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GERNIKA LIVES
Written, Produced and directed by Begonya Plaza
Executive Producer: K2000
Edited by: Jack Tucker and Begonya Plaza
It is the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Gernika, an innocent Basque town in Northern Spain, the holy city of Euskadi, and the first populated location to be bombed by none other than Hitler, and his Fascist ally, Franco.
April 26, 1937 was 'market day' in Gernika.
Every Monday Gernika's surrounding towns gather there to sell their local produce, and celebrate their traditions. Since 1937, every April 26 is remembered as the most horrific, and destructive day in Basque history.
My father’s stories are embedded in my mind as early as I could have a conscience. With teary, swollen eyes, and his children on his lap, dad tried to make sense of his childhood past, including all the proceeding events during the Spanish Civil War.
In my early twenties I undertook this passionate video project to capture the voices of Gernika's surviving witnesses, each with his/her own unique traumatic memory, vividly expressed with open hearts, and my father being one of them.
The late John Randolph, known for his Hollywood acting work and idealistic political activism introduces the film from his dressing room, back stage, after a Broadway performance of
“Broadway Bound” (for which he won the Tony.)
Among the Gernikeses interviewed is artist, Jose Luis Iriondo, the world famous ballet dancer, choreographer and company founder, Victor Olaeta, one of the greatest ever soccer players, Mauri Ugartemendia, Gernika’s mayor at that time, politicians, educators, farmers, athletes, and town’s people.
In the year, 2000 I reedited the film and included an interview with Basque writer, historian, Mario de Salegi, at his home in New York City.
Original Basque music from the 1970's, includes, folk singer/songwriter, Xeberri.
The bombing motivated Pablo Picasso to paint the masterpiece, Guernica, to illustrate the massacre of innocent village people and animals by Fascist exploitative forces.
The Basques are considered the indigenous tribesmen of Europe with a language disconnected to any other in the world, and Gernika is their holy land.
"GERNIKA LIVES" aired on Euskal Televista International, screened at Anthology Film Archives, Eusko Etxea in New York, and has been purchased by universities, institutions, libraries, and private individuals around the world.
Spanish, and Euskera with English Voice-Over & subtitles. 40 minutes.
More about: John Randolph
GUERNICA by Pablo Picasso
WATCH TRAILER
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Contact us at: begonya@begonyaplaza.com
Reviews
Dear BegonyaThank you so much for the films which had arrived when I got back yesterday evening and watched. I loved them- such a personal journey for you. I especially liked Guernika Lives with its original footage and wonderful music to accompany it- very inspiring. I was even more horrified by the event and so touched by the courage and strength of the Basques- and the people who were interviewed. It must have been very emotional for your father. I so applaud their strength in holding on to their cultural and unique identity.On Saturday I will be sitting in the restaurant you recommended, thinking of the events, and will raise a glass to you and yours.Thank you again,Lesley - MiriamEngland, february, 2013
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GERNIKA LIVES (A documentary about the bombing of Gernika in Euskadi.)
Written, and directed by Begonya Plaza
It is the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Gernika. Gernika was the first innocent town to be air bombed by Hitler, with the encouragement of Franco and his fascist regime. In this film, my father reunites with childhood friends, and family. Amongst them are renowned Basque artists like Jose Luis Iriondo, Olaeta Ballet, Mauri Ugartemendia (one of history's greatest Spanish futbol players), Gernika's mayor, other politicians, educators, athletes, and the town's civilians who were barely children when the devastation began. They recount that horrific day, which was on a Monday, it was market day in Gernika, when the surrounding towns come to gather and sell their produce, and celebrate their culture and unique tradition.
Starring: John Randolph, & renown Basque writer/historian, Mario de Salegi.
Spanish, and Euskera with English Voice-Over & subtitles. 45-minute video.
Edited by: Jack Tucker and Begonya Plaza
BUY DVD / COMPRA EL DVD: begonya@begonyaplaza.com
• Orders can be placed from anywhere in the world
• DVD Includes subtitles in English/Spanish and dubbed into English.
