most beautiful country and its bloody self-sacrifice.