Basque Films in Netherlands

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Basque Film Festival
1-27 October 2004

Introduction

The monoculturalists occupy almost the entire Europe. Everyone?

No, a small group of people, called Basques, is doing their things for years. That is, they appear to be the oldest people of Europe, with a long history and an ancient and unique language, which they could preserve by defending themselves through the ages against all kinds of intruders. A people without their own state, existing of 7 provinces with an own language, their own traditions, their own sports and fiestas ànd a people that kept these traditions alive. With the disappearing of the borders inside Europe the time is here to focus attention on the differences in the populations in Europe and in the case of this Basque film festival specifically to the Basques. Until today emotions run high when discussing Euskal Herria, the Basque Country.

Filmmaker Julio Medem was so fed up with this negativity that he decided to make a documentary about the current Basque situation. The film La Pelota Vasca, in which many Basques are interviewed and images of old movies can be seen, was met with boycotts and criminalized as ‘pro-terrorist’ movie by the then ruling Aznar- government.

Melkweg Cinema focuses on the Basque cinema for one month long. A cinema that was very political in the seventies and eighties, with movies as El Proceso de Burgos, Fuga de Segovia, in which the liberation movement ETA is to be seen. During the eighties their appeared more ‘arthouse films’, in which a Basque theme (cultural of mystical) was woven, like Tasio and Akelarre. Mystic can also be found at filmmakers as Victor Erice, who, despite being born in Euskal Herria, made an entire Spanish film El Espiritu de la Colmena. In the mid-eighties more critical films appeared as 27 Horas and La Muerte de Mikel. A real boom of talented filmmakers was seen in the nineties, with their very own and obstinate input, less politic and explicit, but very connected to their Basque identity. They are filmmakers as Julio Medem, Alex de la Iglesia, Juanma Bajo Ulloa and Daniel Calparsoro. Their work will be prominently shown during this festival. And you can see 2 curious documentaries of Orson Welles from 1955; Around the world with Orson Welles: The Basque Countries. They are being shown together with the first French soundfilm about the Basque Country: Au Pays des Basques from 1930. There is also a documentary about the football club Athletic Bilbao, who play only with Basque players: Athletic, Un Siglo de Passion. And we show 8 short movies under the name Cortos Vascos.


Euskal Herria in Amsterdam – Saturday the 9th of October 2004 from 13.00 until deep in the night

BIZI GARA JAIA

Saturday the 9th of October the Melkweg is being transformed into a Basque event. In the evening loads of different music. The bands Gailu and Inoren Ero Ni, singer songwriter Anari and Fermin Muguruza Kontrakantxa Sound System (mc’s Fermin Muguruza, Sorkun: Trikitixa: Xabi Solano; Horns: Jon Elizalde, Igor Ruiz, Aritz Lonbide; DJ: Dzigor). Fermin Muguruza is one of the most important names in the Basque music scene. Famous of his bands Kortatu, Negu Gorriak and Dut he helped put the Basque music on the charts. This year he was already doing the Melkweg with his farewell tour with FM Kontrabanda. Besides all these artists there are the typical Txalaparta-players (wooden instrument), the Trikitixa (flute) and the Bertsolaris (poets). And don’t forget to undergo the Basque gastronomy in the Café-Restaurant.

From 13.00 the door opens and the latest Julio Medem movie La Pelota Vasca is shown. Producer Koldo Zuazua will be present to tell about the problems accompanying this movie. From 19.00 until 20.30 there is a political seminar about violations of political, civil and human rights and the freedom of press in the Basque Country. This debate will be in English and is organised by BIC, the Basque Information Centre. With speakers such as Martxelo Otamendi, the director of the by the Spanish government banned Basque daily Egunkaria and Julen Arzuaga, lawyer of the Basque human rights organisation Behatokia.

