Review about FRANCO ON TRIAL by Kerstin Stutterheim

Franco on Trial by Dietmar Post & Lucia Palacios

Cinematic documentaries give people a voice otherwise not heard, as Peter O’Rourke once said – but there is more. It is the tradition of poetic cinema to allow not just an argument to develop but to invite the audience as citizens, on eye level and as eye witnesses, to form their own opinion about an event, fate, topic. The traditional documentary approach which is cinematic standard primed by Vertov and Ivens, still used by international awarded filmmakers as Guzman or Mettler, enables the audience to familiarise themselves with a situation. As the audience we are allowed to get to know the people involved and their individual stories, as well as the complexity of the interaction of personal destinies and a historical situation or period. This is the quality of that aesthetic tradition which is flexible enough to be adapted for particular stories, such as the one told here. And, this form allows to unfold the particular in the general.

From my point of view, living in a time of populistic media, fake news and neo-liberal opinion making, a film such as Franco on Trial creates a good counterweight to latent and indoctrinated media productions.

In Franco on Trial  the filmmakers are introducing us to a dark and not much known period of European history which influenced many parts of the world. And, it gives an idea of hidden processes involved in contemporary politics in Spain and behind.

Together with the central figures of the judge and lawyers from Argentinia, we – the audience – get to know facts and memories which are told, and actions connected to the investigation are shown and explained. Thus, we can experience the dimension for individuals as well for society. Post and Palacios are introducing us to the complex work involved in such a trial, and the importance for so many survivors and relatives of the victims as well as for the families of the perpetrators.

The exceptional quality of the film results from both sides getting a voice - those against whom the killing has been directed; and the side of the perpetrators. By enfolding the dimensions of the time and events of the Franco dictatorship slowly but steadily the pure horror of what happened there becomes more and more apparent. The judges, historians and anthropologists involved allow us to get a bigger picture, to reflect on the events, motivation and importance of the trial – although after such a long time. It is important to get to know about the crime committed against democratic thinking people, about a calculated genocide against republicans, Jews and women who wanted to live on their own rights.

By deciding for the aesthetics of a poetic documentary the filmmakers are gently introducing us into the story. No emotionally heated up comments require us to provide an immediate response here. The filmmakers look the protagonists in the face, giving them space - and so us. We can relate to them, understand their pain or their desire to provide enlightenment. This cinematic method achieves long lasting emotional and intellectual response, thus initiating a discussion about the film and its topic.

Thus, the film is about the events there and then but at the same time it is a metaphor for genocides happening again and again all over the world.
I wish the film, the filmmaker and in particular the protagonists, all people involved in this production a broad audience and vibrant discussion. 

Kerstin Stutterheim, Dr phil, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at Bournemouth University, UK, February 15th, 2018

Official Movie Site
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VOD site (available together with the theatrical release)

GERMAN VERSION / DEUTSCHE FASSUNG

In Franco vor Gericht stellen uns die Filmemacher ein dunkles und kaum bekanntes Kapitel der europäischen Geschichte vor, welches viele Teile der Welt beeinflusste. Darüber hinaus gibt der Film einen Einblick in die verborgenen politischen Vorgänge im aktuellen Spanien. Gemeinsam mit den Hauptfiguren, der Richterin und den Anwälten aus Argentinien, werden dem Zuschauer sowohl Fakten und Erinnerungen als auch Geschehnisse, die mit der richterlichen Untersuchung zusammenhängen, erzählt, gezeigt und erklärt. Auf diese Weise können wir als Zuschauer das individuelle und das gesamtgesellschaftliche Ausmaß miterleben. Post und Palacios führen uns in die komplexe Welt eines solchen Gerichtsverfahrens ein, um uns sowohl die Bedeutung desselbigen für die vielen überlebenden Opfer und die Angehörigen von Ermordeten, als auch für die Familien der Täter aufzuzeigen. Die außerordentliche Qualität des Films besteht darin, dass beide Seiten zu Wort kommen; diejenigen, gegen die sich das Töten richtete und jene, die die Täter waren. So wird Stück für Stück das Ausmaß des Horrors der Franco-Diktatur entfaltet. Die Anwälte, Historiker und Anthropologen erlauben uns, einen größeren Kontext zu verstehen; die Geschehnisse, die Motivation und die Wichtigkeit des möglichen Gerichtsverfahrens zu reflektieren – obgleich nach so vielen Jahren noch. Denn es ist von Belang, etwas über die Verbrechen gegen demokratisch gesinnte Menschen zu erfahren.
            Die Filmemacher haben sich bewusst für die Ästhetik des poetischen Dokumentarfilms entschieden, um den Zuschauer so ganz behutsam in die Geschichte einzuführen. Keine emotional aufgeheizten Kommentare werden beansprucht, um eine sofortige Reaktion hervorzurufen. Die Filmemacher schauen den Protagonisten offen ins Gesicht und geben ihnen und damit dem Zuschauer den notwendigen Raum und Abstand. Wir können uns zu ihnen in Beziehung setzen, ihre Pein und ihren Wunsch nach Aufklärung nachvollziehen. Diese kinematographische Methode erreicht eine langandauernde emotionale und intellektuelle Reaktion. Auf diese Weise wird eine Diskussion über den Film und sein Thema initiiert. Obwohl der Film die konkreten Ereignisse in Spanien beschreibt, fungiert er auch als Metapher für Genozide, die sich weltweit immer wieder zutragen.
In einer Zeit der populistischen Medien, der „fake News” und neoliberaler Meinungsbildung ist ein Film wie Franco vor Gericht aus meiner Sicht ein gutes Gegengewicht zu den vielen indoktrinierten Medienproduktionen.

Official Movie Site
FB Movie Site
VOD site (available together with the theatrical release)

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