This is a movie called STARS TO WISH UPON based on the real life story that thousands of women in Spain were forced to live through in prisons governed by the Catholic Nuns under the Franco era.The movie synopsis is as follows:1938. Victoria, the widow of a Republican, is thrown into Saturrarán Prison together with her sister and her son. In this women’s prison, guarded by nuns from the Order of the Sisters of Mercy, one of the darkest episodes in the Spanish Civil War took place, and Victoria personally went through it herself. The White Panther, the prison governor, inspired by Doctor Vallejo’s theories, will snatch the prisoners’ children from them, supposedly for the “good of Spain”.Victoria, out of desperation because of the loss of her son, will confront the White Panther along with the other inmates, will suffer her punishments and humiliations, will try to escape and finally will learn how tosurvive in the hope of finding her son again one day. The thing is, when all is lost, hope is the only thing than can keep you going.
1939 They took away everything, except hope Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano PRODUCER BALEUKO ETB ASOCIATED PRODUCER ETB BARBARA GOENAGA, ITZIAR LAZKANO, ESTIBALIZ GABILONDO, KLARA BADIOLA, TERESA CALO, AMAIA LIZARRALDE, GARBIÑE INSAUSTI, SARA COZAR, AMAGOIA LAUZIRIKA, AITOR BELTRÁN, ALEX BERMÚDEZ, ITZIAR ITUÑO Y PATXI SANTAMARÍA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: JULEN ROBLES MAKEUP: EVA ALFONSO HAIRDRESSER: CARMEN BEINAT COSTUME DESIGNER: JOSUNE LASA SOUND RECORDIST: PABLO BUENO ART DIRECTOR: PEIO VILLALBA MUSIC: JOSERRA GUTIERREZ FILM EDITOR: MIKEL RUEDA DIRECTOR OF FOTOGRAPHY: GONZALO BERRIDI LINE PRODUCER: MIKEL HUÉRCANOS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ASIER BILBAO PRODUCERS: KARMELO VIVANCO, EDUARDO BARINAGA DIRECTED & WRITTEN: MIKEL RUEDA izarrenargia.com Stars to wish upon PRESS DOSSIER
Transcript
1939They took away everything, except hope
Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano
PRODUCER BALEUKO ETB ASOCIATED PRODUCER ETB BARBARA GOENAGA, ITZIAR LAZKANO, ESTIBALIZ GABILONDO, KLARA BADIOLA, TERESA CALO, AMAIA LIZARRALDE, GARBIÑE INSAUSTI, SARA COZAR, AMAGOIA LAUZIRIKA, AITOR BELTRÁN, ALEX BERMÚDEZ, ITZIAR ITUÑO Y PATXI SANTAMARÍA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: JULEN ROBLES MAKEUP: EVA ALFONSO HAIRDRESSER: CARMEN BEINAT COSTUME DESIGNER: JOSUNE LASA SOUND RECORDIST: PABLO BUENO ART DIRECTOR: PEIO VILLALBA MUSIC: JOSERRA GUTIERREZ FILM EDITOR: MIKEL RUEDA DIRECTOR OF FOTOGRAPHY: GONZALO BERRIDI LINE PRODUCER: MIKEL HUÉRCANOS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ASIER BILBAO PRODUCERS: KARMELO VIVANCO, EDUARDO BARINAGA DIRECTED & WRITTEN: MIKEL RUEDA izarrenargia.com
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
3
1938. Victoria, the widow of a Republican, is thrown into Saturrarán Prison together with her sister and her son. In this women’s prison, guarded by nuns from the Order of the Sisters of Mercy, one of the darkest episodes in the Spanish Civil War took place, and Vic-toria personally went through it herself.
The White Panther, the prison governor, inspired by Doctor Vallejo’s theories, will snatch the prisoners’ children from them, supposedly for the “good of Spain”. Victoria, out of desperation because of the loss of her son, will confront the White Panther along with the other inmates, will suffer her punishments and humi-liations, will try to escape and finally will learn how to survive in the hope of finding her son again one day. The thing is, when all is lost, hope is the only thing than can keep you going.
SYNOPSIS
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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This story is set in Saturrarán, a small place near the town of Ondarroa in Vizcaya where there is a seminary that during the Spanish Civil war was turned into a women’s prison. It begins around 1938 and lasts until 1944 and occupies a dark place in the events of the war.
This film is an exercise in recovering our histo-rical memory; in this case from the viewpoint
of women with an additional gender perspective in the way it deals with this subject. The main aim would be to combine these two aspects, women and historical memory, which was something that hadn’t been done before.