Film descriptions

LA PELOTA VASCA, LA PIEL CONTRA EL PIEDRA

(Basque Ball: The Skin Against the Stone) Julio Medem, Euskadi 2003 | 117 min. | Spanish/Basque spoken | English subtitles

Julio Medem is internationally respected for his psychological films as Vacas and Lucia y el Sexo. In 2002 he started with a passionate and human call for the opening of a dialogue between the different Basque political parties and the Spanish government. Unfortunately the then ruling president Aznar criminalized this film and labelled the filmmaker as ‘pro-terrorist’. They tried to ban the film from the London film festival and during the annual Goya- awards there were pro and contra demonstrations. La Pelota Vasca contains a lot of interviews (Ibarretxe, Félipe Gonzalez), artists (Fermin Muguruza) and priests who give their opinion about the wish for dialogue, discussion and understanding about the current Basque politics. Medem used a lot of documentary images of Basque sports, fiestas and historical events to complete the film. Watch out for the fantastic view of Orson Welles on the Basques or the handicapped Pelota-players. With on the background of the marvellous music of Mikel Laboa. Not to miss for all who want to know more about the current Basque politics.

Shown on Saturday 9 October at 14.00 (with the producer present), at the same day also at 21.00 and on Sunday 10 October at 13.30. Also at Sunday 17 October at 13.30 and Sunday 24 October at 13.30.

EL BOSQUE DEL LOBO

(The Wolfman of Galicia) Pedro Olea, Spanje 1970 | 86 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

At the rising of the moon an unhappy schizophrenic murders women he accompanies through the woods. Beautifully situated in the Galicia of the years ’10. No folkloristic vision that you’re used o see in the Spanish film. A forgotten jewel from the Basque film history.

Shown only on Monday 11 October at 20.00.

EL PROCESO DE BURGOS

(The Burgos Trial), Imanol Uribe, Spanje 1979 | 134 min. | Basque spoken gesproken | Spanish subtitles

At the 3rd of December 1970 the trail against 16 militant members of ETA began in Burgos. Verdict: death penalty. Because of international protest most of the sentences were brought down to jail-sentences. This film reports about this historical process with much interviews. Shown only on Sunday the 10th of October on 16.00.

LA FUGA DE SEGOVIA

(The Segovia Breakout), Imanol Uribe, Euskadi 1981 | 110 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

In the summer of 1967 22 Basque political prisoners organise an escape from one of Franco’s most notorious prisons, in Segovia. This film is a non-romantised report of this sensational escape.

Shown only on Sunday the 3rd of October at 13.30.

EL ESPIRITU DE LA COLMENA

(The Spirit of the Beehive), Victor Erice, Spanje 1975 | 95 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

Castillië 1940. A young Ana Torrent gets obsessed with the monster of Frankenstein after seeing the film with Boris Karloff in a travelling cinema. She is convinced the monster is real and goes on a search for it. With Ana Torrent, Fernando Gomez, Tersa Gimpera.

Shown on Friday the 22nd of October and on Saturday the 23rd of October on 20.00.

AKELARRE

Pedro Olea, Euskadi 1983 | 107 min. | Basque spoken | English subtitles

An inquisitor from Naffaroa in the 16th age uses his profession for personal use. The film refers to many Basque traditions and folkloristic elements. Akelarre show magnificent the mystic character of the old Basque culture.

Shown only on Sunday the 3rd of October on 20.00.

TASIO

Montxo Armendariz, Euskadi 1984 | 96 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

The story of the tough life of a coal-trader from the Sierra Urbasa. By making no compromises he makes his life even more difficult. Critics and audience in those times very well received this movie.

Shown on Monday the 4th of October at 20.00 and at Thursday the 21st October at 20.00.

LA MUERTE DE MIKEL

(The Death of Mikel), Imanol Uribe, Euskadi 1983 | 90 min. | Basque spoken | English subtitles

A homosexual mortgager and sympathiser with the left is murdered mysteriously in a village at the sea. The story tells the intolerance in Basque society in the eighties. Wit a.o. Imanol Arias.

Shown on Sunday the 3rd October at 13.30 and Tuesday the 19th October at 20.00.

27 HORAS

(27 Hours), Montxo Armendariz, Euskadi 1986 | 81 min. | Spanish spoken | No subtitles

The movie follows the extra-ordinary relationship between 3 friends in Donostia/San Sebastian. 27 Horas is about the problems the youth had to deal with in those days, like drugs. With a young Maribel Verdu and Antonio Banderas.

