"Las 13 Rosas" is concerned with the terrible reprisals that took place in the months of 1939 and 1940 which followed the end of the Spanish Civil War. Perhaps it was historical timing caused these events to go relatively unnoticed in the rest of Europe at the time, and to have faded from history since. But the facts need to be made known, and by chronicling the fate of these thirteen largely innocent young women, this brave film sheds a light on a very murky episode. Strange then that it never seems to have benefited from a proper release. Why is that? It is clearly an important film, competently made, very well acted, with admirably authentic sets and costumes. Could it be the subject matter that has put off any distribution investment? A German film with a similar theme - "Sophie Scholl: the Last Days" got world wide promotion and was very successful. On the face of it, this film is more important still, not only because the scale of the atrocity was larger, but also because it actually took place in peacetime. I was very lucky to have an opportunity to see it, only because it got a late night showing on the Australian film channel SBS recently. Good for them. Would that a UK channel would be brave enough to give "Las 13 Rosas" a showing. In my opinion this film is close to being a masterpiece, and anyone with a serious interest in the art of cinema, and its function as something more than mere entertainment, will want to see it.
Review of Las 13 rosas