Much has been said about battalions, the role played by artists, civil society, the oppo-sing side, the media in the war”. but few have given a leading role to women. If we add
to this the historical and symbolic value of the fact that over six years from 1938-1944, thou-sands of female prisoners in Saturrarán, mainly Basques and Asturians, went through hell, we are faced here with an unprecedented event that needs to be dealt with in a way that is in keeping with its significance and historical im-portance.
If this was the background, then the suitability of the project also has to do with a con-text that provided us with a natural opportunity.
On the 31st of October 2007 the Law concerning Historical memory was passed. This was a law that recognised and extended rights and established measures to help peo-ple who had been persecuted or had been the victims of violence during the Civil War and the Dictatorship.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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This was an essential law, and one that was utterly necessary. Some would say that it came late, while others said that at the very least it did come about. For our part we think that now that we have opened the door, this is the moment to take a step further for the people who have been forgotten; a step towards remembering what was unjust and wrong. In short, this is a step fur-ther to make it quite clear, once and for
all, what that period meant and how the people who played a leading role in it expe-rienced it.
Izarren argia takes this step, because this film doesn’t just tell the story of a period, or even of a generation. “Izarren argia” is a feeling, an ode to hope; the hope that a lot of people lost and that was so vital if they wanted to carry on. It’s a film that provides a narrative that reviews a dark period, in which a lot of people had to keep quiet in order to be able to survive; and had to dream so as not to despair about their lives, a situa-tion that was made especially worse because they were women.
Very few people know that in Saturrarán prison, which was previously a spa, some of the most horrible events in the period after the Spanish Civil war took place, between 1938 and 1944. It was there that about five thousand women were imprisoned for no reason whatsoever, and were totally deprived of their freedom. Their own children were even taken away from them and given to Falangist families to be adopted, based on the cruel theory of “mental inferiority” propagated by Doctor Vallejo.
The Nuns from the Sisters of Mercy Order, who had the job of guarding this prison, were accomplices to the system and formed just another link in the regime’s chain of repression. Years later many people dared to speak out to denounce the horrors that occurred on the other side of the prison walls. Physical and psychological abuse, hun-ger, the deaths of boys and girls, women” and especially, the degrading treatment that humiliated the women who were locked up there, day in, day out. It is estimated that 177 people died in the prison, and among these around 59 were boys and girls
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
6
The Nuns from the Sisters of Mercy Order, who had the job of guarding this prison, were accompli-ces to the system and formed just another link in the regime’s chain of repression. Years later many people dared to speak out to denounce the horrors that occurred on the other side of the prison walls. Physical and psychological abuse, hunger, the deaths of boys and girls, women” and especially, the degrading treatment that humiliated the wo-men who were locked up there, day in, day out. It is estimated that 177 people died in the prison, and
among these around 59 were boys and girls
The story that we tell in “Izarren argia” is the story of one of the inmates, Victoria, who could be any of them; it is through her memories and struggle that we will realise how they lived in that prison, and how day after day they had to put up with the worst side of the war; in which all they could do was hope to try and survive in subhuman condi-tions.
That is why "Izarren argia" is a tribute to all these women. Women from different parts of the country who were thrown into prison and forced to survive in a place they hadn’t chosen, separated from their loved ones. Women who had no option and no say in anything, but who did have a great deal of hope.
This is why this film is necessary: to do these women justice, and ensure that their story is not swept away by the winds of shamelessness, but especially it aims to show, that even in difficult, terrible dark times, there is room for hope.
The thing is that when all is lost, hope is the only thing that can keep you going and save you.
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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DIRECTOR
"Estrellas que alcanzar" is the debut film by this filmmaker from Vizcaya who was born in Bilbao in 1980. He graduated in Audiovi-sual Communication specialising in Scriptwriting at the University of Navarre and has worked on several films in the audiovisual sec-tor as a scriptwriter, director or producer.
After a short but productive period of professional experience he went to New York to complete his training in film directing at the prestigious New York Film Academy thanks to a grant from Bizkaia Provincial Council.
Films as a director and scriptwriter:•9 milimetros(2002).Shortfilm.•El carrito (2003).Shortfilm.•Érase una vez(2004).Shortfilm.•Steping in love(2006).Shortfilm.•Happy together(2006).Shortfilm.•It´s been a long time.(2006).Shortfilm.•In the Laundry(2006).Shortfilm.•Just one Kiss(2007).Shortfilm.•Lost Time(2007).Shortfilm.•Present Perfect(2007).Shortfilm.•Cuando Corres(2009).Shortfilm.•Estrellas que alcanzar(2010).Full-lengthfilm.
Films as a scriptwriter:•Sin pecado Concebido(2003).Tv-movie.•Salve oh Patria(2007).Full-lengthfilm.•Lo peor(2009).Shortfilm.•Siempre hay una primera vez(2008).Shortfilm.•Ruega por nosotros(2008).Shortfilm.
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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BALEUKO S.L.