Shown only at Sunday the 24th of October at 16.00.

VACAS

(Cows), Julio Medem, Spanje 1991 | 96 min. | Spanish spoken | Dutch subtitles

With great feeling for magic and earth symbolism Medem tells a local story about 2 farmer families, at the beginning of the 2nd Carlist war (1873-1876). Powerful debute, about the life on rural Basque Country.

Shown on Thursday the 14th of October and on Sunday the 17th of October at 20.00.

ACCION MUTANTE

Alex de la Iglesia, Spanje 1992 | 90 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

Fashion kings rule the world. Only the terrorist group Accion Mutante resists and demands the right to ugliness. To strengthen their demands they kidnap the daughter of a fastfood king and bring her to a planet inhabited by miners who didn’t see a woman in 20 years. Alex de la Iglesia’s debute contains an insane mix of satire, rebellion, science fiction and black humour.

Shown only on Tuesday the 12th of October at 20.00.

LA ARDILLA ROJA

(The Red Squirrel), Julio Medem, Euskadi 1993 | 110 min. | Spanish spoken | Dutch subtitles

Emma Suarez loses her memory in a car accident. A passer by brings her to a hospital and uses the opportunity to act as her friend. Together they go on holiday. A stylish romantic thriller that evolves in a game of lies and obsessions.

Shown on Sunday the 24th of October at 20.00 and on Tuesday the 26th of October at 20.00.

LA MADRE MUERTA

(The Dead Mother), Juanma Bajo Ulloa, Euskadi 1993 | 106 min. | Spanish spoken | Dutch subtitles

The 2nd film of Juanma Bajo Ulloa is a psychological thriller. Ismael is a violent thief who kills a woman at a burglary. Her little daughter witnessed that and is put in a mental hospital as a result.

Shown only on Monday the 25th of October at 20.00.

SALTO AL VACIO

(Jump into the Void), Daniel Calparsoro, Euskadi 1994 | 86 min. | Spanish spoken | Dutch subtitles

The first movie of Daniel Calparsoro reminds of the French movie La Haine. Poverty, violence en no perspective. Perfect played by the beautiful Najwa Nimri who supports her family by selling drugs and weapons. SALTO AL VACIO or ‘Leap into emptiness’ is situated in a gruesome Bilbao.

Shown on Thursday the 7th of October at 20.00 and on Wednesday the 13th of October at 20.00.

GUERREROS

(Warriors), Daniel Calparsoro, Spanje 2002 | 96 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

A group KFOR-soldiers, based in Kosovo, go on patrol. If they are caught up in a shoot-out with different groups, the hell breaks out. Their vehicles are seized, they don’t get any military support and there is nothing else left than to run for their lives.

Shown on Friday 15 October at 20.00 and on Saturday 16 October at 20.00.

LOKARRI

Jean-Pierre Grasset, Frans Baskenland 2002 | 85 min. | Basque spoken | English subtitles

Imanol, a Basque pelota-player, wants urgently to leave his village and become a pro in the US. But by meeting various people, f.e. Vivian, a woman from Paris, who displays curiosity for the Basque Culture, he discovers that leaving is no solution.

Only shown on Wednesday 27 October at 20.00.

LA CAJA 507

(Safe 507), Enrique Urbizu, Spanje 2002 | 112 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

Modesto is a hardworking bank employee. When the bank is robbed one day, Modesto stays behind tied up among the empty drawers. He discovers a safe with 507 implying documents. As various people show interest in this safe, Modesto sees his opportunity to improve his financial situation.

Shown on Sunday 17 October at 14.00 and on Monday 18 October at 20.00.

800 BALAS

(800 Bullets), Alex de la Iglesia, Spanje 2002 | 126 min. | Spanish spoken | English subtitles

Almería. In a fake cowboy-village a group of stuntman delivers western shows for tourists for years. If the cunning business woman Carmen Maura wants to turn the village in a leisure park, the ‘cowboys’ rise up and defend their village at any cost.

Shown on Friday 1 October at 20.00 and Saturday 2 October at 20.00.