• Photography book of Euskadi available
UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES
• DVD licensed with lifetime public performance rights (PPR): $200
PUBLIC LIBRARIES, HIGH SCHOOLS & NON-PROFITS
• DVD licensed with lifetime public performance rights (PPR): $50
• Discounts available for multiple copies
* For electronic file/streaming rights or purchase orders, contact us.
PERSONAL/HOME USE
* DVD: $30
Filmed in Guernica, in 1987 before any other film of its kind, and later again in 2000 with writer, historian, Mario de Salegi, at his home in New York City.
Through these proud, hard working, and authentic people we learn about their culture, rich history of independence, and the tragic events leading to the Spanish Civil War, when Gernika was brutally bombed so unexpectedly. Basques speak a language that is rooted in their land, is one of the first democracies in Europe, nestled in the Pyrinees Mountains, along the Cantabric Ocean, within Northern Spain and Southern France.
The film is narrated, and introduced by actor and activist, John Randolph, member of the American Lincoln Brigades. From his dressing room on the Broadway stage while doing "Broadway Bound" for which he won that year, the Tony.
Most of the characters in this film have died, but GERNIKA LIVES, stands witness to their history through emotional accounts and visual documentation of Gernika in 1936, and then rebuilt in 1987, with all its historical symbolism; the legendary sacred oak tree which is now parished, traditions, sports, culture, culinary talents, and innate fierce character.
The little venerated town of Gernika was blazed mercilessly, and a third of the townspeople were killed as a pre -Spanish Civil War warning attack, by combined nazi - fascist allied forces on the side of Franco. This was the first ever air raid, and the initial test ground for the Nazi new technology and strategy called blitzkrieg, where large masses of innocent civilians would mercilessly be attacked from the air with falling bombs.
I was too young and didn't completely understand what I was doing, but impassion with a desire to honor my father's traumatic childhood I attempted with this film to help redeem the past, and help heal a profound wound I inherited. With the help of individual sponsors, Nina and Rudy del Campo, and the generosity of my best friend's father, Robert Snyder, I embarked to Madrid to find the funding and producer. Filled with faith and vision, I knocked on many doors and pitched my idea so committedly that within a week, I had found my angel. A Basque financier and television producer gave me everything I needed for an entire year, apartment, car, equiptment, crew, money, contacts. I hired my friend, and award winning editor, Jack Tucker, to collaborate with me in the editing, and for almost a year in Galdakano's K200 Studios, we worked and relished amongst richness of Euskadi.
The bombing motivated Pablo Picasso to paint this famous work of art, Guernica, as an illustration of innocent village people and animals being massacred by outside exploitative forces.
The Basques are considered to be the indigenous tribesmen of Europe and Gernika is the heart, and holy land of Euskadi. The April 26, 1937 attack was just another escalated threat to Euskadi's ancient precious culture.
My father was born in Gernika. He was six years old when the bombing occured. He never forgets the atrocities and misery suddenly oppressing him, his family and neighbors. The struggle for survival changed everyone's lives and the course of his own.
GERNIKA LIVES aired on Euskal Televista International, screened at Anthology Film Archives, Eusko Etxea NY, is purchased by universities, institutions, libraries, and private individuals around the world.
WATCH TRAILER
BUY DVD:
Contact us at: begonya@begonyaplaza.com
Reviews
Dear BegonyaThank you so much for the films which had arrived when I got back yesterday evening and watched. I loved them- such a personal journey for you. I especially liked Guernika Lives with its original footage and wonderful music to accompany it- very inspiring. I was even more horrified by the event and so touched by the courage and strength of the Basques- and the people who were interviewed. It must have been very emotional for your father. I so applaud their strength in holding on to their cultural and unique identity.On Saturday I will be sitting in the restaurant you recommended, thinking of the events, and will raise a glass to you and yours.Thank you again,Lesley - MiriamEngland, february, 2013