Baleuko is an audio-visual company founded in September 1993 for the production of animated and real-action feature films and television programmes. Based near Bilbao (northern Spain), with a stable work force of 75 employees, Baleuko has produced eight animated features (including the first European full CGI feature film in 1997, entitled Megasonics) two real-action movies, numerous documentaries, as well as a wide array of television programs, and maintains a constant interest in new technologies.
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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ANIMATION With an outstanding production strategy, Baleuko has released seven animated features and over 1,000 minutes of animation for the audio-visual market over a period of 10 years. Currently, Baleuko is working on three animated feature films. ANIMATED FEATURE FILMS
• PRODUCED − Olentzero and the hour of gifts, 2008 − Betizu and and the golden cowbell, 2007 (Nominated for Goya Awards 2008) − Betizu and the mistery of Xangadú, 2006 − Olentzero and the magic log, 2005 − The Balunis, journey to the end of the world, 2003 Nominated for Goya Awards 2005 − Betizu in the stars, 2003 − Olentzero, a Christmas tale, 2002 Nominated for Goya Awards 2003 − The Megasonics, 1997 First European animated feature produced entirely in 3D. Winner of Goya Award 1998
• IN DEVELOPMENT − Olentzero and the giants, 2011 − Black to the moon, 2011
ANIMATED SERIES • PRODUCED
− Unibertsolariak, 13 x 8’ - 2004 − Unibertsolariak: English learning, 26 x 3’ – 2002
• IN DEVELOPMENT − Black to the moon - The series, Tales from Liberty farm - 2010
CINEMA • PRODUCED
− Stars to wish upon. Feature film – 2010 − Eutsi! (Resist!). Feature film – 2007 − Ispiluen jauregia (The palace of mirrors). TV movie – 2005 − Bakea ereiten (Sowing peace. Short film 30’ – 2001
• IN DEVELOPMENT − Amaren eskuak. Feature film − Hidden away. Feature film
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
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TELEVISIONToday, Baleuko is a leading television production company in Northern Spain, involved, particularly in the Basque country, with all television formats and genres, documentaries, children programmes, animated series, shows, TV series
• TV PROGRAMS − Plató 2.0 Political debate. 2009-2010, weekly − Oh happy day, musical show, 2009, weekly − Pilotari, TV series, 2007 / 2008, weekly − Horrelakoa da bizitza, Magazine, 2008, daily − Zeure esku, Docu-reality, 2007, weekly − Ordu txikitan, Talk show 2007 / 2008, weekly − Erletxea, Reality show. 2006, weekly − Beste gu, Testimonios. 2005-06, weekly − Ze Kosmopolita, Humour. 2004 / 05, weekly − Políticamente incorrecto, Political debate. 2001-2008, weekly − Izarren Hautsa, Musical. 2002-03 − Betizu, Children. 2000-01-02-03-04-05-06-07, daily − Azken uda pasa, Current affairs. 2001, daily − Galde Street, Magazine. 1999-2000, daily − Beren Kasa, Magazine. 1999, weekly − Easy Peasy, Show. 1998-99 − Jaiak, Current affairs. 1996 - 2003, daily − Euskaraokea, Children. 1996-97-98-99
• DOCUMENTARIES − Jorge Oteiza, 1908-2008” y sigo, 55’ - 2008 − Euskadi 1936, una nación al límite, 55’ - 2006 − Memoria de la represión franquista, 50’ - 2005 − Indurain, un hombre tranquilo, 55’ – 2001 − Arrupe, la iglesia del siglo XXI, 2x50’ - 2001 − Juan Pablo II, la cuenta atrás, 50’ - 2001 − La transición en Euskadi, 12x50’ – 1999-2000 − Los esclavos vascos del III Reich, 50’ - 2002 − Oro rojo, 50’ - 2002 − Zabalaga, el jardín del genio, 50’ - 2001 − La posguerra en Euskadi, 3 x 50’ – 2000
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
to wish upon ~ Izarren argia ~
19
OTHER MEDIABaleuko also has an applications development department – on the basis of the results of its R+D projects, it creates a range of applications such as interactive games for television programmes or theme parks, characters animated in real time interacting with the audience, graphs for real-time data presentation, and programmes for control and optimisation of the animation department pro-cesses.
• Olentzero Theme Park, Mungia (Bilbao) • Animatic Real-time interactive avatar. • Interactive games for the Betizu children’s program • Presentation of election results, Basque Parliament Elections,
− 1998 - 2001 – − 2005 - 2009
• APMAS − Animation Production Management Software
• R&D − Within the animation department, Baleuko’s technical staff is involved in several R&D projects, many of which are fully integrated into production development.
They took away everything, except hope
1939 izarrenargia.com Barbara Goenaga Itziar Lazkano Stars
