Films on World war 2 (WW2) are a dime a dozen ranging from the great to the abysmal. But films on WW2’s curtain raiser, The Spanish Civil War (SCW(, are very few or not well known. Ken Loach’s 1995 film remedies that by offering a powerful and insightful view of The Spanish Civil War, as seen through the diaries of a British volunteer.
The reasons for The Spanish Civil War were simple. An elected Government of Leftists, Socialists, Communists, and Anarchists – anyone against the previous Government – was overthrown by a Military Coup, that supported the existing Order composed of the Rich, the landowners, and the Church. Soon it drew in players outside of the country. The Military coup leader Franco was supported by Hitler and Mussolini. At the same time, the legitimate Government begged for arms and aid but got it late from Stalin, who manipulated events to go his own way (but they didn’t). As can be seen, the SCW had already pitted two of the most ruthless dictators in proxy wars, where all their modern equipment and battlefield tactics were tested in actual combat conditions. With that background, it is easy to understand the linear narrative of the film.
David Carr’s granddaughter Kim rushes him to the hospital, but he dies en route. She goes through his personal effects and reads the letters he had sent to his then-girlfriend, and thus the story unfolds.Like many international volunteers, David Carr (Ian Hart), a card-carrying Communist Party member, rushes to embattled Spain with nothing but his ideals and courage. Their slogan “No Pasaran” – they shall not pass – is a rallying cry to defend the Republic.The ragtag group of volunteers is hastily trained and sent to the front.
Most of the time, they are bored, but as and when combat happens, the results are sobering. It is no longer a game, nor a battle of fiery words, but the deaths are real.
Carr sees how much the “existing Order” has neglected the absolute poverty of the land, resulting in real popular support for the Socialist Government, which wants to carry out reforms resisted by the Military and the landowners. The other militia members in his platoon are from Scotland, France, Germany, America etc. – each fired only by the idealism of the Communist party, which they hope will bring equality to the land. Carr falls in love with Blanca (Rosana Pastor), who is also fired by idealism. There are no differences between male and female volunteers, as they all equally share the dangers of combat.
In an attack on a small village, many militia members die. The Priest who fired at them from the Church is summarily shot. After a heated debate, the village decides to collectivize the land against the wishes of a couple of farmers. Soon the lack of proper arms and heavy equipment starts telling. Soon the infighting gets vicious.
To say anything more would be an injustice as Land and Freedom nails the complex nature of the politics and weaves it into the narrative. Though the characters are fictional, the script puts them in the middle of the civil war and the characters can only respond to the events or be swallowed by them.
The sickening infighting. Socialists against communists and both against the “Nationalists” – a civil war within a civil war.
Women suddenly forced into non-combat roles. The lack of arms. All these and more are brilliantly shown in the overall narrative. It also addresses one central fact that though there were many idealists in Britain, the US, France, Germany etc., none of these governments supported the Spanish Republicans, the officially elected Government, and looked the other way when the Spanish “Nationalists” – the Spanish Military and landowners – brutally crushed the elected Government.
Hitler allied with Franco and lent his army and air force, who gladly tested their equipment.
The first-ever airlift of troops happened when Hitler’s Ju52 transports carried Franco’s troops from Morocco to Southern Spain. Most German weapons of Ww2, such as the Me109 fighter, Ju87 attack bomber, the Panzer tactics, etc., were all tested in Spain. Russian weapons too got combat tested, such as the T26 tank (ancestor of the WW2 famous T34), the I16 fighter etc. The Finger Four combat formation for fighter planes was perfected in the Spanish Civil War by Germans and is still used today. The SCW also resulted in the infamous Guernica bombing, where the city was bombed by German and Italian planes resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths – again a curtain raiser for mass bombing of civilians by all sides in the future.
The complex politics are alluded to in the film by various characters. One militia member says, “We can defeat Franco alone, but he is now supported by Hitler and Mussolini”. That dialogue takes care of the entire political situation.
In the end, it was a fight for “right” that was brutally crushed by the Military. The realistic ending of the film also alludes to the complexities of what happened in reality; after three years of the Civil War, Franco crushed the elected Republicans and ruled Spain with an iron hand till his death in 1976. Since Spain was an ally and NATO member, naturally, The West didn’t make any film that was critical of Spain, and the Civil War, whose scars would last well into the late 20th century, even after Spain became a democracy.
Today all over the world, dictators and “strong rulers” seem to be coming into fashion – much like 100 years ago – where people want “discipline” over “too much democracy”. Land and Freedom addresses what happens to the commoner who prefers democracy and whose dreams crumble under the onslaught of tyranny.
Ken Loach, always known for his human “socialist” views, is brilliant as he examines a forgotten period that was a curtain raiser for WW2. The film is free on You Tube
The powerful film is a testament to that old cliched saying (and like all cliches, it’s also the truth) – Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.
Real History/ Historical background – 5 out of 5
Equipment and Kit – 5 out of 5
Locations or substitutes – 5 out of 5
Role of women – 5 out of 5
Script – 5 out of 5
Overall Rating – 5 out of 5
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