The Spanish Civil War
THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
The Spanish Civil War was the first war that had saturation
coverage both cinematic and photographic: it coincided with advances in film and photographic technology that enabled more
of the front line action to be recorded than previously. It also attracted independent film-makers from around the world
who made films in support of the Republic. These films countered the perceived bias of the newsreels of the day. We hold
the key films that document this bitter struggle:
- Historical background
- Mobilisation of the Spanish people against the fascists
- Siege and bombing of Madrid with footage of civilians - esp.women and children - fleeing the bombardment
- The arrival of the International Brigades
- Fighting in the cities and in the countryside
- Republican soldiers in action, including footage of tanks in the olive groves
- The ancient Basque town of Guernica in flames after the assault by the German Condor Legion in April 1937
- The Battle of the Ebro, the final assault by the Republican side: a decisive moment near the end of the war in April 1938
- Columns of civilians on the roads fleeing the fighting
- The "stand-down"parade in Barcelona in late 1938 when the Spanish people bid farewell to the International Brigades : footage of women and children lining the boulevards which are strewn with flowers, soldiers embracing children
- Shots of the Brigaders departing by train, emotional crowds bidding them farewell.
- The popular response in Britain when people rallied to the support of the Republic (The Aid Spain movement)
- Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War
(2002, Colour & B/W) Director: Julia Newman
In July 1936, a right-wing military uprising tried to overthrow the new, legally elected, democratic government of Spain, and Hitler and Mussolini quickly joined the fight in support of the rebel General Francisco Franco. In response, about 80 American women joined more than 2,700 of their countrymen in defiance of their government to volunteer for the Spanish Civil War, the first major battle against Fascism. They were part of the International Brigade’s 40,000 volunteers from 50 countries who went to fight for democracy in Spain. The women were mostly nurses, with some notable writers and journalists among them. They all survived the war, although about 750 of the American men died there. The film focuses on 16 of these women, telling in their own words their stories of courage and commitment to a just cause.
