Film: "Land and Freedom"

Has anyone seen or heard of this film? It's about the Spanish Civil War. I saw it years ago when I was studying, but haven't been able to find anything about it since. Maybe because I don't know anything else about it. don't know the actors, director ar anything at all, but I distinctly remember that I loved the film "No Pasaran!!"

I think Land and Freedom was directed by Ken Loach and was out two or three years ago. I haven't seen it but I believe it won an award at either Cannes or the Venice Film Festival. Should be out on DVD:)

Excellent, thank you. I recommend that you watch it, I really loved it. It's a very stirring film

Sallyanne, I haven't seen the film but I remember it causing a lot of interest in Spain for obvious reasons. It seems that not all that many films have been made about the Civil War so it was unusual for that. Plus Ken Loach is a pretty cool filmmaker.

It caused quite a lot of debate here, particularly on the left as it dealt with the divisions wiithin the anti-fascist movement. Remember that as Stalin tightened his control over the Communist Party and the republic, he eliminated any who opposed him and who struggled for a pluralistic, truly leftist movement: trade unionists, anarchists, socialists and so on. The leader of the POUM, Andreu Nin was tortured and murdered by Stalin's agents.
So the film highlighted a nasty, less black and white struggle than that of the Republic versus Fascism, which hadn't been a theme of teh previous Spanish Civil war films. And reawakened the debate as to whether the Republic should have won the revolution first and then the war or the war first and then the revolution.
I was at the premiere with a group of Civil War verterans who had fought with the POUM and I remember Santiago Carrillo (a Communist) ungraciously storming out in protest. Afterwards we chatted to Ken Loach, a very sharp, interesting and agreeable man.
Whatever your take on the war, it's an important film. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.
¡No pasarán!

And by the way, one of the actresses in the film is none other than Iciar Bollain, who has become one of Spain's most interesting film directors. (Te doy mis ojos/ Take my eyes)

You'll be able to find details about this movie (and any movie) on the Internet Movie Database @ http://www.imdb.com .

Saludos, MadridMan

Thanks for all your comments. I particularly liked the fact that it was about a man from Liverpool who went to fight, as before seeing this I didn't realise that there was an International Brigade of forward thinking people who realised how this would become a greater struggle, and knew that they had to do all they could to help. Here in Liverpool we have a little known monument to those from the International Brigade who fought in the Civil War in Spain. (It should really be called Hitlers Training Ground!!)
I'm really jealous that you met Ken Loach.

No Pasaran! Every time I think of it, or say that phrase I get goosebumps still!!