A Quebecois take on the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Director Alexandre Chartrand and his team spent several months in Barcelona in the lead up to the historic vote on 1 October, and the resulting footage is a testament to the passion and peacefulness of the Indy movement.
A flashback to 1976, shortly after the death of the dictator Franco, showed Catalan singer/songwriter Lluis Llach returning to his country to lead a huge crowd in his anti fascist anthem La Staca (The Stake). Forty one years later he is a member of the Catalan Parliament and a leading voice in the independence movement. Interviews with Lllach and other leading members of the movement are mixed in with the parliamentary vote to hold the referendum, footage of the vast pro Indy street demonstrations, the careful preparations being made by Catalan government ministers, and the reactionary tone of the right wing Prime Minister Rajoy in Madrid. Against the Indy message of peace, democracy, inclusiveness and welcome the centralist, unionist announcements reflect shadows of their Francoist past.
The film builds up the tension as the day of the referendum nears, Spanish threats becoming ever more aggressive, the Catalans finding ways to evade their attentions. Thousands of national police and policed from other regions, along with the brutal riot police of the Guardia Civil, were brought in to try and stop the ballot from taking place. Catalans responded with peaceful civil disobedience. Ballot boxes were hidden away until needed, ballot papers were held by private citizens until the day (nullifying the police raids on printers, newspapers and others).
The day itself is shown in greater detail. Polling stations occupied by citizens overnight to prevent their closure, peaceful barriers against police intervention, the sense of fear and resolution when police in full riot gear showed up, the joy of voters at finally having a chance to have their say. And harrowing evidence of police brutality in their efforts to try and subvert the democratic process. Despite all Madrid's efforts (they did manage to close down about 400 polling stations and confiscate votes that had been legitimately cast, and around 1000 people were injured on the day) a result was announced, an overwhelming Sí to independence. Chartrand shows us the signing of the declaration by Catalan PM Carles Puigdemont, the celebrations in Catalan streets, and the threats of the Spanish government. But by the time those threats were enacted he had returned to Montreal, and the details of those imprisoned and exiled, are a sad endnote to the story as it can be told to date. In a talk after the screening he was able to provide us more details of the trials, and those awaiting potentially lengthy prison sentences for their part in enacting democracy.
Moving, frightening, inspiring, passionate, this is an important film, and essential viewing for anyone wanting to learn more about popular democracy, self determination, and the abuse of state power. The parallels to Scotland are clear (and to Quebec, the movie having heavy backing from the province) and it's hard, as an Indy supporter here, not feel jealous of the Catalan movement's ability to claim the streets. We share with them a popular base, democratic intent, peacefulness, inclusivity and those smiles mentioned in the title. When confronted with police line ups the demonstrators offered them flowers. There are lessons to be learned from this film.
Highly recommended, and I hope it gets a wide circulation in this country.
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