A Basque in Cleveland

Well, not exactly him, but his movies.

The Cinematheque will be featuring films by Alex de la Iglesia, here you have the note via Cleveland.com:

MOVIES REVIEW Mutant Action (Spain/France, 1993)Directed by Alex de la Iglesia. Not rated. Running time: 95 minutes. When: 7 tonight, 8:50 p.m. Sunday. Where: Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, inside the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. Tickets are $5 for members, $8 for nonmembers. Call 216-421-7450. Grade: B-

Cinematheque features films by de la Iglesia

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Julie E. Washington

Plain Dealer Reporter

"Mutant Action," the first film by Basque filmmaker Alex de la Iglesia, takes a potentially offensive route to the tart point it's making.

If you're not able to laugh at a gang of bumbling terrorists who shoot up a wedding and kidnap the bride, then "Mutant Action" isn't for you.

But amid the gunfire and blood is de la Iglesia's humorous indictment of modern society's preoccupation with money, flat abs and designer water. That's evident in the wedding-reception scene, a raucous revel where tipsy rich women dissect other people's lives.

"Mutant Action" kicks off the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque's "Men on the Verge: The Films of Alex de la Iglesia" series, which runs through Sunday, Nov. 20.

The film (in Spanish with subtitles) focuses on a terrorist gang of the same name. A news report -- the pervasiveness of the media is another theme -- tells us the gang is full of misfits, such as two conjoined twins.

The leader, Ramon, has just been released from jail. After spending years behind bars watching Mutant Action's screw-ups on the news, Ramon has planned the ultimate job, which involves ransom and a trip to an alien planet.

"We don't want to smell good or lose weight!" Ramon rants to rally his men.

Dreamlike sets and shadows lend an appropriate underworld, "Mad Max" feeling to the film.

Here are the other films in the Cinematheque's "Men on the Verge" series:

"Perdita Durango," 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, and 8:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
"Day of the Beast," 9:35 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.
"El Crimen Perfecto," 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18; 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19; and 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
jwashington@plaind.com, 216-999-4539

Just one more thing, if you live in Cleveland or withing driving distance, don't miss the chance to see these films!

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In Case You Didn't Know

The Catalonian statut is being discussed in Madrid.

Euronews provides with a background to the Catalonian dream of nationhood:

Catalonia has strong history of autonomy

The head of the Catalan government and the leader of the opposition could not hide their delight after a key vote last month. A text on a new statute of autonomy was approved overwhelmingly by the regional parliament.120 deputies were in favour, and 15 against.

For the third time in its recent history, Catalonia gave itself the power to self-govern. Its first statute of autonomy was obtained in 1932. Interrupted during the Franco years, autonomy was reinstated in 1979, after the restoration of democracy two years earlier. The statute was the backdrop for political life in Catalonia for the next 25 years, notably during the nationalist government led by Jordi Pujol.

After the adoption of a new constitution in 1978, Spain was divided up into 17 autonomous regions, each with its own parliament and government. Catalonia, which is one of the three richest autonomous regions alongside the Basque Country and Madrid, is keen to expand its political powers.

The first article of the new text on autonomy defines Catalonia as a nation, a term which is neither in the 1979 text, nor in the constitution. The new statute defines Catalan as the preferred language in public administration. Classes in Catalan would be a right for students, except in tertiary education. Catalan and Spanish would be the official languages.

Another change would be the creation of a Catalonia Council of Justice. This would be the government's judicial body, decentralised from the state's top judiciary.

One of the more controversial plans would be the creation of an agency that would collect all of the region's taxes. Part of this - never more than 50 percent - would be handed over to the central government. The regional parliament would also have the power to create new taxes and modify existing ones.

As we can see, in that cherished dream of independence and self determination, the Basques are not alone, and the article supports my statement about the main fear for the Spaniards to let go of Euskal Herria and Catunya is the powerful economies these two nations have developed.

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Murder of Basque Political Prisoner

Thanks to Eli Gudari for the information about how the Basque political prisoners can be murdered whenever Madrid wants.

