The Spanish Civil War raged for three brutal years from 1936 to 1939. The American ambassador at the time later likened this conflict to a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Second World War. Though the conflict was relatively short, Francisco Franco’s fascist regime was not, and its long-lasting scars still stain the land.
Director Alberto Pascual was inspired to begin this investigative documentary by a mysterious poem he found written on the ruined walls of a mysterious outpost in his childhood. He wanted to know why the poem was written and why the building had fallen into such ruin, so he began looking.
These Walls dives deep into the construction of the famed Eleven Eye Bridge, talking to lifelong locals, historical experts, and victims of Franco’s regime to rebuild the hidden history of Franco’s forced labor projects.
Marcos Ana once said, “All of Spain is a prison.” Through these words, he references Franco’s regime, though he may have been speaking about the many detachments of prison laborers performing Spain’s transformation into a modern state. These Walls investigates what its director describes as “a story of suffering, pain, and injustice.”
The striking visuals and beautiful backdrop of the Sierra de Madrid moorlands help counter the brutal conditions under which mostly political prisoners toiled as we learn more about the use of forced labor in constructing many of Spain’s most notable landmarks. During Franco’s reign, discussing the subject of political prisoners or forced labor was taboo, which continued after the ‘Great Forgetting’ following Franco’s death.
Those locals interviewed by Pascual display great interest in the building's mystery and the fate of the laborers, such information having been hidden from them for most of their lives. While These Walls can be somewhat dry, it contains a wealth of information about the use of forced labor in Franco’s Spain. Anyone interested in the fate of the Spanish Republicans or the history of Spain will be very interested to see These Walls. Highly Recommended.
What kind of college professors would be interested in this title?
These Walls will hold great interest for professors of European or Spanish history.
Where does this title belong on library shelves?
These Walls would fit best on general documentary, Spanish language, and human rights documentary shelves.
What kind of film series could use this title?
Any film series focused on the Spanish Civil War or Franco’s regime would benefit from the addition of These Walls.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
Perpetual DSL: $549, 3-year DSL: $449, K-12, Public Libraries, Community Groups 3-YEAR DSL License: $200