Political idealism comes into contact with practical reality as a young unemployed Communist leaves his home in Liverpool to volunteer in the fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.
With few prospects, David Carr (Ian Hart) makes the decision to travel to Spain and join the international Militia, the POUM (Partido Obrero de Unificación Marxista), fighting in the rural towns and villages outside Barcelona in support of wider global socialism. But increasingly isolated by other Spanish ant-fascist groups, disension sets in. Injured during the training of new recruits, Carr travels to Barcelona where he joins in the struggle in the city – only to find socialist groups pitted against each other. He returns to the ranks of the POUM – and Blanca (Rosana Pastor) in particular.
An archetypal Ken Loach feature in its gritty portrayal of working class (and under-class) struggles, Land and Freedom is a rare foray into global issues. Spain in 1936 and its ciivl war was complex, with Loach perfectly capturing the the validity of difference within the context of the shifting sands of the war. The camaraderie, the fear, the political divisions, the disappointments, the disillusion are all writ large as Loach explores the complexities of the struggle with this deeply humane narrative.
Rating: 71%
Director: Ken Loach (I Daniel Blake, The Angels’ Share)
Writer: Jim Allen (Hidden Agenda, Raining Stones)
Main cast: Ian Hart (Enemy of the State, Mary Queen of Scots), Rosana Pastor (The Conspiracy, Mad Love), Icíar Bollaín (El techo del mundo, Rage)
An Opinion or Two 