Here you have what happen to Jose Anjel Altzuguren:

Basque prisoner Jose Anjel Altzuguren found dead in cell

He was arrested in Bera on October 22 to be taken to complete his prison term, and having been in the prisons of Iruñea, Gasteiz and Zaragoza, he was admitted to Soria prison on Friday; despite suffering from depression, he was not seen by the doctor there

Edurne Elizondo – BERA (Navarre)


Jose Anjel Altzuguren, a citizen of Bera (Navarre), was unexpectedly arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard nine days ago to serve his prison sentence in full. He was admitted to the prison of Iruñea (Pamplona) and subsequently transferred to Zaragoza and finally to Soria, where he arrived on Friday. He had a visit from his brother at the weekend. Jose Anjel had asked him for money to buy a television. He also told his brother that another prisoner had lent him some books on that very Friday. Yesterday he was found dead. According to the information the prison authorities have given his relatives, he was found in his cell hanged by means of bed sheets.

In the same prison in Soria another inmate was also found dead yesterday morning; a 71-year-old person known by the initials C. E. T. G. was also found hanged using the wire spiral binding of an exercise book. The prison authorities pointed out that the two inmates had been in different wings and the deaths were unrelated.

The 39-year-old prisoner, Altzuguren, was suffering from depression. He was being treated by a psychologist and a psychiatrist. He was on medication. He was arrested on October 22 to complete his prison term. He had been convicted to five years and eight months for aiding and abetting ETA. The first time he was arrested he complained that he had been tortured, which plus his time in prison had affected him, according to the Askatasuna association. He had served three and a half years in prison. He had been out for barely a year waiting to be informed about a decision on an appeal lodged by his lawyer. Instead of being notified, he was arrested directly on October 22 together with Imanol Larrañaga and Ainara Fresneda. As a result, he was deprived of the medical attention he had been receiving.

Since Altzuguren was admitted to prison on Friday, Soria prison warders had been giving him the medication he was prescribed; but he had not been seen by the prison doctor, as the family’s lawyer, Amaia Izko, stressed. Prison warders found Altzuguren’s body at 08.00 yesterday morning when they started to count the prisoners. At about 08.45 the family got a phone call informing them about what had happened. The prisoner’s sister went with the family lawyer to collect her brother’s body. It was taken from his cell to the hospital to undergo a post mortem examination. When the examination had been completed, Altzuguren’s relatives and lawyer waited for judicial authorisation to remove the body. They were unable to obtain all the documents yesterday, so the prisoner’s body will be arriving in Bera today. It will be leaving Soria at about 12.30. The funeral will be held Bera today. It will be leaving Soria at about 12.30. The funeral will be held tomorrow. The town hall will be used as the funeral chapel.

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The Dangers of Overfishing

A man works in his boat in the northern Spanish town of Bermeo. Loose shipping registration rules are encouraging overfishing in the world's oceans and fuelling a 1.2 billion dollar illicit industry that is harming the environment and endangering seafarers, a new report said(AFP/File/Rafa Rivas)

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Have-Nots and Sold Outs

Just a few minutes ago Times on Line published an article called "Breakaway plan tests leadership". It talks about the histerical reactions by the more backwards sectors in Spain in the aftermath of the approval by the Catalonian Congress of a new statut, one that among other things asks for Catalunya to be called a nation, which is what it is, just like Euskal Herria.

The article goes over the same all path, Zapatero is in trouble they say.

Nothing new here.

Until you read a couple of opinions, here you have them:

But there are signs of splits in the Spanish Socialist party. Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra, the Socialist president of Extremadura, one of Spain’s poorest areas, said that the plan would create a Spain of “haves and have-nots”.

And:

Josep Ferrer, honorary president of Freixenet, Spain’s largest cava producer, said: “We are worried about the impact of the present political situation on sales.”

Rodriguez Ibarra echoes the reason why most Spaniards are opposed to the eventual independence for Catalunya and Euskal Herria. The two occupied nations are the back bone of the Spanish economy, period. Once they are gone their own way, the rest of One and Catholic Spain will have to deal with a completely different scenery.

If suddenly they are not as rich, well, too bad.

Now, at least Rodriguez Ibarra speaks out for the Spaniards, but how about the cowardly Ferrer?

I mean, he is afraid of how is the new statut going to impact his sales?

I think someone has to remind that Catalonian that it is better to be a mouse's head than a lion's tail.

Or in the word of Spartacus, I rather die on my feet than having to live on my knees.

But the best part about this article has to be the little map showing the three "regions" it speaks of, here it is:

I do not know if I should be happy because for the first time the international press shows Nafarroa as what it is, the Basque Country, or mad, because they forgot to include Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.

