Days of Hope (Espoir - Sierra de Teruel)

HOPE

During the Spanish Civil War in 1937,

a Republican plane, after an air-fight,

comes back to the airfield

where volunteers have assembled

to fight Fascism.

The right engine's burning!

The landing-gear!

Drop the landing-gear!

What are you doing?

Hey Rivelli! Look what's happening!

They'd better jump.

- What about the wounded? - How many are there?

How many left alive?

Marcelino Rivelli.

17 fights in Spain.

An Italian...

Ex-airline pilot...

Left Italy in 1923.

After the death of de Bossis, left Switzerland

to throw tracts over Milan.

After a year in hiding,

deported to the Lipari Islands.

Escaped to Spain,

three days after Franco's uprising,

and served as a pilot.

Wounded on the Madrid front.

Political Commissary of his squadron.

Died today on the Teruel front.

To those who have just joined the squadron, I have this to say:

we loved this man.

What's that?

The village slate.

They bury our boys in their cemetery and put up this sign.

They all go to the funeral.

An hour after death, the soul can be seen.

Must be an hour by now...

Are the new planes here?

We were outnumbered eight to one.

Are our boys still advancing?

The Ximenes Brigade is waiting for the bridge to be blown up.

If only we had those new gun-sights...

Escaton, Pinares, Navas

and other villages rose up last night.

- How far up? - Up to Linas.

Franco's reinforcements can only come through Saragossa.

Our men will attack after the bridge has been blown up.

But how can we if we're outnumbered eight to one?

We're glad to see you back.

Hello.

Time this thing was replaced!

Yes, HQ.

Yes, sir.

You can't go, Munoz.

Too bad we hadn't already gone!

We haven't enough planes to let them shoot us down as they please.

It's impossible!

It all depends on the bridge, now.

There are plenty of comrades beyond the bridge.

- Even in town? - Especially in town.

- Ours? - Yes.

- They must be near the river. - They're already there.

The message says: "The bridge at all costs".

Everything depends on Linas.

We regained control of the village last night.

Let's hope we keep it!

We're OK if just the police are watching the bridge.

Otherwise...

ls the bridge mined?

Yes, but if Franco's men make it to Linas...

their army will defend the bridge and we'll be in trouble.

There aren't enough of us.

We need trusty comrades.

What do you mean by "trusty"?

Reliable.

Got many weapons?

One automatic rifle. Some dynamite.

More out of town.

- And in Linas? - One moment...

Gonzalez!

How many weapons do we have in Linas?

Two combat rifles.

Some hunting rifles... Not much.

A little dynamite.

I taught them how to use it, but they're inexperienced.

Take them the dynamite you have.

Is there another way than through the Old Gate?

We'd be under enemy fire for 400 meters.

Just this? Not even 20 bullets per person.

We'll have more.

Comrades, it's obvious:

First, we go through the Old Gate. Impossible to get out any other way.

- What about the guards? - Eliminate them.

Next:

Once outside, get to the garage.

There are at least 2 cars.

Then, Juan's friends and I will take care of the bridge.

Gonzalez and all the others...

will take the dynamite to Linas and do what they can.

Meanwhile, at Linas, a peasant,

having spotted Franco's airfield,

comes looking for a guide

who'll take him through the enemy lines.

POPULAR FRONT COMMITTEE

You're too stubborn!

Explain.

I told him already: "Mum's the word".

Well then?

What do we do with the wounded?

Take them to my school.

José's right. We've done enough talking.

For 9 days he watched Franco's airfield being built.

They plan on using the road, too.

He saw the planes arrive...

You saw them?

Me, and the others. Of course!

That's not the problem.

We heard the Republican soldiers were here...

and there's only you.

I've got to cross the lines

and join the army.

It's not that easy.

Tell us where the planes are. We could send some men with you.

At this rate, we'll be busier here...

One field looks like any other...

Don't be so sure...

You have to recognize it and point it out...

to the pilots.

I should've left already.

The flock is fleeing Franco's machine-guns.

A dozen loyal comrades will leave with you.

One of you will make it through. You go and get them.

- We'll all go. - Take five.

The others will follow on. One of us has to make it.

I'll go alone with him.

- Got any bikes? - Just two.

Use them while you can. The others can walk.

Round up the comrades.

- Revolver? - No thanks.

That's all I need.

You have to hold the pass at any price.

GUT ME“ are weary.

Men from the town are coming with guns.

To the Gate!

You two stay with the wounded. The rest, to the Gate!

A cannon!

Who knows about cannons?

Varga, didn't you serve in Morocco?

I don't know how to use them.

How fast can the 75 mm. fire?

15 shots per minute.

In theory...

Every 4 seconds.

Suppose we go the other way?

We must go this way. The other Way's blocked!

We need a car.

I saw one in Mostoles Street.

You can drive, come with me.

You lot go round...

Wait over there and when we're at the cannon,

make your move!

- Can you do it? - Yes.

If you crash into something sideways, you don't necessarily die.

And you miss the cannon.

You don't necessarily die head-on either.

The Republicans find a car

outside the town.

They arrive at Linas to help the peasants

who are fighting

to keep Franco's men off the bridge.

How many rifles?

200 kilos of dynamite, and our men have reached the river.

How many rifles?

200 kilos of dynamite, I said!

What use is that?

We've nothing to load it in.

We had nothing in Asturias,

but we managed.

You've no rifles!

Us and anyone who has no family

will hold the pass as long as we can

with our hunting rifles.

That's all we can do.

We need more men for the wounded!

The stretcher-bearers are tired out.

There are no paths on either side. We'll have to go on foot.

On the right, the mountain... on the left, the ravine.

Does the route go along the hillside?

Climbing hard?

Will Franco's men cross there?

They can't do otherwise.

We ain't doomed yet!

Nor are the men at the bridge.

Other than you, who do the men respect the most?

The school-master.

You go with Varga.

The rest of you, search the houses

and bring anything we can use to put the dynamite in.

Is there any clay?

More than rifles.