While at War | Mientras dure la guerra

Carmel International Competition

While At War is a complex, steady, deeply intelligent film with a chilling resonance today, and a significant departure in tone from Amenabar's prior work.

Screen Daily
  • Archive - Festival 35
  • Director: Alejandro Amenábar
  • Spain, Argentina 2019
  • 107 minutes
  • Spanish
  • Subtitles in Hebrew, English

Salamanca 1936. Celebrated writer Miguel de Unamuno supports the military rebellion. Meanwhile, General Francisco Franco adds his troops to the uprising, secretly aspiring to take command of the war. The conflict turns bloody and with some of his colleagues incarcerated, Unamuno questions his initial stance. When Franco transfers his headquarters to Salamanca, Unamuno visits him, determined to request clemency.

The riveting and timely chamber drama from acclaimed writer-director Alejandro Amenábar comes to Haifa directly from its world premiere in the Toronto Festival.

Filmography: The Sea Inside (2004), The Others (2001), Open Your Eyes (1997).


  • Director Alejandro Amenábar
  • Production Alejandro Amenábar, Fernando Bovaira, Domingo Corral, Hugo Sigman
  • Script Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández
  • Cinematography Alex Catalán
  • Editing Carolina Martínez Urbina
  • Festivals Toronto, San Sebastian
  • Actors Karra Elejalde, Eduard Fernández, Nathalie Poza
  • Source Film Factory, Barcelona

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