SOLDIERS OF SALAMINA

Spain, 2003, 115 minutes, Colour.
Ariadna Gil, Ramon Fontsere, Joan Dalmau, Maria Botto, Diego Luna.
Directed by David Trueba.

The Spanish Civil War is receding into the past, yet it recurs in so many films, maybe necessary for younger generations to ponder what happened and why - and to discover more from the elderly veterans before they die. David Trueba has adapted a novel by Javier Cercas. A one-novel academic is asked to write an article on the war by her editor. It opens up her curiosity and she discovers that a Falange poet escaped a firing squad in 1939 and was allowed to live by a young soldier who found him in the woods. Was the poet's life worth saving? He became part of Franco's government. Who was the young soldier and why did he do it?

The writer's journey takes her to interview witnesses, to visit the historical sites and, ultimately, to some insight about human nature, as well as making her own interior journey. Her quest is interspersed with recreations of the events of 1939, so that the film works well as a re-creation of the period. But, her own journey from self-contained individual to acknowledging her need to express feeling and to relate to people is also credibly explored. She is helped by a seemingly ditzy clairvoyant whom she looks down on and who becomes her close friend. She is also helped to new insights and new feelings by her meeting with the old soldier.

The writing, the pacing and the performances, with Ariadne Gil in the central role, are admirable.

1. The impact of the film in terms of history, Spain, personal relationships, personal development?

2. The use of archival footage of the civil war, the dramatic impact, the destruction, the loss of life? The film making 1939 real, re-creating it? Spain 2002 and the contrast? The musical score, the piano theme, the song "Sighs for Spain", the Paso Doble?

3. The structure of the film: an investigative quest, a personal jealousy, the flashbacks and the history? The editing and their being well intercut?

4. The Spanish civil war, the historical explanation of the lead-up to the war, the parties, the stances to right and to left, Franco, the Falange, the Republicans? The outbreak of war, the vicious fighting, the destruction, prisoners and executions, bombings? The refugees? The stances at the time, the anti-Communist attitudes, the role of the church in supporting Franco? In retrospect?

5. The credits and the glimpses of the deaths of the executed men? The scenes returning to the prison and the prisoners in the bus, set up near the church, the decision about the executions, going into the woods? Lola and her visiting the scenes? The old man guiding her to the execution spot and not wanting to stay?

6. The initial focus of the film on Sanchez Mazas, his role in the build-up to the war, a famous poet, siding with Franco, a founder of the Falange? The glimpses of the other founders and their speeches? The information about him? Lola and the present day, her class, the decision of literature, heroes? Her nervousness, continually dropping things? Going to visit her father, Conchi and the tarot cards and her ousting her? Her friendship with Diego? Her having written a novel, experiencing writer's block, the phone call from the editor, the request to write an article on the civil war?

7. Her research, library, the newspapers, books? The publication of the article, her reading it to her father? The information about Sanchez Mazas? The hostile letters coming to her, the letters with information, the contacts and the explanation of the historical circumstances, the witnesses, the young man giving the addresses? Her phone calls, being stood up, going to the meeting? Visiting the survivors, listening to their story? The information about the places?

8. The character of Conchi, being seen with Lola's father, her being ousted? In the bookshop and buying the book about foretelling characters? Lola and hiding behind the books? Their meeting, Conchi's bluntness, the having coffee together? Going home, Conchi's advances and Lola's reaction? Answering the phone? Conchi and her taking the TV contract, Lola watching, ringing her up, Conchi talking to her from the television screen? The reconciliation? The further meetings, friendships, discussion about the writing, the episode in the car, Lola's rudeness, Conchi's outburst and ousting Lola from the car? Lola wanting to apologise? The final kiss?

9. Diego, his Mexican background, the history of his family? His giving information about the summer camp, the story about Miralles and the prostitute at the camp, his continually coming, the home movie? Lola and her decision to track him down, finding out about Dijon, Conchi and the suggestions about the nursing homes? The phone calls, discovering him, talking on the phone, his reluctance? Her going by bus to Dijon, the visit?

10. Her gradually being able to reconstruct Sanchez Mazas' story, his being taken to the prison, the story of the Paso Doble and the soldiers singing, laughing in the rain? Making the prisoners laugh? The men in charge, ruthless? The information from the books, especially from the survivor, "I was killed by the Republicans"? The men taken into the woods for the execution, the guns drawn, Sanchez Mazas running, the soldier saying that there was no-one there and letting him live? The look of happiness on the soldier's face? Sanchez Mazas losing his glasses? Eventually being found by the Republicans, the old men telling the story of their memories of meeting him, looking after him, being able to do a deal with Franco? His being picked up, the documents and his honouring his promise? His later being sworn in as part of the government?

11. The interview with Sanchez Mazas and his reflections on what it was like to face death?

12. Lola and her writing the book, incorporating all the material, feeling creative? Conchi reading it, saying it was good, saying that there was nothing personal in it and Lola's angry tantrum?

13. The visit to Dijon, meeting the old man, eighty-six years, his memories, never having been thanked for his role in the war? His character, experience, age? The cigarettes, going to lunch, his advice about the restaurant, the man in the restaurant showing her photos? Her questions, his answering that he wasn't the soldier? Her telling him about the story of the song and the Paso Doble?

14. The experience for Lola, opening out, rewriting the book, making it personal, the promise to visit?

15. The final image of the soldier dancing in the rain?

16. The impact for Spanish audiences? Non-Spanish? audiences? An interesting insight into the changes in Spain during the 20th century?