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The simple appearance of this family story contains a particular re-reading of ten years of Spanish history, from the birth of the author's two siblings to the dictator's death in 1975.
A story experienced by the author's large family during a hope-charged decade is divided into three periods. It begins on 7th July 1965 with the birth of her twin brothers. This is a family photo that reveals their characteristics through painting and repeated images of the members at the moment that they become a unit. The second image focuses on the events of 19 July 1969, one of the most important days of world history. Mankind had arrived to the moon through the televised transmission of Apollo XI. The mass admiration presents Neil Armstrong surrounded by angels, in this moment the entire family feels like astronauts. The last part takes place on 20 November 1975. Through panoramic watercolor and pencil images of vegetables, cars, and photocopies of sheep, cathedrals, etc. the author presents a happy family outing to the Bidasoa river, metaphor for a carefree trip towards Spain's freedom. This is interrupted by a note of tension in the landscape, a parade of Civil Guards watched over by the dictator in his car which ends by disintegrating into the regime's flags: Franco has died. Reflected upon these progressive changes in the country's social evolution are the family member's intimate mishaps.
With a personal narrative and refined humor, the author is able to portray the life of the country in which she was born by focusing on autobiographical details of her childhood. This was a confusing time in Spain's history, when it was possible to feel the imposed regime's end combined with worldwide optimism symbolized by the moon launch.
Co-producer: Gul Ramani
Technical Assistance: Prof. Ed Callahan