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11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
An interesting documentary about the controversial problem in the Basque country, 23 December 2003
Author: parasrrpp from Madrid, Spain

I went to see the film having read the critics, which stated that this movie could only be seen by pro-nationalists, hoping to get out of the cinema in the middle of projection. How wrong was I!!! Even though the movie is not completely objective, and it compares victims of terrorism to the families of the terrorists, there are very intelligent opinions made by very intelligent thinkers, politicians and journalists who are affected directly by the basque problem. There are also interesting comments made by those who are in favor of the basque autodetermination, including those who "support" terrorism. Medem has made a film where everybody has voice to criticise and to praise everything they want involved in this political and social problem, being partial in editing, therefore making people say things out of context. Content apart, the movie has beautiful images of basque shores and mountains and includes some images from other movies too. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is concerned with the basque problem and/or with Spain.

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
the most thorough film on the topic so far, 9 March 2005
10/10
Author: weditz from United States

This is the most thorough, balanced and entertaining video i have seen about the Basque question. It doesn't avoid any of the topics that make of this ancient people's history such a contentious subject for debate. Instead, he interviews almost all actors in Euskal Herria today, providing a complete array of perspectives. Very instructive and entertaining at the same time. The camera is captivating and the editing is very effective. The music by Mikel Laboa is out of this world, and gave me goose-bumps.

The only problem is that it is apparently done for an audience that knows a lot more about Basque history than the average foreigner like me, so at times it was hard to follow the chronology. In fact, i watched the longer (almost 7 hours...i think this was the TV series) version from a Spanish friend, and it helped me understand the movie better.

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8 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
A must-see for anyone interested in the Basque conflict, 14 October 2003
9/10
Author: Enrique from Madrid

There has been a lot of controversy about this documentary in Spain, basically coming from the conservative side. In my opinion, the film gives a real, sincere view of what the Basque problem is and what it means, and is at the same time, as objective a view as one from a Basque director can be.

It mixes beautiful shots of landscapes with old archive images from the dictatorship and early-democracy days, parts of films (including Orson Welles "Around the world") with Basque traditions etc. But above all this, the "confessions", the views that about 70 people of all sorts give about the matter: politicians, singers, priests, ex-terrorists, etc.

I have to say that I got emotional and I´m not Basque. Food for thought of the best quality, worth seeing whatever is your positioning about the Basques. Don't forget we're talking about the maker of beautiful films like "Tierra" ("Land"), "Sex and Lucia" and "The red squirrel".

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7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
A contribution to our understanding of an important issues, hidden by politicians and the media, 3 October 2004
7/10
Author: Chris Docker (eyeforfilm) from Scotland, United Kingdom

If you want to know more about the Basque area of France/Spain, the deep political problems (which have echoes of Northern Ireland) and get to the bottom of something that is glossed over by the media and the Spanish government, go and see The Basque Ball. But be warned, it is a film that requires much attention and dedication - it's no easy viewing. There are so many points to assimilate that your brain may well ache after the first half hour. But if you stay on track the effort is worth it - you will have learnt a lot (even if a 'lot' is little more than scratching the surface) about an issue on our doorstep that is not being made public (the Spanish Government, predictably, I understand, tried to have the film banned) .

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1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Flawed, but worth it if you have an interest in the subject, 22 October 2006
7/10
Author: DFG1916 from Dublin, Ireland

There's been a trend in recent years for documentaries to tell their stories simply through the testimony of a bunch of talking heads. This film follows that trend and, like most such documentaries, it becomes a bit dull and repetitive after a while. The attempts at creativity toward the end, such as the flipping back and forth between the prisoner's wife and the widow of the ETA victim, or the camera zooming over the interviewees, seem clumsy and self-conscious when they do occur. A bit more variety throughout the film wouldn't have gone amiss.

The technique of introducing interviewees in groups of three or four and then having them speak is confusing. By the time you hear what the person has to say, you've forgotten who they are and what perspective they're coming from.

It's interesting that people who oppose Basque independence seem to think the film is biased in favour of it. I'm in favour of it and I didn't see that bias at all. It certainly is not apologetic of violence. At most it seems to suggest that the Spanish Government is wrong to engage in its own violence, and wrong to not talk even to moderate nationalists. One hardly has to be an ETA supporter to agree with that.

For all the flaws mentioned above, the subject matter was covered in a thorough, coherent and generally balanced way. I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction, but it's a worthwhile exercise for those who already have some knowledge of the conflict.

(Note: this review refers to the 2 hour version)

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1 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
The nationalism can be understood, 23 January 2006
9/10
Author: Cristian Ziliberberg from Republica Moldova

The nationalism can be and should be understood. What do I mean by that? In our period of globalization there is a danger of cultural disappearance. Like the wife of the one of the Basques being in jail said, that he is very kind at home, and it sure he had serious motives to involve in terrorist acts. I believe that, he had serious reasons.

