Soldiers of Salamina (2003)
"Soldados de Salamina" (original title)

When the professor and writer Lola Sánchez is assigned to write a column in the newspaper about the Spanish Civil War, she researches and finds for the first time about the shooting of ... See full summary »

Director:

David Trueba

Writers:

Javier Cercas (novel), David Trueba

Stars:

Ariadna Gil, Ramon Fontserè, Joan Dalmau

12 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ariadna Gil	...	Lola
Ramon Fontserè	...	Rafael Sánchez Mazas
Joan Dalmau	...	Miralles
María Botto	...	Conchi
Diego Luna	...	Gastón
Alberto Ferreiro	...	Joven miliciano
Luis Cuenca	...	Padre de Lola
Lluís Villanueva	...	Miquel Aguirre (as Lluís X. Villanueva)
Julio Manrique	...	Pere Figueras
Ivan Massagué	...	Quim Figueras (20 años)
Bruno Bergonzini	...	Daniel Angelats (20 años)
Joaquín Notario	...	Capitán Collell
Merche Mar	...	Luz
Eric Caravaca	...	Camarero Dijon
Vahina Giocante	...	Asistente Social Dijon

Storyline

When the professor and writer Lola Sánchez is assigned to write a column in the newspaper about the Spanish Civil War, she researches and finds for the first time about the shooting of Rafael Sánchez Mazas. Lola has lost her passion for writing, and she becomes intrigued about Rafael, who was a writer and journalist that returned to Spain from the Italy of Mussolini and founded the fascist party Spanish Falange, becoming advisor of the leader Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. When the lefts won the election in 1936, the Falange became illegal, and later there was a military coup d'stat. Rafael miraculously escaped from the shooting and was spared by an unknown soldier. Lola decides to write a book about the historic event and to disclose the identity of the unknown soldier. But her acquaintance Conchi advises that her work is affected by her lack of passion. When Lola reads a work of a student about the heroic former soldier Miralles, Lola becomes obsessed to find him and see of he is ...

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Plot Keywords:

spanish civil war | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish Catalan French

Release Date:

10 September 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Soldiers of Salamina

Filming Locations:

Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lolafilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min 118 min (Festivalissimo Montreal)

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Salaminos (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Suspiros de España"
Written by Antonio Álvarez Alonso
Performed by Diego El Cigala

User Reviews

Heroes

David Trueba's film is somewhat different from other Spanish movies about the Civil War of the 30s. Usually the stories are about the heroes of the left side, who were defeated at the end, while this story is about one of the Fascists whose life is spared by a militiaman that in theory was his enemy.

I must confess that not having read the original novel, I have no basis of comparison, but the theme about knowing what really happened in that particular episode the young reporter is trying to discover is intriguing.

This is a part documentary, part fiction and a tale from the real survivors of the conflict. We don't get to know what really happened until the very end of the film as the old soldier in the nursing home meets the writer who has gone to him to find out first hand the truth.

The director seems to be saying that heroes were the ones that had the decency to live by what their conscience dictated, rather than by what they were told to do.