This one is based on ¨Crónica del Alba¨ by Ramon J. Sender, including self-biographic elements , divided in two parts : ¨Valentina¨ and ¨1919¨ , being realized both in similar artistic and technician team . The film contains human drama , emotion , entertaining happenings , complemented with two feeling loving stories . The film starts in 1939 with José Garcés is in French prison camp after the defeat of Spain's Republicans to entertain and inspire his fellow prisoners, as he tells tought-provoking stories. This follow-up deals with the rascal teen José or Pepe living on the anarchist set in the noisy city of Zaragoza where there are riots , strikes and violence and revolving around his loves for Valentina and Isabel . At the his stiff and demanding father (Saturno Cerra) loses a fortune in German war bonds, and takes a job in Caspe . As his dad (Saturno Cerra) leaves José or Pepe on his own in Zaragoza to finish high school while apprenticing in a pharmacy or ¨Mancebo¨ , later on , he becomes an anarchist . José courts his beloved Valentina (Emma Suarez in previous film was Paloma Cela) , a spiritual love via letters, and becomes intimate with Isabel (Cristina Marsillach) his sexual love , a maid he meets in a cinema who shares his ideas of free love, and comes under the influence of El Checa (Walter Vidarte) and other anarchist roles .
The film contains human drama , emotion , amusing events , adding two beloved romance stories . These elements provide the setting for this piece of dramatic deeds , giving it its own special quality and ambient . In addition , there are brief exploration about anarchist trade Unions , strikes and riots at early XX Century . There stands out the enjoyable interpretation , atmospheric photography and evocative production design by Felix Murcia . Starring Miguel Molina who gives a regular acting as as José , a teen always in trouble, and in love with Valentina and Isabel . While Cristina Marsillah as Isabel delivers a lousy acting , a bit later on , she would play ¨Opera¨ by Dario Argento and ¨Every Time We Say Goodbye¨ with Tom Hanks . Pretty good support cast as Walter Vidarte as El Checa , an anarchist and gentle teacher who leads a doomed revolt , Saturno Cerra as daddy , Concha Leza , Alfred Lucchetti , Juán José Otegui , Fernando Sancho , Marisa de Leza ,Juan José Otegui ,Concha Hidalgo, Raúl Fraire, Francesc Lucchetti and Emma Suarez as Valentina .
It packs an appropriate and evocative cinematography by Juan Ruiz Anchia , though being really necessary a perfect remasterizing . Anchia has been making a prestigious career in Hollywood , such as Close range , House of game and River runs black . Anchia is considereded to be one of the best Spanish cameramen , and he is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and a member of the International Cinematographers Guild. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences of Hollywood and a member of the Directors Guild of America . Here he shows splendidly the impressive landscapes and adequate scenerios .Including filming locations as Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Teruel, Aragón , Zaragoza, Aragón . Sensitive and emotive musical score by Riz Ortalani , with a catching but extremily repeated leitmotif. Produced in medium budget by Kactus , Ofelia , Carlos Escobedo and TVE . And interesting and engaging screenplay from Lautaro Murua , Carlos Escobedo and Antonio Betancort himself . The motion picture was well directed by Antonio Jose Betancort (1942-2006) who was born and died in Tenerife , Islas Canarias . He began as a director assistant and writer . He was a good filmmaker , little prolific , he wrote ¨Los Dias del pasado¨ by Mario Camus , only directed the following films : his film debut ¨Sentados al borde del mañana con los pies colgando¨ with Miguel Bose , ¨Valentina¨ with Anthony Quinn , its following ¨1919 Cronica Del Alba¨ . 15 years later , he made ¨Mararia¨ shot in Tenerife with photographer Ruiz Anchia . And TV episodes for series as ¨Juglar y Reina¨ and ¨Paisaje Con Figuras¨ . Rating : 6 , inferior tan previous first episode with Jorge sanz , Paloma Cela and Anthony Quinn . Acceptable and passable , worthwhile watching
