MAIXABEL

Spain, 2021, 116 minutes, Colour.

Blanca Portillo, Luis Tosar, Maria Cerezuela, Urko Olazabal, Tamara Canosa, Maria Jesus Hoyos.

Directed by Iciar Bollain.

A Spanish film is based on a true story, a focus on a woman who, with her husband, was involved in Spanish politics, and his being killed. At the centre is ETA, the Basque organisation confronting the Spanish government during the latter part of the 20^th century.

In fact, this is a film about justice, truth and reconciliation – with audience memories of South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the effectiveness of the truth and justice commission and its work towards peace in that country.

The central character here has had every reason not to forgive, criminal murder of her husband, grief, hardening of heart. This film offers a great deal of background to ETa, the Basque rebellious mentality, the acts of violence, authorities and some of those persuaded to act as hitmen for the rebellion. International audiences may have been aware of the actions, motivation, violence of Basque Separatists but not familiar with the details and not about the attempts at reconciliation in the 2000s.

Maixabel, striking and moving performance by Blanca Portillo, is persuaded to conduct interviews with one of the convicted killers, achieving something akin to what had happened in South Africa despite decades of hostilities, violence and brutality, peace is possible. Veteran Luis Tosar is effective as the assassin she interviews, along with one of his companions in the prison.

Dialogue is strong, not underestimating in any way the Basques and their violence, and the response of the Spanish government. The theme of restorative justice, the dialogue between injured parties and those who have been injured, is played out in quite some dramatic detail. The screenplay was co-written by director, Iciar Bollain, an award winning director for Take My Eyes and Even The Rain (which was written by her life-partner, Paul Laverty, screenwriter for the films of Ken Loach for more than 25 years).

While the film concentrates on the meetings between the prisoner and the widow, the background, especially of the assassinations is powerfully dramatised throughout

1. The title and focus? Maixabel at life, widow, mother, social action, truth and reconciliation?
2. Audience knowledge of the historical background, ETA, independence, rebels, gorillas, political assassinations? Over a 50 year period? The official stopping of violence in 2011?
3. The settings, the basket countryside, mountains? The bask cities, homes, restaurants, streets? The prisons, interiors? Authentic feel? Musical score?
4. The initial assassination, the politicians, the assassins, shots to the head, the escape, the driver, police identification of the car, mistake, the assassins listening in, the driver and his decisions, the highway, the escape, into the forest, glee, the celebration of their achievement? July 2000?
5. The introduction? Getting ready to go out, not answering the phone? The news, the hospital, the crowds, her grief? The introduction to Maria, with her friends, the friends buying the food, the TV news? Her aunt coming to take her away, her sobbing outburst?
6. The funeral, the gathering, the coworker weeping on the coffin, Maixabel and her control? The aftermath, the memorial on the hill, it being vandalised over the years?
7. The transition of time, the court case, the prisoners in the glass case, their shouting and outbursts? Maixabel quietly present?
8. The transition to 2010, the prisons, the sentences, the focus Ibon? Life in prison, the routines, the isolation, exercise? The interactions amongst the prisoners? The CTA prisoners? Having served six years? The news about Ibon’s grandfather, leave to go to the funeral, his choosing to be with his mother? The attitude of the warden? The transfer?
9. Yvonne in the new prison, the discussion with the water, this regimented regime, possibilities for days leave? Whether Ibon would stay or return to the old prison? His encounters with Louise, memories of the past, the killing of the politician? Each wary of the other?
10. The introduction of the theme of Truth and Reconciliation, the men and their imprisonment, long hours in their cells, time to think, re-think? To be considered as traitors with their change of heart? The mediator, the meeting with the group of men who wanted some meeting with the victims, her preparing the men to answer all questions from the victims? The discussions with Louise, his explanation of himself? Yvonne and his initial resistance?
11. ibon, the visits to his mother, her grief, his grandfather and the image of him in the court? Yvonne staying with his mother, the conversations, his grandmother’s room with all the press cuttings?
12. Jogging in the prison, the discussions with the fellow prisoner, tensions? Jogging outside the prison, the encounter with the former CTA man, his short sentence, the issue of who was the traitor?
13. The continuing story of Maixabel, ageing, her social work and concern, for all victims of whatever violence? Hostility – and her daughter urging her to have bodyguards? Her grief over the years? Her daughter, the years, marriage, her own child? Maixabel and babysitting the daughter?
14. The issue of meeting with the terrorists, talk, Truth and Reconciliation? Maixabel preparing, the discussions with her daughter, the 10 years gap from her husband’s death?
15. Luis, the encounter with Maixabel, his explanation of his life, joining CTA, sense of belonging, the cause, the authorities and the decisions, excepting these, retrospect and considering them corrupt? His recollections of the day itself, the tossing of the coin, the other man shooting, but his having shot others, three deaths? The frank answers to Maixabel, the effect on him, apologies, the effect on her, her changing, accepting? His return into the kitchen, working in the bakery with Ibon, the not communicating?
16. Yvonne, the effect of the visits with his mother, memories of his grandparents, his grandfather’s condemnation of him and is not having the chance to change his view? His decision to have the meeting with Maixabel, the warden telling him that the plan had been abandoned? But the grab the meeting on his day off?
17. Preparation, calm, nervous? With the mediator? The room, the chairs, the meeting with Maixabel? Her questions? His explanation, being young, political concern, accepting ETA, absorbing the philosophy, the warfare attitudes, accepting orders, retrospective criticism of the authorities and their incompetence, cruelty? The long years in prison, reflection? Accepting responsibility?
18. The effect on Maixabel, her telling her story, meeting her husband, his initial sympathy for caps PTA, there becoming members of the Communist Party, his political life, civil Gov? The threats, his having to move to Chile, returning for a month in Spain? Her memories of phoning his number after his death, hearing his voice, then the disconnection? Her talk about her daughter and the effect of her father’s death on her?
19. Talking with her daughter, Maria going out with her friends, not wanting to go home to talk with her mother about the meeting?
20. Maixabel, her friends, political associates, the annual commemoration of her husband, on television, Ibon watching?
21. The preparation for the meeting, Yvonne and his getting the bouquet, red for the past, white for the future? Maixabel old deciding to drive with him? Their arrival, the group, grief, memories, reactions? Maixabel introducing Ibon? His words? And the singing of the song?
22. No matter had read the situation, how cruel the episodes, possibilities for Truth and Reconciliation and a future?