Broken Silence (2001) - Details

In his first film since secrets of the heart, veteran navarran director armendáriz pays tribute to a forgotten period of spanish history. Following the civil war, a large number of republicans took to the mountains as maquis, guerilla fighters against franco's fascists. In the winter of 1944, lucía arrives in a small mountain village where she meets and falls for the handsome blacksmith manuel (botto). When he leaves to join the maquis, she discovers the secretive isolation and terrible tension that stalk the seemingly quiet village streets. "An accomplished, rangy and affecting piece, broken silence is studded with memorable moments. Armendariz's script, the result of much research and interviews with maqui survivors, is as solid as a rock, and the performances are nicely nuanced." (Jonathan holland, variety)