The film is based on a notorious novel by Pio Baroja allegedly dealing with a real biography about Shanti Andia , an orphan of father , that once roamed virile thirst for adventure , Shanti Andía is raised by his mother in the family farmhouse . Since he was a child, he has been fascinated by the life of the sailor, especially his uncle, Juan de Aguirre, a ship captain, like his father's, whose exploits he wants to emulate. So we know his infancy in the Basque village of Lúzaro , his dreamy youth in Cádiz land, and one day the news reaches the town that Juan has died, and the family celebrates his funeral. Shanti goes to school and enters the nautical school, while practicing sailing with his friends through the port, in a boat that they "borrow." Little by little they become more daring, and when they go out to the open sea they are about to perish. When he left school, Shanti's mother sent him to Cádiz, and placed him as an attaché (apprentice) with Don Ciriaco, a captain who was a friend of the family, who made the Cádiz-Philippines route. On his return to Cádiz, he enters the San Fernando pilot academy, and Don Ciriaco introduces him to the shipping man who employs him, with whose daughter, Dolorcitas, he gets along, and ends up making her his girlfriend. Finished the course, he embarks, but upon his return he discovers that Dolorcitas has married. She confesses that she is unhappy in her marriage, and they both continue with her relationship, until her husband finds out about her and challenges him to a duel, resulting in injury. Once recovered, he takes command of a frigate and travels around the world. In the course of his travels, he meets some sailors who assure him that his uncle, Juan de Aguirre, is still alive, although he is involved in dark business . Back in his town, after one of his trips, his mother instructs him to go and collect from an old foreigner who lives for rent in a family farmhouse. When visiting him, the old man confesses, to his amazement , that he is his uncle Juan de Aguirre, an ancient Basque sailor and that he is very ill. Shortly after, Juan dies, leaving her daughter , Mary, in the care of Shanti, who takes her in with her friends . His bitter old age, Shanti Andía is gathering the fragments of a diary written at different times of his life . With the consciousness of a wasted life, Shanti Andía attempts to solve his thunderous past .
An enjoyable Spanish film packing intense drama with full of colorful adventures , intrigue , passion , tragic events and thrilling final . Portraying Shanti Andia who shows huge nostalgia for the sea , his lovely childhood and dreaming youthful , his adventures and misadventures as a sailor , his relationship with his mother , enigmatic uncle and his loves . Classic Spaniard movie about family relation , adventure , dark secrets , a love story and the inevitable , multiple drama . This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching melodrama and, above all, emerges a deep fascination for the navigation and the far sea . Passable acting by main stars , Jorge Mistral and Josita Hernán , who offer an excessively theatrical acting . The best acting goes to Manuel Luna as an old retired sailor, a true hero with a really adventurous life who nowadays lives alone with his daughter, retired from the town. Along with other prestigious secondaries as Jesús Tordesillas , Milagros Leal, Irene Caba Alba , José María Lado , Nicolás D. Perchicot , José María Rodero , Felix Fernandez , Carlos Agosti , Manuel Requena and brief appearance by Pio Baroja himself .
The settings are decent though mostly made in ¨Carton-Piedra (stone)¨ and in studio . It contains evocative cinematography in black and white by Manuel Berenguer , though being necessary a alright remastering . Atmospheric and lively musical score by Jesus Garcia Leoz . The motion picture was well produced by Horizonte Films that along with Suevia Films /Cesareo Gonzalez and Cifesa were the most known production companies during Francoist period , that often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles .Being professionally directed by Arturo Ruiz Del Castillo , but with some corny and dated moments . Being filmed in usual style of the forties and in stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the historical issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Arturo Ruiz Castillo is generally considered to be a decent director . He made several shorts and documentaries and directed all kind of genres . As he filmed autobiography about a player, Kubala , : ¨Los Ases Buscan La Paz¨, Historical : Catalina La Grande¨ , Drama : ¨Las Inquietudes De Shanti Andía¨, ¨Culpables¨, ¨Llovidos Del Cielo¨ , ¨Dos Caminos¨, ¨Pachin¨. His most known picture was ¨La Laguna Negra¨ a film adaptation of a poem by Antonio Machado, "La Tierra De Alvargonzález" included in what is considered his best work, "Campos De Castilla ; furthermore , ¨El Santuario No Se Rinde¨ about a heroic event during the Spanish Civil War and even a Paella Western : ¨El Secreto Capitan O´Hara¨ . This Inquietudes de Shanti Andia 1947 won some Prizes : Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 1948
Winner , "Gimeno" Revelation Award Arturo Ruiz Castillo for the direction . Winner CEC Award Best Supporting Actor Jesús Tordesillas for La Lola se va a los puertos , Serenata española and La nao Capitana , Best Cinematography Manuel Berenguer and Best Music Jesús García Leoz.
