Gaubela is an exercise in memory of the Civil War, far from the warlike epic that has so often served to glorify violence
Filmmaker Iker Reyes (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1999) makes his feature debut with Gaubela, a fiction film shot on 16mm and based on the Spanish Civil War.
An exercise in Civil War memory
May, 1937. In a farmhouse near Mount San Pedro, Álava, three sisters live in isolation as a consequence of the Spanish Civil War.
Alongside the Condor Legion and heavy artillery preparations, the Francoist forces are getting ready to bomb the area. Meanwhile, the sisters are suddenly confronted by the arrival of what they believe to be an angel.
“Gaubela is an exercise in memory of the Civil War, far from the warlike epic that has so often served to glorify violence. I am interested in silence—a silence that oppresses, that guards the unnamable, that preserves over time what words cannot grasp. Filming in 16mm, in black and white, and in Basque is also an act of resistance, because memory is not found in monuments or in the archives of power, but in tired bodies, in painful silences, in what should never have been told and yet survives,” explained its director, Iker Reyes.
Starring Itziar Manero, Laura Meabe, and Andere Garabieta
The film stars Itziar Manero, Laura Meabe, and Andere Garabieta. It is also written and produced by Iker Reyes, in co-production with Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola and the Basque Country Film School.
It was shot in the towns of Gujuli and Zegama and features cinematography by fellow debutant Xabi Martínez.
Former student and current professor at the Basque Country Film School
Filmmaker and poet Iker Reyes studied Film Directing at the Basque Country Film School and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Creation at Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola.
He also teaches at the Basque Country Film School and works as a chess instructor. Reyes has directed the short film Egun atseginak egongo dira - Будут нежные дни and the medium-length film Otsoaren ahoan.
Enrollment now open at ECPV
“Do you also dream of working in cinema and turning your passion into a profession? This is your moment to take the leap. Enrollment is now open for our film programs, where you will learn from industry professionals and experience unique opportunities both in front of and behind the camera.
Don’t miss the chance to start building your future on the big screen. Your place in the world of cinema is waiting for you!”
