Las 13 rosas
Encyclopedia
Las 13 Rosas is a 2007
Spanish film directed by Emilio Martínez Lázaro
. It stars Pilar Lopez de Ayala
, Verónica Sánchez
and Marta Etura
. The plot, based on a true story, follows the tragic fate of thirteen young women
, fighting for their ideals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
.
Julia, a streetcar attendant and her friend, Adelina, a Red Cross worker, are also active sympathizers of the Spanish Republic. While spending an evening in a nightclub watching musicians perform, one of the last bombings of the city takes place. In those dire circumstances they befriend, Blanca, whose husband Enrique is the musicians's band leader.
The triumph of the Francoist troops marks a dark turning point in the lives of those who sympathized with the Republic. Canepa, one of the musicians in Enrique's band, is a Republican militant. Fearing for his life, he decides to leave the country. Blanca, Enrique's wife, gives him some money to help him on his way. Meanwhile, Julia strikes up a relationship with dapper young nationalist soldier Perico.
It is rumored that there was a plot to assassinate Franco on his victorious entry into the capital, and the nationalists are seeking revenge. Although the girls have nothing to do with it, they have been targeted for their propagandistic leftist activities. The first to be arrested is Julia, who, before too long, is being sadistically tortured by the orders of Fontenla, the cold-hearted officer in charge of the interrogations. Adelina, Virtudes' co-worker, like most of the others is a member of a socialist group. She is turned in by her well-meaning father in the naïve belief that nothing serious would happened to her and that she is just wanted for questioning.
Canepa and Teo are turned in by friends and neighbors and are tortured. Canepa commits suicide while under arrest. Teo has better luck and is eventually released on the condition that he has to secretly help to identified and capture his friends, sympathizers of the Republic. With Teo's help, one by one the girls are arrested, and soon they have all been jailed. Only Carmen, the youngest of the girls of the group realizes Teo's doublecrossing, but she is also arrested. Blanca also suffers the same fate. Her only crime is to have given Canepa some money. After suffering heavy police interrogations, the young group of women are eventually transferred to an overcrowded prison.
The reunion of the girls in jail serves as a consolation to their dire circumstances. At one point, they even enjoy a bit of tap-dancing. Their families, including Adelina's grief-stricken father, are hoping that they would eventually be released. Blanca is worried about her small son that she was forced to leave behind. Her admirable behaviour and her serenity while in jail made her gain the respect of the woman in charge of the prison.
However, their situation worsens when the group of women complain of the terrible sanitary condition for the children imprisoned with their mothers. As a protest they jointly refused to sing the praises of the Franco regime. The fate of the 13 young women is sealed when two military officers and an innocent woman are killed in cold blood by a group of leftist revolutionaries. As a punishment, the regime order the execution of some of the prisoners, though they have nothing to do with what have happened while they are in jail. A military court condemned the 48 men and 13 young women to death in less than 48 hours.
Carmen, the youngest of all, is the only survivor of the group. Desolated she listens to the shots that killed her terrified friends.
The final frame of the film asserts that the bulk of the content is verifiable from documentation and that the script relies heavily on actual dialogue or writings from the central characters.
Arrested a month after the end of the Spanish Civil War, the women were sympathizers of the socialist Spanish Republic which was overthrown by the fascist Nationalist forces. They suffered harsh interrogations and were jailed at Las Ventas in Madrid
. The women, known as the 13 roses were executed at dawn on August 5, 1939. Director Emilio Martinez-Lazaros opted to focus the film on fewer than half of the 13 women, however the plot follows several story lines.
The film had a limited release in the USA in New York City. The review in Variety
praised the cinematography and art direction, but remarked: "The 13 Roses largely withers on the vine. [The film] is further let down by its psychological superficiality… an uncertain treatment which convinces neither historically nor dramatically".
. It won four Goyas: Best Cinematography, best Costume design, best original score and best supporting actor (José Manuel Cervino).
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
Spanish film directed by Emilio Martínez Lázaro
Emilio Martínez Lázaro
Emilio Martínez Lázaro is a Spanish film director famous for such films as The Other Side of the Bed and His Master's Voice....
