Joseba Apaolaza Movies
In the wake of the Spanish Civil War, a number of the Republican guerillas who fought against Franco's fascist army went into hiding and continued their battle as resistance fighters hiding out in the mountain ranges of Spain; this drama offers a glimpse of life in a rural Spanish community under Franco's rule as the "Maquis" plot their next move in their battle against Franco. It's 1944, and Lucia (Lucia Jimenez) arrives in a small town to take a job at a tavern run by her aunt Teresa (Mercedes Sampietro). Politically, the community is torn between those who have retained their loyalty to the former Republican leadership and those who have embraced fascism under Franco. Lucia becomes fast friends with Lola (Maria Botto), a local girl whose brother Manuel (Juan Diego Botto) is a blacksmith with ties to the Maquis. As Lucia falls in love with Manuel, the Maquis come out of hiding and stage a raid on the town, freeing a number of Republicans who have been jailed for their support of the old regime; as one might expect, this attracts the attention of Franco's Civil Guard, which quickly sets out to neutralize Manuel and the rebels. Silencia Roto was directed by Montxo Armendariz, who previously made the international success Secretos Del Corazon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucia Jimenez, Juan Diego Botto, (more)
- 1999
- NR
Love, larceny, and misunderstanding make for comedy in this humorous crime thriller from Spain. Jon (Joseba Apaolaza) is a bank teller engaged to his boss's daughter. But a chance meeting with his former girlfriend Carmen (Marta Belaustegui) gives Jon second thoughts, and he skips out of the wedding at the last minute, with the bride waiting at the altar. To the surprise of no one, Jon is fired; a few days later, his friend Javier (Isidoro Fernandez) knocks over the bank where Jon used to work, with the help of his girlfriend Candela (Cayetana Guillen Cuervo). Jon, strapped for cash, calls Javier and asks for some money; Javier, however, is convinced that Jon knows he committed the robbery and wants blackmail money, not just a loan. Supporting actress Cayetana Guillen Cuervo is best-known to American audiences for her role in The Grandfather, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseba Apaolaza, Cayetana Guillen Cuervo, (more)
Imanol Uribe's Dias Contados recieved widespread critical acclaim for its compassionate but unsentimental, multi-layed analysis of the tumultuous relationship between a Basque terrorist assigned to bomb a Madrid police station and the neighboring prostitute with whom he falls in love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carmelo Gómez, Ruth Gabriel, (more)
- 1988
Basque country, in northern Spain and southern France, has been plagued for decades (if not longer) by the activities of a violent separatist group known (using initials from its Euskara-language name) as ETA. This drama, filmed largely in the language of the Basques (Euskara), concerns the complex relations between a former ETA member and his society. In particular, it focuses on a showdown between the man who has now become a drug-runner, and his former best friend, who in addition to being involved in anti-government terrorism, actively fights the drug trade. The activity of the police is consistently shown as either sinister or irrelevant, while the ETA is shown in perhaps the best light it can be. A great deal of talk, political and otherwise, fleshes out this slim story. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isidoro Fernandez