There was mentioned that may be this aggressive movement appeared because of the fear of loosing it own cultural identity. I do believe that the methods used by ETA are wrong, but the underlying cause should be taken in consideration.

It is interesting that there are not used translations in the movie, so, knowing English and Espanol, and not understanding Euskara, I was initially a little bit frustrated. But, after that I realized that this movie was dedicated to all the Basques, and to each of them.

There are no outside comments in this film, only the comments of participants. And it was fine.

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10 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
Pais Basque, Basque Country, Vascongada = EUSKADI, 7 October 2004
4/10
Author: Keith F. Hatcher from La Rioja, Spain

Julio Medem's 'La Pelota Vasca' is a documentary type of film, basically formed by a series of interviews interspersed by scenes of Euskadi's countryside, and using scenes of the national sport - 'pelota' (literally 'ball) - merely as a vehicle which drives one through the different sequences. The original shorter version as shown in cinemas here is a little under two hours long, whereas the full work is of about four and a half hours duration and would seem to be aimed at television viewers, especially in Euskadi (Basque Country).

Plentiful archive footage is used, for example the notorious bombing of Gernika (Guernica) by the German 'Condor' squadrons in 1937. The persons interviewed are mostly politicians, ex-activists of ETA, sociologists, historians and musicians from Euskadi.

The raison d'etre of this programme resides in whether Euskadi should be an independent state. Now this is a triple thorny question: Euskadi is formed by seven provinces, three in France (Iparralde), three in Spain (Euskadi), as well as the province of Navarra. Collectively the nationalists refer to these seven provinces as 'Euskalerría' The province of Navarra has repeatedly told Basque Nationalists to keep the ancient kingdom of Pamplona out of their arguments for independence.

Justly so, as only the extreme north and north west of this province speak 'euskera', and the rest, about 75% of the province, have no part nor interest in 'the Basque Question'. The three provinces which form Euskadi in Spain are Álava (Araba), Bizkaya and Gipúzkoa, and total a little more than two million people. Even in most of Álava the people do not speak and have never spoken 'euskera', and the greater part of the province is broken in half by a large area called the 'County of Treviño' which belongs to Castilla-León.

Ever since the death of Franco, when Spain miraculously emerged from a forty year dictatorship and gained a parliamentary democracy, the central government in Madrid has given more and more autonomy to the diverse regions of Spain, what might be called 'decentralization'. This has happened gradually over the years, according to the needs and demands of each autonomous region. I myself live in the smallest autonomous region of Spain, with barely a quarter of a million inhabitants. It is 'sandwiched' between Castilla-León, Aragón, Navarra and .......... Euskadi. For many years a small town in this province was the capital of the Kingdom of Navarra, and there are many villages with Basque names. Such is the multiplicity of historical and modern Spain. Indeed there is much historical influence in both Cantabria and Asturias, where Basque peoples settled, especially in the 19th Century.

Thus, today, the 17 autonomous regions of Spain enjoy a great deal of self-rule, and some enjoy even more autonomous gains, namely Catalonia and Euskadi. That is fine by me: the more self-rule the diverse regions of Spain can enjoy, the better. However, from there to becoming separated and independent of the Spanish nation, one must begin to raise arguments against. And by bombing people so as to achieve such ambitions, one can only say 'no way'.

In this documentary film Arzallus shows what he has always been: a thoroughbred racist; even Julen de Madariaga falls to this level of iniquity - making sure that Julio Medem erred greatly in making this sociological introspection go off course. Fie, my man, you should have known better. Including the 'Batasuná' leader Arnaldo Otegi only adds insult to injury. He even wants to expel from Euskadi people who originally came from other parts of Spain back in the 1960's. He is a detestable sort, and I have never understood why Garzón (a Supreme Court Judge) did not have him behind bars ten or twelve years ago. People who are not 'pure' Basques are even called 'foreigners'! And 'euskera' is obligatory in all schools, even in areas where this language has never been used in ordinary life. Imposition of ideology - whether religious or political - can never be democratic; and this is what ETA and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) seem to want. So much so, that Juan Ibarretxe, present 'lehendakari' (Basque president) wants to carry out an illegal referendum. I much fancy that the whole plan will backfire and blow up in his own face.

I am a great lover of the Basque country: living on their southern doorstep I greatly enjoy my frequent incursions into Euskadi. The people are friendly, good level of education and culture, very open. I hop in and out of San Sebastián, for example, at frequent intervals. I drive and walk around their villages and hills; it is an extremely attractive part of the world and Spain. I have records of Basque music - Guridi, Juan Chrisostomo Arriaga, etc. - and frequently put the Basque TV network's programmes (EITB) on my TV. Wherever you may go, Euskadi is an enormous delight, wonderful, something you will appreciate forever.

But from this to bidding my northern neighbors 'adios', from this to a referendum for independence, I am very sorry: no go. And I am equally sorry that such an excellent director as Julio Medem should have been moved (manipulated?) into making this apologetic and shameful piece.

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