. It stars Pilar Lopez de Ayala
Pilar López de Ayala
Pilar López de Ayala Arroyo is a Spanish film actress. She received a Goya for her role as Queen Joanna of Castile in the 2001 film Juana la Loca, directed by Vicente Aranda ....
, Verónica Sánchez
Verónica Sánchez
Verónica Sánchez Calderón is a Spanish actress. She made her debut in theatre in 1996, and came to media attention as Eva Capdevila in the Telecinco series Los Serrano in 2003. Sánchez has since developed a successful film career...
and Marta Etura
Marta Etura
Marta Etura Palenzuela is a Spanish film and television actress.-Cinema:* 2001: Sin vergüenza* 2002: El Caballero Don Quijote* 2002: Trece campanadas* 2002: La Vida de nadie* 2003: Mariposas de fuego...
. The plot, based on a true story, follows the tragic fate of thirteen young women
Las Trece Rosas
"Las Trece Rosas" is the name given in Spain to a group of thirteen young women, seven of whom were under age , who were executed by a Francoist firing squad just after the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War, as part of a massive execution campaign known as the "saca de agosto" along with 43...
, fighting for their ideals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Plot
In Madrid in 1939 during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, Virtudes and Carmen, two young idealistic Republican militants, are encouraging their neighbours to keep faith in the cause of the Republic. However, the entry of Franco's victorious troops into the city is eminent. Fearing the bloody repression that was coming, many Republicans are fleeing the country while others are unable or unwilling to do so.Julia, a streetcar attendant and her friend, Adelina, a Red Cross worker, are also active sympathizers of the Spanish Republic. While spending an evening in a nightclub watching musicians perform, one of the last bombings of the city takes place. In those dire circumstances they befriend, Blanca, whose husband Enrique is the musicians's band leader.
The triumph of the Francoist troops marks a dark turning point in the lives of those who sympathized with the Republic. Canepa, one of the musicians in Enrique's band, is a Republican militant. Fearing for his life, he decides to leave the country. Blanca, Enrique's wife, gives him some money to help him on his way. Meanwhile, Julia strikes up a relationship with dapper young nationalist soldier Perico.
It is rumored that there was a plot to assassinate Franco on his victorious entry into the capital, and the nationalists are seeking revenge. Although the girls have nothing to do with it, they have been targeted for their propagandistic leftist activities. The first to be arrested is Julia, who, before too long, is being sadistically tortured by the orders of Fontenla, the cold-hearted officer in charge of the interrogations. Adelina, Virtudes' co-worker, like most of the others is a member of a socialist group. She is turned in by her well-meaning father in the naïve belief that nothing serious would happened to her and that she is just wanted for questioning.
Canepa and Teo are turned in by friends and neighbors and are tortured. Canepa commits suicide while under arrest. Teo has better luck and is eventually released on the condition that he has to secretly help to identified and capture his friends, sympathizers of the Republic. With Teo's help, one by one the girls are arrested, and soon they have all been jailed. Only Carmen, the youngest of the girls of the group realizes Teo's doublecrossing, but she is also arrested. Blanca also suffers the same fate. Her only crime is to have given Canepa some money. After suffering heavy police interrogations, the young group of women are eventually transferred to an overcrowded prison.
The reunion of the girls in jail serves as a consolation to their dire circumstances. At one point, they even enjoy a bit of tap-dancing. Their families, including Adelina's grief-stricken father, are hoping that they would eventually be released. Blanca is worried about her small son that she was forced to leave behind. Her admirable behaviour and her serenity while in jail made her gain the respect of the woman in charge of the prison.
However, their situation worsens when the group of women complain of the terrible sanitary condition for the children imprisoned with their mothers. As a protest they jointly refused to sing the praises of the Franco regime. The fate of the 13 young women is sealed when two military officers and an innocent woman are killed in cold blood by a group of leftist revolutionaries. As a punishment, the regime order the execution of some of the prisoners, though they have nothing to do with what have happened while they are in jail. A military court condemned the 48 men and 13 young women to death in less than 48 hours.
Carmen, the youngest of all, is the only survivor of the group. Desolated she listens to the shots that killed her terrified friends.
