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While at War
While at War.jpg
English release poster
Directed by
Produced by
  • Fernando Bovaira
  • Domingo Corral
  • Hugo Sigman
  • Alejandro Amenábar
Written by
  • Alejandro Amenábar
  • Alejandro Hernández
Starring
  • Karra Elejalde
  • Eduard Fernández
  • Santi Prego
  • Luis Bermejo
  • Tito Valverde
  • Patricia López Arnaiz
  • Inma Cuevas
  • Carlos Serrano-Clark
  • Luis Zahera
  • Ainhoa Santamaría
  • Mireia Ruiz
  • Luis Callejo
  • Dafnis Balduz
  • Jorge Andreu
  • Nathalie Poza
Music by Alejandro Amenábar
Cinematography Alex Catalán
Editing by Carolina Martínez Urbina
Studio Buena Vista International
Movistar+
MOD Producciones
Himenóptero
K&S Films
Mientras Dure La Guerra A.I.E.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date(s) 6 September 2019 (2019-09-06) (Toronto)
27 September 2019 (2019-09-27) (Spain)
Running time 107 minutes
Country
  • Spain
  • Argentina
Language Spanish

While at War (Spanish: Mientras dure la guerra) is a 2019 Spanish-Argentine historical drama film directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Set in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the plot tracks the plight of philosopher and writer Miguel de Unamuno (performed by Karra Elejalde) in Salamanca, a city controlled by the Rebel faction.

Plot

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca - panoramio
Some footage was shot at Salamanca's Plaza Mayor.
University of Salamanca Fray Luis de Leon cropped
The buildings of the University also appear in the film.

During the Spanish coup of July 1936, Nationalist troops occupy Salamanca. In the process, the city's Socialist mayor is arrested. Revered author Miguel de Unamuno (Karra Elejalde) convenes with two colleagues, Protestant priest Atilano Coco Martin and leftist Salvador Vila Hernández; they discuss the coup briefly, after which Unamuno leaves for an interview to publicly support the coup. During the interview, the mayor's wife interrupts to ask him to intervene regarding her husband's imprisonment; Unamuno offers monetary assistance instead, which she rejects.

Meanwhile, in Spanish Morocco, a German delegation meets with General Francisco Franco to pressure the formation of a single Nationalist leader following the death of General José Sanjurjo. Franco maintains that the junta in Burgos holds power, even as his colleagues pressure him to take leadership. Back in Salamanca, Unamuno is removed from his position as rector at the University of Salamanca by the government of the Second Spanish Republic in response to his support of the coup. Unamuno meets with Coco and Salvador again, with the meeting culminating in a heated argument from which Coco leaves. Unamuno later goes to Coco's residence to speak with him, only to find that he is not there. Elsewhere, General José Millán-Astray meets with Franco in Cáceres, while the junta in Burgos reinstates Unamuno as rector of the university, where he finds that he has been prompted to write a manifesto supporting the coup, a task he rejects. Unamuno attempts to meet with Coco - his wife reveals that he had been taken into Nationalist custody days prior. Unamuno meets with Salvador, who attempts to convince him of the fascist nature of the coup.

Meanwhile, Millán-Astray urges Franco to relieve the Siege of the Alcázar in Toledo, but is rebuffed on strategic grounds – to relieve the siege would delay the war's end by years. Millán-Astray pressures Franco to assume leadership, a proposal Franco once again rejects. Later, Franco replaces the Republic's flag on his headquarters with the old monarchist flag, stirring discontent within the junta. The junta then arrive in Salamanca to meet with Franco and his generals, with whom Unamuno is called to meet. Unamuno attempts to plead for Coco's release, and is told that his case will be reviewed. Unamuno is then quietly confronted by Millán-Astray about his unwillingness to sign the manifesto, leaving Unamuno to make a decision. The junta leave to hold a vote on the leadership question, during which Millán-Astray exhorts his colleagues to vote for Franco. At the same time, the administration of the University of Salamanca meet regarding the manifesto. Unamuno assents and signs, while Franco is voted in as commander-in-chief. While leaving the meeting, Unamuno is met by Coco's wife, who presents him a letter testifying to her husband's innocence. Meanwhile, Franco visits a cathedral, where he is inspired by an image of El Cid to relieve the siege of the Alcázar, earning more fervor for his cause.

Unamuno meets with Salvador in the countryside, with whom he debates with regarding the war. During the walk back, Salvador is accosted and arrested by Falangists, leaving Unamuno to walk back alone in the rain. He slips into a delirious state for several days, after which he attempts to make a personal appeal to Franco and his wife to have his colleagues released; the attempt fails, and Unamuno, anguished, informs Coco's wife. Meanwhile, Millán-Astray confronts Unamuno once again and informs him that he will be taking Franco's place in a Nationalist event at the university the following day. At the event, Unamuno initially refuses to speak, though he changes his mind after reading Coco's wife's letter. He presents a speech criticizing the nationalists, causing the crowd to turn on him, thereby forcing him out. An epilogue details the fates of several of the figures in the film.

Cast

Release

The film had its world premiere on September 6, 2019 at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was also included in the Official Section of the 2019 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through their Buena Vista International distribution label, the film was released in cinemas in Spain on September 27, 2019.

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2020 25th Forqué Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Actor Karra Elejalde Nominated
7th Feroz Awards Best Actor (film) Karra Elejalde Nominated
Best Supporting Actor (film) Eduard Fernández Nominated
Best Original Score Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
Best Trailer Rafa Martínez Nominated
12th Gaudí Awards Best Actor Karra Elejalde Won
Best Supporting Actor Eduard Fernández Nominated
75th CEC Medals Best Film Nominated
Best Director Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
Best Actor Karra Elejalde Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Eduard Fernández Won
Best New Actor Santi Prego Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández Nominated
Best Cinematography Alex Catalán Nominated
Best Editing Carolina Martínez Urbina Nominated
34th Goya Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
Best Actor Karra Elejalde Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Eduard Fernández Won
Best Supporting Actress Nathalie Poza Nominated
Best New Actor Santi Prego Nominated
Best New Actress Ainhoa Santamaría Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández Nominated
Best Cinematography Alex Catalán Nominated
Best Editing Carolina Martínez Urbina Nominated
Best Art Direction Juan Pedro de Gaspar Won
Best Production Supervision Carla Pérez de Álbeniz Won
Best Sound Aitor Berenguer, Gabriel Gutiérrez Nominated
Best Special Effects Raúl Romanillos, Juanma Nogales Nominated
Best Costume Design Sonia Grande Won
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Ana López-Puigcerver, Belén López-Puigcerver and Nacho Díaz Won
Best Original Score Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
29th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actor in a Leading Role Karra Elejalde Won
Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role Nathalie Poza Won
Inma Cuevas Nominated
Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role Eduard Fernández Nominated
7th Platino Awards Best Director Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
Best Actor (film) Karra Elejalde Nominated
Best Screenplay Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández Nominated
Best Original Score Alejandro Amenábar Nominated
Best Cinematography Alex Catalán Nominated
Best Art Direction Juan Pedro de Gaspar Won
Best Sound Aitor Berenguer, Gabriel Gutiérrez Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mientras dure la guerra para niños

  • List of Spanish films of 2019
  • List of Argentine films of 2019
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