Review of Land and Freedom (1995) by Caz H — 08 Sep 2011
This being Ken Loach you know the politics will be to the left when telling the story of Volunteers during the spanish civil war .
That said Loach has created a rare beast of a war film one with plenty of political brains and human heart behind it.
Ian Hart plays David Carr a card carrying communist who joins the POUM during the civil war and see's first hand how the struggle is taking its toll not only on the people but on the seperate groups fighting Franco's facists.
Carr gets to see how the POUM are badly armed but determined to fight for their cause no matter what the human cost ,he also gets to see how the REAL communists despise the POUM and how that in fighting cripples the ideals of his comardes in arms.
Only Ken Loach would have the nerve to stop the battles scenes an stage a 10 minute debate between the POUM and the peasants regarding the ownership of the land in a village they have liberated.
This debate and the course the film takes afterwards give it a real edge and snap that kept this reviewer totally engaged.
A vital history lesson then from a vital director.
This review of Land and Freedom (1995) was written by Caz H on 08 Sep 2011.
Land and Freedom has generally received positive reviews.
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