Franco on Trial – The Spanish Nuremberg? - Films

also available with 52 min. as
Die Klage gegen die Franco-Diktatur
La dictature franquiste en procès

Synopsis

So far no one has been brought to justice for crimes committed during the Spanish Civil War or Franco’s regime. Now, an Argentinean initiative has launched an attempt to prosecute officials. Will they succeed?

It is one of the darkest chapters of European history: the genocide that took place in Spain under General Franco’s fascist dictatorship between 1936-1975. The country’s transition to a democracy after Franco’s death is considered to be exemplary. But was this really the case? The Amnesty Law of 1977 exempted not only political prisoners but also all perpetrators from all crimes committed during the Franco regime between 1936 and 1977. This means that to this day, no one has been prosecuted for the regime’s systematic atrocities, nor have victims been rehabilitated. Over 100,000 people are still missing today, there have been no legal proceedings, nor has an adequate historical appraisal been undertaken. In 2008, a Spanish judge failed in his attempt to indict Franco and his generals for crimes against humanity. Now for the first time, an Argentinean judge, María Servini, has issued 24 international arrest warrants against – in some cases – high-ranking representatives of the Franco dictatorship. We accompany her as she tries to initiate court proceedings against the accused. In interviews with victims, lawyers and historians as well as suspected perpetrators and the daughter of one of the generals of the 1936 putsch, one thing becomes very clear: reappraisal of Spain’s darkest chapter is long overdue. Will the so-called Argentinean trials become the Spanish Nuremberg?

Festivals/Awards

2022
37 DOK.fest Munich

Franco on Trial – The Spanish Nuremberg?

Franco on Trial – The Spanish Nuremberg?

Franco on Trial – The Spanish Nuremberg?

Franco on Trial – The Spanish Nuremberg?