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Skin
Against Stone
Basque
director Julio Medem has experienced
a torrent of abuse as a result of his documentary La pelota
vasca: La piel contra la piedra. Esther Terradas talked
to him about the film and the reaction when he attended the
recent Dublin International Film Festival
This year's Jameson Dublin
Film Festival paid tribute to Basque director Julio Medem,
screening his acclaimed films Cows, The Red Squirrel,
Earth, Lovers of the Artic Circle, and Sex
and Lucia. The festival also saw the Irish premiere of
his latest feature, La pelota vasca: La piel contra la
piedra (The Basque Ball: Skin Against Stone), a documentary
about the Basque conflict which has been in the Spanish media
spotlight since before its release.
In The Basque Ball,
Medem interviews a variety of people about the society, culture,
conflict and history of the Basque Country. The documentary
feature was severely criticized by members of José
María Aznar's right-wing party Partido Popular (until
recently Spain's ruling party) which refused to cooperate
with the film and tried to prevent its screening at last year's
San Sebastian Film Festival. Also Foro de Ermua tried to remove
their interviews on the grounds that the film was offensive
to victims of threats. Medem felt compelled to issue a press
release in which he repeated his commitment to non-violence
and political dialogue.
Criticisms of Medem and his
film escalated with high intensity. In January's Spanish Goya
Awards, the Association of Victims of Terrorism demonstrated
against the Basque director. On the other hand, Basque organisations
of actors and producers refuted the attacks on Medem and claimed
the right of every professional to express themselves freely.
The Basque government also denounced the 'persecution'that
Julio Medem is suffering.
Five months after The
Basque Ball's release, and shortly before the Spanish
general elections (which resulted in a change of government),
Julio Medem talked to Film Ireland about the creation
of the documentary, his intentions, why the film is considered
politically controversial, and how he has been affected by
the barrage of media harassment.
ET: Dublin is the last
public interview you're giving about The Basque Ball.
JM: Yes, and I did it knowing
consciously that it was the last time; I've made my mind up
to conclude this really hard promotional stage. I'm not a
soldier and I don't have the vocation of a martyr. I make
films, and suddenly I've ended up playing a part which I'm
not ready for. I've come to terms with this as well as I could,
and thanks to the support I've received. It may sound paradoxical,
but now I feel better understood than ever, understood by
those I'm most interested in. I understand that the support
I've received is genuine, and that the slander and media harassment
that I've had to go through is part of a political tactic.
I also have a right to walk away from them.
The full article is printed in Film Ireland
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