FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Land And Freedom [1995] [DVD]

Land And Freedom [1995] [DVD]
enlarge	Director: Ken Loach Actors: Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor, Iciar Bollain, Tom Gilroy Studio: Artificial Eye Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £4.58 as of 25/11/2009 11:50 GMT details You Save: £15.41 (77%) New (16) Used (1) from £4.58 Seller: gzoop Rating: 11 reviews Sales Rank: 3597 Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen Languages: English (Unknown), Spanish (Unknown), Catalan (Original Language), English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 109 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5021866123301 ASIN: B0006GVJY4 Theatrical Release Date: October 12, 1995 Release Date: March 21, 2005 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 11 1 2 3 Next » The Betrayal of the Spanish Civil War April 12, 2005 Eilidh (An Aberdonian in London) 85 out of 91 found this review helpful Ken Loach's film Land and Freedom is a moving portrayal of a small POUM (United Marxist Worker's Party) militia fighting in the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. Its protagonist, David, travels from Liverpool to join in the fight against Fascism. He falls for a militiawoman, and finds that the Communist ideals he stands for are false. pLoach does a superb job of showing an almost forgotton faction of the fight against Franco. The POUM were denounced as traitors by the main (Russian controlled) Communist Party, and forced to disband, their leaders arrested. The film has been criticised for its narrow focus on the small militia, but that is what makes it so wonderful - it is possible to engage with the characters and feel what they feel. We may see little of the Anarchists or the Communist Popular Army, or even of the enemy Nationalists, but we understand what the war is about. pLoach wanted to show how the Communists betrayed the ideals of the Left in the Spanish Civil War. They said the war must be won before revolution can happen. Understandably, David, a proud member of the Communist Party in the UK, refuses to believe that they could want anything other than revolution - isn't that what Communism is all about? He soon comes to realise, that with Stalin in control of the Spanish Communists and ultimately the whole Spanish Left, there will never be a revolution: Stalin is too interested in forging ties with the West to embarrass himself with a social revolution. pThis film is incredible. Some understanding of the Spanish Civil War and its many complicated parties and militias would help, but even so it is enjoyable and very moving. Anyone who has read George Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia" should watch this. David is much more idealistic and naive than Orwell, but it is the same fight on the same side, with the same pain at defeat. I would recommend this film to anyone, it is wonderfully filmed, with an international cast, not even all professional actors. The story is framed by episodes in present day England, following David's death. As his grand-daughter finds his old letters and newspaper cuttings, we see that although there is a difference of sixty years, the fight of the Spanish Civil War is still going on everywhere, it is still relevant. Unforgettable insight into the Spanish Civil War December 27, 2001 Prof G. New (LONDON United Kingdom) 24 out of 27 found this review helpful This outstanding film offers a fascinatoing insight into the Spanish Civil war through the eyes of a young British volunteer, memorably portrayed by Ian Hart. Following his death in present-day Britain, his grand-daughter sorts through an old suitcase containing the mementos of his time in war-torn Spain, providing the framework for the story. Brilliantly directed by Ken Loach, the film is a poignant evocation of that same mix of beauty and ugliness, love and tragedy that other writers on Spain have portrayed, and which all those who have, in different ways, been captivated by that coutnry will instantly recognise. The use of loosely-scripted dialogue to add spontaneity and immediacy is particularly effective. Altogether an unforgettable experience. Loach's version of Orwell's "A Homage to Catalonia"? December 3, 2002 24 out of 28 found this review helpful This is indeed an excellent film. Ken Loach's characteristic combination of gritty subject matter handled with great sensitivity gives the film a great poignancy. It is particularly fascinating for its treatment of the young hero's struggles with idealism and disillusionment. I couldn't watch this film without thinking of George Orwell's "A Homage to Catalonia" (his account of his experiences of fighting in the Spanish Civil War). The similarities between Orwell's book and Loach's film are too numerous and significant to be co-incidence; I'm sure Loach acknowledges this somewhere, but I saw the film some time ago and don't yet own a copy. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Loach, Orwell, the ideology of Socialism, the fight against Fascism, and overall memorable, thought provoking films! Best Ken Loach film in ages June 1, 2007 Donaldo (Manchester, England) 16 out of 19 found this review helpful I have quite an ambivalent attitude to much of Ken Loach's work. Some of his films, like Kes, are superb. He's not a director known for his technical strengths, rather it is that he is such an independent force that makes most of his films worth watching. Very few directors today produce interesting political films, particularly political films about sometimes-obscure lost causes. He often gets very good performance out of his actors. But I often found most of his films oddly unsatisfying - partly the very partisan nature of them, but often you got the impression that the script could do with a little more focus. Sometimes they lack dramatic tension, but sometimes this is an asset. br / br /I can happily report that this is his best film in a long time. The plot is fairly straightforward - a young unemployed communist from Liverpool decides to join the Republican struggle against the Fascists in Spain. When he arrives there, he joins POUM, one of the Republican associated forces. It follows him as he falls in, out, and in again with his comrades, their battles both internal and external within the Republican movement, and finally to the Republicans being subsumed by the growing Communist International Brigade as supplied and supported by the Soviet Union. br / br /The political tensions within the Republican movement are very well explored a number of times through the film. There is one scene in particular which explores them expertly. A newly liberated village meets to discuss with the POUM fighters how to organise their village to fight the Fascists. Most of the villagers and some of the POUM fighters support collectivisation of the land. One villager opposes it, preferring to work his own land. He is backed by a pragmatically minded American POUM fighter, who points out that powerful liberal democracies such as the US, UK and France are reluctant to back the Republicans because of their communist/socialist rhetoric, and collectivisation would alienate them further. Importantly, these countries would provide arms, which POUM sorely lacks. At the heart of the discussion is a debate as to whether the revolution can be carried forward at the same time as fighting the war, or whether the war needs to be fought first. The village votes overwhelmingly to collectivise. But it demonstrates very well the divisions in the heart of the Republican movement. br / br /In short, this is a very interesting film about an often-overlooked period of history. br / Land and Freedom May 20, 2003 A Drury (Yattendon, Berkshire United Kingdom) 7 out of 10 found this review helpful An extremely touching portrayal of the tragedy that was the Spanish Civil War. Life wasn't all that was lost. The International volunteers sought out Spain to realise their dreams and hopes for a better world and were destined for extreme disillustionment and confusion. What exactly were they fighting for...no one knew anymore! This film captures it all. Showing reviews 1-5 of 11 1 2 3 Next »

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