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The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone

Original title: La pelota vasca. La piel contra la piedra
  • 2003
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003)
Documentary

Documentary about the Basque nationalist movement in Spain.Documentary about the Basque nationalist movement in Spain.Documentary about the Basque nationalist movement in Spain.

  • Director
    • Julio Medem
  • Writer
    • Julio Medem
  • Stars
    • Xabier Arzalluz
    • Bernardo Atxaga
    • Txiki Benegas
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Julio Medem
    • Writer
      • Julio Medem
    • Stars
      • Xabier Arzalluz
      • Bernardo Atxaga
      • Txiki Benegas
    • 7User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos

    The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone (2003)
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    Top cast

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    Xabier Arzalluz
    • Self
    Bernardo Atxaga
    • Self
    Txiki Benegas
    • Self
    Txetxo Bengoetxea
    • Self
    Julen de Madariaga
    • Self
    Odón Elorza
    • Self
    Iñaki Gabilondo
    Iñaki Gabilondo
    • Self
    Carlos Garaikoetxea
    Carlos Garaikoetxea
    • Self
    Anika Gil
    • Self
    Felipe González
    Felipe González
    • Self
    Carmelo Gómez
    Carmelo Gómez
    • Antonio
    • (archive footage)
    Juan José Ibarretxe
    • Self
    Fermín Muguruza
    • Self
    Gemma Nierga
    Gemma Nierga
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Arnaldo Otegi
    • Self
    Gregorio Peces Barba
    • Self
    Alec Reid
    • Self
    Ana Torrent
    Ana Torrent
    • Yoyes
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Julio Medem
    • Writer
      • Julio Medem
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Features Edurne, modista bilbaína (1924)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Overwhelming, time-consuming, but oh-so beautiful and informative! Worth the effort!
    The only real reason I give this excellent documentary an 8 is because Julio Medem was unable to get the key players in the conflict, ETA and PP, to participate, which I felt was a crucial loss to the movie. Also, it was a LOT of information to process, and although I watched it with English subtitles, I had to replay scenes very often.

    I had only some very shallow, not even basic, knowledge of the Basque conflict before watching this. I am studying abroad in Spain, and a professor here recommended this, and I wanted to learn more. I didn't even bother testing my Spanish and watched it in English to understand it the best. Even then, it is not a movie made for beginners. But beginner or not, I still recommend this movie to anyone interested, just as long as they read up a little on the Basque Country and Spanish political parties first as background info.

    However, despite the confusion and incomplete variety of interviewees, as a journalism student, I say the documentary was beautifully, intriguingly, insightfully, and ingeniously done. Even though it was confusing, it was INCREDIBLY informative, and my goal of learning more about the history, culture, and conflict in the region was met and surpassed. It was deemed very controversial for showing such an array of perspectives, but I felt this was best and very raw and as objective as one can get, especially for a Basque director. And despite the crazy amount of information, it still kept me glued to the screen.

    The artistic aspect was brilliant, too, especially for an independent film. I really loved the flip flop, from interviews in beautiful Basque landscapes to clips of the metaphoric pelota vasca to the old black-and-white film by Orson Welles to clips of old historical videos to Mikel Laboa crooning his sometimes beautifully melodic and sometimes strikingly dissonant music. I want to especially applaud the music: it is absolutely stunning and perfect!

    I highly recommend this documentary.
    helpful•1
    0
    • admoys
    • Feb 27, 2011

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 2003 (Spain)
    • Country of origin
      • Spain
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • Basque
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Euskal pilota. Larrua harriaren kontra
    • Production company
      • Alicia Produce
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,569,730
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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