The (Silent) War (Sordo)

In October 1944, Operation Reconquest began

in an attempt to spark a popular uprising against the Franco dictatorship.

The mission: invade Spain with an army of 1,000 Republican soldiers

that were exiled in France after the Civil War.

Months before the operation,

multiple guerrilla groups crossed the French border

to carry out sabotage missions.

This is the story of one of those commandos.

OCTOBER 8

We have a clear shot, Sergeant.

Shall we shoot?

No.

We'd have to take the bodies to the barracks.

There are only two.

They don't seem very dangerous.

Come on, Franky. Let's go get 'em.

Halt!

Nobody moves.

Easy.

Weapons down.

From now on, I'm calling the shots, so there'll be no funny business.

It's very simple:

We'll go to the Civil Guard headquarters

and wait for instructions.

- Sergeant. - So...

Sergeant!

Not now, I'm talking.

Come on, Gómez.

- Disarm them. - Sergeant.

What?

Leave it.

Here.

And give them some food.

Now, the fire will warm you up.

According to Sergeant Castillo,

they're half a day away from their camp.

Don't worry. I'll handle it.

- They're kids, Vicente, dammit. - They're not your students, okay?

We're on a mission...

and that's what matters.

They don't matter. We don't even matter.

Don't you realize they think they'll never see their families again?

Those kids kidnap, humiliate and kill our women--

- Those kids? - Yeah, those kids!

Come on, man.

Maybe you need to remember the faces of our comrades before the firing squad.

Damn you to hell!

- Food? - They're going to kill us.

I'm sure of it, Sergeant.

Give me a cigarette.

Lighter.

Do you see this bullet?

Keep it.

And the next time you run into one of us,

remember that it's in your pocket, not your head.

I didn't want to say anything to the men yet,

but in Toulouse, they say it's all ready.

It will be incredible.

Let's be careful.

I'm not entirely sure.

French liberation is a done deal.

Once the Nazis leave, the Allies will only care about one thing:

ousting Franco, cleaning up Europe.

Why do you think 200 comrades just crossed the border at Port Vieil?

In a few months, the hills will be full of our men. You'll see.

There it is.

Let's blow that shit.

Sergeant, get on your horse and stop wasting my time.

- Let's go get those assholes. - Yes, Captain.

Whoa.

Keep your eyes peeled.

This is the last one.

All set!

Three minutes!

Slow down!

Stick together!

There's dust everywhere!

Take cover!

Run!

Son of a bitch!

- What the fuck happened here? - What do you think?

You fucking moron. We're under attack, goddammit!

Fucking shoot, Benítez!

He's not a sandbag!

- Selmo! - Vicente!

Easy!

They're attacking us. Anselmo, you must go.

Let's move.

- My leg! - I can't get you out!

Anselmo! Go!

- Go! - I can't hear you at all!

- Go! - I can't hear you!

- Leave! - Can't hear a thing!

Anselmo, go! Anselmo!

Anselmo, my friend, you have to leave.

Please. If--

Go! Come on.

Go, dammit, go!

Go!

Halt or I'll shoot!

Corporal, lower your weapon!

This war won't end until I put a fucking bullet in all of your heads.

Didn't you hear me, Corporal? I said, "Lower your weapon."

What the fuck are you doing?

Sergeant!

Send some men across the river... and bring me that son of a bitch.

Fucking move!

Let's go!

Come on... Cross the river.

Come on, son.

WE HAVE COD

Whoa!

Sergeant, bring me the maps of the area.

Soldier, my horse.

Come on, soldiers. Follow me!

Fucking move!

Rosa!

Rosa!

I'm coming!

- What's wrong? Why all the yelling? - Rosa...

They got Vicente. He's in the church.

My Vicente...

Here they are, Captain... the maps.

- They're a bit ol-- - They'll do.

Sit down.

Don't even think about it, Sergeant.

It looks like one of those guns from the Indians movies.

It's a Tigre...

a copy of the American 1892 Winchester.

Out of production.

Sergeant?

Yes, Captain?

Do you know these hills well?

Yes, sir.

Though, if I may...

I don't understand why all the fuss over catching that man.

The war is over.

What do you think we're doing here?

Hunting Indians, Sergeant.

The prisoner?

In the stable, Captain.

Let's talk to him.

Yes, Captain.

- We'll set up our barracks here. - Yes, Captain.

Come with me.

Leave the package and pick it up later. You can't bring the prisoner anything.

Are you coming to see him or not?

I don't have all day.

- What have they done to you? - Nothing.

- Are you okay? - I'm fine. Sit. Please sit down, Rosa.

They're asking about Anselmo.

I said I don't know anything, which is true.

Nothing.

Don't worry about Anselmo. He'll know how to reach the border.

What will they do with you?

The guy who interrogated me went after Anselmo... He'll be back later.

He said it depends on me which of the two of us they execute...

Forgive me, Rosa.

Forgive me.

Rosa, ma'am.

Here.

I filled it with paper to get past them.

You know how people are.

Don't worry,

I'll give the shirt and the food to your husband.

Why are you doing this?

Have a nice day.

Don't move!

Don't move!

Dismount!

Get off the horse!

I don't want to hurt you.

Do you have more guns apart from the shotgun? Nod "yes" or "no."

- No, just the shotgun and some money-- - Do you have more weapons?

No, I said I don't.

Nod "yes" or "no."

Take off your coat.

Come here.

Write the horse's name here.

You can change it if you want.

CAUDILLO

That Vicente is a tough guy, Captain.

They're loyal people.

It isn't easy to get them to talk.

I don't think it will be easy... to catch the escapee,

he must be near the border by now.

Sergeant... a lone guerrilla can't escape from me in the hills.

Before nightfall, Anselmo will join Vicente Gimeno.

Someone's on the path, Captain.

Hey!

Whoa!

Thank God.

It's Mr. Márquez, the Marquis' son.

What happened?

A bandit...

He stole my horse.

I told you it wouldn't be easy to catch that Anselmo guy.

Calm down. Easy.

Easy, I'm not going to hurt you. Not going to hurt you.

Don't you dare scream.