Rent Land and Freedom (1995)

An important film well worth watching - Land and Freedom review by CP Customer

The Spanish Revolution (or Civil War) is an important historical event but, coming just before World War 2, it is often overlooked. This is a great historical record that attempts to be true to what actually happened. It is clearly largely based on Orwell's 'Homage to Catalonia' and as such makes clear the divisions on the Republican side between anarchists and the Russian backed communists, etc. It is good that this film was made and it is well worth watching if this is a subject that interests you. According to the critic Mark Kermode this is the best film that Ken Loach has made and I would tend to agree.

Spanish Civil War drama - Land and Freedom review by CP Customer

A really interesting film for people prepared to give a little thought to what they are watching. Traces the story of a bloke from Liverpool who dcides to join the alliance in their fight against facism. Superb acting and direction. You really get a feel for what it must have been like to actually do this.

A must for people interested in 20th century politics - Land and Freedom review by RM

An absolutely fantastic and well documented account of the not very well-known tensions, controversies and eventually fights within the antifascist side during the Spanish Civil War. While this may look like a very local conflict, Ken Loach smartly manages to highlight the international relevance of the events in this film. I feel the film is loosely based on the autobiographic novel "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell.

My only minor criticism is perhaps the fact that English was not widely spoken among the Spaniards until the present century and that workers from the CNT union in Catalonia were usually immigrants from elsewhere in Spain and apparently couldn't really speak Catalan.