You can read the entire article at Times on Line and at Artxiboak.

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Of Light and Darkness

Today is an extrange day for the Basque soccer teams, one of them rejoices in the clear air that you can get only when you are on top, one more suffers the torturing heat of a team that is all the way in the bottom of the chart.

With seven victories and 21 points, Osasuna, leaded by Xabier "El Vasco" Aguirre is two points ahead of Barcelona, a team that defeated Real Sociedad with a final score of five-null.

Real Sociedad seats on 10th place with ten wins and 16 points. And they are in trouble outside the pitch.

And it is Athletic de Bilbao, the all-Basque team, the one that hold the infamous last place in the competition. They have only one victory and 6 points out of 30 disputed so far. Today they announced that they are replacing the coach José Luis Mendilibar with the old warrior, Javier Clemente.

Worst part is, Alaves is not exactly out of harm's way, today they saw the sun rising counting just one win like the bilbotarras, and standing on position number 18.

A bad year so far.

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The PP and its Dark Ways

Via the International News Alliance we learn that the president of the ruling PSOE said loud and clear about the way the PP has been behaving regarding the proposed new statut.

Here you have the note:

Socialist chief berates PP alarmism over Catalan plan

Draft reform to receive first reading in Congress this week

El Pais Spain ANDREW EATWELL

Madrid

The president of Spain's governing Socialist party downplayed on Sunday the possible implications for the future of Spain posed by a Catalan bid for increased home rule, accusing the opposition Popular Party of "nonsensical" and "foolish" scaremongering.

Speaking at a congress of the Basque Socialist Party (PSE) in Vitoria, Socialist party president Manuel Chaves declared that the government is merely permitting a "reform and modernization of the state" that is needed if the system of autonomous regions is to be adapted to "modern times": "We are the guarantors of the equality of all Spaniards," Chaves, the Andalusian premier, declared.

The reform of Catalonia's autonomy statute, which was approved by the regional parliament in Barcelona last month, is due to undergo its first reading in Congress on Wednesday amid fierce opposition from the Popular Party, which accuses the government of doing nothing in the face of an attempt to "balkanize" Spain.

"With this statute of division, Spain is faced with the first instance of a government actively working in favor of the disappearance of its powers," former PP Prime Minister José María Aznar declared on Friday.

Through appeals in Congress and to the Constitutional Court, the PP has sought to prevent the Spanish parliament from debating the text.

Chaves denounced the PP approach as blatantly "antidemocratic." He noted nonetheless that Congress has the power to "change" the text, a message apparently directed at the reform's architect, Catalan Socialist premier Pasqual Maragall, who was also present at Sunday's meeting. The reform has also sparked criticism outside political circles, with Toledo archbishop and Spanish Episcopal Conference vice president, Antonio Cañizares, warning Saturday that "Spain's unity is undoubtedly under threat."

© 2005 El Pais

The truth is, we could not expect anything different from the neanderthals that thinly diguise their Francoist leanings each time something moves forward.

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Biarritz Obliterates Ulster

Biarritz's scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili(L) vies with Ulster's Irish winger Kevin Maggs(C) during their European Cup Rugby Union match at the Aguilera stadium in Biarritz. Biarritz won 33-19.(AFP/Daniel Velez)

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Civil Disobedience

When a government like the one that ruled from Madrid until last years decides to ban a political party, the least they should expect is some sort of dignified disobedience from politicians bred in the oldest European democracy.

Too bad the government that seats in Madrid today is doing nothing to drop the charges against these Basque politicians. They become sidekicks to the fascists that form the PP.

Former Basque regional parliamentary president Juan Maria Atutxa (L) awaits trial in the High Court in Bilbao with United Left deputy Kontxi Bilbao (C) and ex-deputy Gorka Knorr, October 26, 2005. The three are accused of disobedience after refusing to oust the parliamentary representation of illegalised Basque pro-independence party Batasuna while acting as members of the regional parliament's board. REUTERS/Vincent West

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Fishing Rights in Pasaia

Two Basque fishermen sit on their boat, with a Basque flag in the foreground, as they block the port of Pasejos with others in northern Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, for the second consecutive day. Spanish fishermen blocked ports and fish markets in several parts of Spain keeping up protests against fuel prices. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

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