ATHLETIC, UN SIGLO DE PASIÓN

(Athletic, a Century of Passion), Pedro Olea, Euskadi 1998 | 70 min. | Basque spoken | English subtitles

ATHLETIC, UN SIGLO DE PASIÓN is a documentary about the soccer club Athletic de Bilbao, made for their 100th birthday. In the film the history of Athletic is told. There is attention for the prices they won an for the social aspects of the club, f.e. that they only play with Basque players.

Shown on Wednesday the 6th of October at 20.00 and on Wednesday 20 October at 20.00.

AU PAYS DES BASQUES

(In the Land of the Basques), Jean Faugères, Maurice Champreux Frans Baskenland 1930 | 53 min. | French spoken | Spanish insert titles

The first film with sound about the Basque Country. This film takes us through landscapes and culture, from the Basque provinces in France to the other provinces of Euskal Herria. The shepherds, cheese makers, sports, a lot passes.

Shown together with Around the world with Orson Welles at Tuesday 5 October at 20.00 and at Friday 8 October at 20.00.

AROUND THE WORLD WITH ORSON WELLES: THE BASQUE COUNTRIES

Orson Welles, Engeland 1955 | 2 x 25 min. | English spoken

Waiting for money for his next movie Orson Welles made in the fifties various short movies in Europe. Among them those 2 very remarkable about the Basque Country. Not without the humour of the master.

Shown together with Au Pays des Basques at Tuesday 5 October at 20.00 and Friday 8 October at 20.00.

CORTOS VASCOS

(Basque short films), Verschillende regisseurs, Euskadi | 98 min. | Basque spoken | English subtitles

With this short film program an overview is given of a number of short movies among which the first movie of Alex de la Iglesia MIRINDAS ASESINAS, the winner of the Best short film at the Fantastic Film Festival 2004, EL TREN DE LA BRUJA and two short films by Julio Medem.

PATAS EN LA CABEZA - Julio Medem, 1985 | 14 min.
7:35 DE LA MAÑANA - Nacho Vigalondo, 2003 | 8 min.
BELARRA - Koldo Almandoz, 2002 | 10 min.
TERCERO B - Jose Mari Goenaga, 2002 | 18 min.
TOPEKA - Asier Altuna, 2002 | 3½ min.
LAS SEIS EN PUNTA - Julio Medem, 1987 | 15 min.
MIRINDAS ASESINAS - Alex de la Iglesia, 1990 | 12 min.
EL TREN DE LA BRUJA – Koldo Serra, 2003 | 17 min.

Shown only at Sunday 10 October at 20.00.


De Melkweg
Lijnbaansgracht 234a
1017 PH amsterdam
020-5318181
www.melkweg.nl

IN COOPERATION WITH / LAGUNTZAILEAK

Fermin Muguruza, Peio Aldazabal & MªCarmen Ausan (Filmoteca Vasca)

THANKS TO / ESKERRAK

Jose Luis Rebordinos & Lucia Olaciregui (Donostia Cultura), Koldo Zuazua & Silvia Gomez (Alicia produce), Alex de la Iglesia, Julio Medem, Pedro Olea, Imanol Uribe, Daniel Calparsoro, Manuel Llamas (Icaa), Monica Entio (Sogecable), Paz (El Deseo), Mari Carmen Izagirre & Aitor Gabiña (EiTB), Txema Muñoz (Kimuak), Alfonso Castillo (Videomercury), Mandy Rosencrown (Hollywood Classics), Aintzane Perez del Palomar (Idem produccion), Bibiana Bergia & Elias Querejeta, Sergio Rodriguez (Barton Films), Juan Bautista Mendizabal (Promoción Turística), José Antonio Arbelaiz (Creación y Difusión Cultural), Puri Casado Perez, Waltraud Loges (BFI), Gailu, Inoren Ero Ni, Anari, Asier Zulueta (Metak), Hernani, Eat at Jo’s and everybody who helped

DISTRIBUTORS

A-film
Les Films l’Elysée
TF1
Contactfilm
Filmmuseum

Baskenland Informatie Centrum (BIC)
Postbus 2884
3500 GW Utrecht
Nederland
E-mail: baskinfo@xs4all.nl
Http://www.baskinfo.org/

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