Josu Martínez

In a non-existent town, five true stories based on oral testimonials and texts by writers take place between 1914 and 1982. Through them, we see the social changes experienced throughout the 20th century by a small town in the Northern Basque Country, the deep-rootedness and approximation of a language, and the struggle for survival.

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"In the mid 20th century Jon Mirande demonstrated with his prose that the Basque language was capable of producing cultured, universal literature. Everybody recognises its importance. But he is still a taboo subject. De Mirande is said to have been a racist. A paedophile. Nazi. Misogynist. Immoral. Every time his name is mentioned, fiery controversies break out. We don't know what to do with him. I want to make a film about Mirande. But I don't know how. Perhaps it would be more interesting to give him the floor". (Josu Martinez)

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Alfonso Etxegarai, former ETA terrorist gang member, sets out on the road back home after decades of exile on the African island of Sao Tome and Principe, where he was deported by France and Spain in 1986.

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How did the operation against 'Euskaldunon Egunkaria' come about? Why did the Spanish state decide to attack it? What did they hope to achieve by arresting, torturing and publicly humiliating known and prestigious people in the field of Basque cultural activity? This documentary tries to find answers to these questions, focussing on the different keys and factors of the period.

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Winter of 1921. After fighting for France for four years, the combatants of Bizkarsoro (Lower Navarre, France) have returned from the battlefront. Like the yellow star of the Jew or the ear of the Cagots, children who speak Basque are marked with an stick called ANTI.

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The countenance of Joseba Sarrionandia is multi-faceted, not only for having dabbled in all literary forms of expression, but for having been capable of creating his own imagery, composed of endless worlds. Thus, several of the elements appearing in the literary world will undoubtedly appear here: the sea, the port, childhood, trains, uprooting, war, destruction, love, drifting, pain, fantasy, mystery, initiation, torture...

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Lezo Urreiztieta was a 16th-century pirate, born by mistake in 1907. Risking his life, he saved that of hundreds of people; he negotiated with foreign governments for a free Basque Country; he managed to slip 17 boats full of weapons into Bilbao during the Civil War; he was on the point of killing Franco... Forty years after his death, the tape recorder of writer Martin Ugalde reveals his incredible story told in the voice of the actual protagonist. Starting with unpublished conversations between the two held from 1975 to 1978, this film sheds light on the testimony of a key character in 20th century Basque history.

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Hasparren, 1956. Amid great expectation, a documentary in the Basque language about the Basque Country was released in the local cinema. In the following months it was screened in other Basque and French towns on both sides of the border, and even in Paris, San Francisco and Dakar. But suddenly it disappeared from sight and everyone forgot about it. Sixty years later, filmmaker Josu Martinez sets out to find it.

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Five directors portray five Basque political prisoners. A young woman counts the days remaining before she is arrested. A man returns to society after 17 years in prison. A mother records every phone conversation she had with her imprisoned daughter on 125 cassette tapes. An intellect and professor of journalism tries to find himself from the solitude of his cell. And a former ETA leader reconnects with a close friend from his youth, now a filmmaker. 'Windows Looking Inward' gives a brief insight into the lives of the people behind the bars, behind the events, behind the headlines.

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Many years have passed since Saturraran women's prison closed its doors in 1944. Thanks to the people working to recover the historical memory, numerous black points of the Civil War are gradually coming to light. Even so, the silence continues to reign. The list of forgotten names is long and there is still so much to be remembered...

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Kristiane Etxaluz, from Soule, and Alfonso Etxegarai, from Bizkaia, are not your usual couple. Committed since their youth to the Basque independence struggle, they are condemned to living their love 7,000 km from one another due to the fact that Alfonso lives on the small African island to which he was deported several years ago. However, despite the banishment, their eyes always follow the country of the Bidasoa and their hearts at apple time; an apple time still to come.

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Before she turned two, Haize's father, Mikel Goikoetxea, a member of ETA nicknamed 'Txapela', was killed by the GAL. With no recollection of the man whatsoever, 25 years down the line she starts asking questions. Piecing together the testimonies of those who knew him, Haize gradually discovers her father and his time.

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In a non-existent town, five true stories based on oral testimonials and texts by writers take place between 1914 and 1982. Through them, we see the social changes experienced throughout the 20th century by a small town in the Northern Basque Country, the deep-rootedness and approximation of a language, and the struggle for survival.

Open details →

"In the mid 20th century Jon Mirande demonstrated with his prose that the Basque language was capable of producing cultured, universal literature. Everybody recognises its importance. But he is still a taboo subject. De Mirande is said to have been a racist. A paedophile. Nazi. Misogynist. Immoral. Every time his name is mentioned, fiery controversies break out. We don't know what to do with him. I want to make a film about Mirande. But I don't know how. Perhaps it would be more interesting to give him the floor". (Josu Martinez)

Open details →

How did the operation against 'Euskaldunon Egunkaria' come about? Why did the Spanish state decide to attack it? What did they hope to achieve by arresting, torturing and publicly humiliating known and prestigious people in the field of Basque cultural activity? This documentary tries to find answers to these questions, focussing on the different keys and factors of the period.

Open details →

Lezo Urreiztieta was a 16th-century pirate, born by mistake in 1907. Risking his life, he saved that of hundreds of people; he negotiated with foreign governments for a free Basque Country; he managed to slip 17 boats full of weapons into Bilbao during the Civil War; he was on the point of killing Franco... Forty years after his death, the tape recorder of writer Martin Ugalde reveals his incredible story told in the voice of the actual protagonist. Starting with unpublished conversations between the two held from 1975 to 1978, this film sheds light on the testimony of a key character in 20th century Basque history.

Open details →