The final frame of the film asserts that the bulk of the content is verifiable from documentation and that the script relies heavily on actual dialogue or writings from the central characters.
Cast
- Pilar López de AyalaPilar López de AyalaPilar López de Ayala Arroyo is a Spanish film actress. She received a Goya for her role as Queen Joanna of Castile in the 2001 film Juana la Loca, directed by Vicente Aranda ....
– Blanca - Verónica SánchezVerónica SánchezVerónica Sánchez Calderón is a Spanish actress. She made her debut in theatre in 1996, and came to media attention as Eva Capdevila in the Telecinco series Los Serrano in 2003. Sánchez has since developed a successful film career...
– Julia - Marta EturaMarta EturaMarta Etura Palenzuela is a Spanish film and television actress.-Cinema:* 2001: Sin vergüenza* 2002: El Caballero Don Quijote* 2002: Trece campanadas* 2002: La Vida de nadie* 2003: Mariposas de fuego...
– Virtudes - Nadia de Santiago – Carmen
- Gabriella PessionGabriella Pession- Biography :She was born and lived until the age of seven years in the United States, before embarking on a career as an actress. She has practiced figure skating at a competitive level.-Theater :...
– Adelina - Félix Gómez – Perico
- Fran PereaFran PereaFrancisco Manuel Perea Bilbao , professionally known as Fran Perea, is a Spanish actor and singer.-Career:...
– Teo - Enrico Lo VersoEnrico Lo VersoEnrico Lo Verso is an Italian actor.He studied acting at Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and INDA|Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico.-Filmography:* Atto di dolore * Nulla ci può fermare...
– Canepa - Adriano GianniniAdriano GianniniAdriano Giannini is an Italian actor, son of Giancarlo Giannini. He co-starred in 2002 with Madonna in the widely-panned film Swept Away, a remake of a 1974 Italian film. Adriano played the same role that his father, Giancarlo Giannini, played in the original...
– Fontenla - Goya ToledoGoya ToledoGoya Toledo is a Spanish film and television actress and model.Born at Arrecife on the island of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, on the 24 September 1969, Toledo started out as a model before venturing into acting. Her most well-known role to date has been playing the model Valeria in the...
– Carmen Castro - Asier Etxeandia – Enrique
- Bárbara Lennie – Dionisia
- Arantxa Aranguren – Manuela
- María Cotiello – Elena
- Alberto Ferreiro – Valentí
- María Isasi – Trini
- Luisa Martín – Dolores
- Secun de la Rosa – Satur
- José Maria Cervino – Jacinto
Overview
The film is based on real-life events. It tells the story of 13 young women who were sentenced to death by a military court for a crime they had not committed: an attack on a military official during the first years of Franco's dictatorship in which three people died. The women were already in jail when the assault took place.Arrested a month after the end of the Spanish Civil War, the women were sympathizers of the socialist Spanish Republic which was overthrown by the fascist Nationalist forces. They suffered harsh interrogations and were jailed at Las Ventas in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. The women, known as the 13 roses were executed at dawn on August 5, 1939. Director Emilio Martinez-Lazaros opted to focus the film on fewer than half of the 13 women, however the plot follows several story lines.
Reception
Las 13 Rosas opened on October 19, 2007. In Spain the film only had a lukewarm reception from critics and audience. On the other hand, one elderly woman was heard to exclaim, after its first showing, that General Franco himself could not have known of the executions. To provoke that sense of worry in at least one viewer might itself be considered an achievement.The film had a limited release in the USA in New York City. The review in Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
praised the cinematography and art direction, but remarked: "The 13 Roses largely withers on the vine. [The film] is further let down by its psychological superficiality… an uncertain treatment which convinces neither historically nor dramatically".
Awards
Las 13 rosas received 14 nominations to the Goya AwardsGoya Awards
The Goya Awards, known in Spanish as los Premios Goya, are Spain's main national film awards, considered by many in Spain, and internationally, to be the Spanish equivalent of the American Academy Awards....
. It won four Goyas: Best Cinematography, best Costume design, best original score and best supporting actor (José Manuel Cervino).