Introduction

While at War (Spanish: Mientras dure la guerra) is a 2019 Spanish historical drama film directed by Alejandro Amenábar.

It premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

Outline

Revered author Miguel de Unamuno (Karra Elejalde) decides to publicly support the Spanish coup of July 1936.

He is immediately removed from his position as rector at the University of Salamanca by the Government of the Second Spanish Republic.

Meanwhile, Nationalists succeed in taking control of Salamanca, and General Francisco Franco moves his headquarters to the city.

Some of Unamuno’s colleagues are imprisoned on charges of affiliation.

Unamuno, who believes he can have the influence to liberate the innocent, heads to Franco’s Palace, determined to beg him for clemency.

Trivia

• The Plataforma Patriótica Millán-Astray, an organisation of veterans of the Spanish Legion, accused the script writers of plagiarism of the 1941 work Unamuno’s Last Lecture by Luis Portillo, a text the organization claims is defamatory towards José Millán-Astray, founder of the Spanish Legion.
• The accusation was based on the content of the official trailers.
• The organisation demanded the public funds received for the making of the film be returned.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: Alejandro Amenabar.
• Producers: Fernando Bovaira, Domingo Corral, Hugo Sigman, and Alejandro Amenabar.
• Writers: Alejandro Amenabar and Alejandro Hernandez.
• Music: Alejandro Amenabar.
• Cinematography: Alex Catalan.
• Editor: Carolina Martinez Urbina.
• Production: Movistar+, MOD PRoductions, Himenoptero, K&S Films, Mientras Dure La Guerra, and A.I.E.
• Release Date: 06 September 2019 (Toronto International Film Festival) and 27 September 2019 (Spain).
• Running Time: 107 minutes.
• Country: Spain and Argentina.
• Language: Spanish.

YouTube Link