L'arbre de Guernica

Nov 19 1975 Not Rated 1h 50m
Drama, War

The fictional town of Villa Romero is the set upon which the events of Spain's civil war play out. Villa Romero is home to Vandale (Mariangela Melato) a witch, count Cerralbo (Bento Urago) a powerless land baron, and his four sons. Three of Cerralbo's sons are ruthless sadists who pillage the countryside, but the fourth, Goya (Ron Faber), is an artist challenging authority and the church.

Plot

The Spanish Civil War, as experienced by the town of Villa Ramiro. The local count and his Fascist nephews ally with the rebels; the count's son, indifferent to politics at the outset, later makes a choice; the town's teacher, Antonio Garcia, a pacifist, tries not to take sides but to inspire the children with ideas; a beautiful eccentric woman, Vandale, brings leadership and strength to the town; dwarfs long for equality. The fictive story of Villa Ramiro is inter-cut with archival footage of the war itself. The town is near Guernica, and the local Republicans draw inspiration from its freedom tree.

Written by

Fernando Arrabal, Francesco Cinieri

Directed by

Fernando Arrabal

Production Countries

France, Italy

Production Companies

Les Productions Jacques Roitfeld, Ci-Le Films, Babylone Films, Luso Films

Languages

Français

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
474
Average Rating
6.5 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA