Las 13 Rosas
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''13 Roses'' () is a 2007 Spanish-Italian historical drama directed by
Emilio Martínez Lázaro Emilio may refer to: * Emilio Navaira, a Mexican-American singer often called "Emilio" * Emilio (given name) * ''Emilio'' (film), a 2008 film by Kim Jorgensen See also * Emílio (disambiguation) * Emilios (disambiguation) Emilios, or Aimilios, (G ...
. The film features performances by
Pilar López de Ayala Pilar López de Ayala Arroyo (born 18 September 1978) is a Spanish actress. She won a Goya Award for Best Actress for her performance playing Joanna of Castile in 2001 film ''Mad Love''. Life and career Early life Pilar López de Ayala Arroy ...
,
Verónica Sánchez Verónica Sánchez Calderón (born 1 July 1977) is a Spanish actress. She made her debut in theatre in 1996, and came to media attention as Eva Capdevila in the Telecinco series '' Los Serrano'' in 2003. Sánchez has since developed a successfu ...
, and
Marta Etura Marta Etura Palenzuela (born on 28 October 1978) is a Spanish film and television actress. She is known for '' Your Next Life'' (2004), '' Cell 211'' (2009), '' Sleep Tight'' (2011), and '' The Invisible Guardian'' (2017). Biography Etura was ...
. Based on true events, it portrays the harrowing story of thirteen young women, known as "las Trece rosas", who were executed by a Francoist firing squad shortly after conclusion of the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
. highlighting their unwavering commitment to their ideals.


Plot

The film takes place in Madrid in 1939 during the final days of the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
. Virtudes and Carmen, two young idealistic Republican militants, encourage their neighbors to keep faith in the cause of the Second Republic. However, the entry of
Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" * Franco of Cologne (mid to late 13th cent ...
’s
Nationalist Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation,Anthony D. Smith, Smith, A ...
troops into the city is imminent. Fearing bloody repression, many Republicans flee the country, while others are either unable or unwilling to do so. Julia, a tram conductor, and her friend Adelina, a
Red Cross The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...
worker, are also active sympathizers of the Spanish Republic. While spending an evening in a nightclub watching musicians perform, one of the last bombings of the city occurs. In these dire circumstances, they befriend Blanca, whose husband, Enrique, is the band leader. The victory of the Nationalists marks a dark turning point for Republican sympathizers. Canepa, a musician in Enrique’s band and a Republican militant, fears for his life and decides to escape the country. Blanca secretly provides him with money for his escape. Julia, meanwhile, starts a relationship with Perico, a young Nationalist soldier. Rumors circulate about a plot to assassinate Franco upon his victorious entry, prompting the Nationalists to seek revenge. Although the young women have no involvement in the plot, they become targets due to their leftist activities. Julia is the first arrested, brutally tortured by Fontenla, the cold-hearted officer leading the interrogations. Adelina, Virtudes’ co-worker and a member of a socialist group, is turned in by her well-meaning father, who naively believes she is only wanted for questioning and will not face serious consequences. Canepa and Teo are betrayed by friends and neighbors, leading to their arrest and torture. Canepa commits suicide in custody. Teo, however, is released on the condition that he secretly assists authorities in capturing other Republican sympathizers. With Teo’s coerced assistance, the young women are arrested one by one until all are imprisoned. Only Carmen, the youngest, realizes Teo’s betrayal before she too is arrested. Blanca shares their fate; her crime is giving Canepa money. After enduring harsh interrogations, the group of young women is transferred to an overcrowded prison. In jail, the reunion of the girls provides some solace amid their harsh circumstances. At one point, they even find a moment of joy in tap dancing. Their families, including Adelina’s grief-stricken father, remain hopeful for their eventual release. Blanca remains tormented by worry for her young son, whom she had to leave behind. Her dignified demeanor earns the respect of the prison warden. The situation worsens when the imprisoned women protest the terrible sanitary conditions affecting the children held with their mothers. They collectively refuse to sing praises to the Franco regime, further angering their captors. The fate of the 13 young women is sealed when two military officers and an innocent woman are killed by leftist militants. As retribution, the regime orders the execution of some prisoners, despite their lack of involvement in the incident. A military court condemns 48 men and 13 women to death within 48 hours. Carmen, the youngest, is the sole survivor. Devastated, she listens to the gunshots that kill her friends. The film’s final frame asserts that most of its content is verified by historical documentation, and that the script relies heavily on actual dialogue and writings from the central characters.


Cast


Production

The film is a Spanish-Italian co-production by Enrique Cerezo PC
Pedro Costa
PC and Filmexport Group.


Release

''13 Roses'' opened on 19 October 2007. The film had a limited release in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
in New York City.


Reception


Critical response

Jonathan Holland of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' praised the cinematography and art direction, but remarked: "''The 13 Roses'' largely withers on the vine.
he film He or HE may refer to: Language * He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads * He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English * He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana) * Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter cal ...
is further let down by its psychological superficiality… an uncertain treatment which convinces neither historically nor dramatically". Academic analysis by David Rodríguez-Solás discusses the film’s portrayal of victimization, suggesting that it employs melodramatic elements that may impede critical reflection on historical events.


Accolades

, - , rowspan = "18" align = "center" , 2008 , , rowspan = "14" ,
22nd Goya Awards The 22nd ceremony of the annual Goya Awards, took place at the Palacio de Congresos of the Campo de las Naciones in Madrid, Spain on February 3, 2008, presented by José Corbacho. On December 17, 2007, Juan Diego Botto and Ivana Baquero read t ...
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Best Film The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...
, , , , rowspan = "14" , , - ,
Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...
, , Emilio Martínez Lázaro , , , - ,
Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best ...
, , Ignacio Martínez de Pisón , , , - , Best Supporting Actor , , José Manuel Cervino , , , - , Best New Actress , , Nadia de Santiago , , , - , Best Original Score , , Roque Baños , , , - , Best Production Supervision , , Martín Cabañas , , , - ,
Best Cinematography The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best ...
, , José Luis Alcaine , , , - , Best Editing , , Fernando Pardo , , , - ,
Best Art Direction The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction in film. The category's original name was Best Art Direction, but was changed to its current name in 2012 for the 85th Academy Awards. This change resulted fro ...
, , Edou Hydallgo , , , - , Best Costume Design , , Lena Mossum , , , - , Best Makeup and Hairstyles , , Almudena Fonseca, José Juez, Mariló Osuna , , , - ,
Best Sound The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...
, , Alfonso Pino, Carlos Bonmatí, Carlos Faruolo , , , - ,
Best Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...
, , Carlos Lozano, Pau Costa, Raúl Romanillos , , , - , rowspan = "4" ,
17th Actors and Actresses Union Awards The 17th Actors and Actresses Union Awards ceremony was held on 31 March 2008 at the Palacio de Congresos in Madrid. In addition to the competitive awards, the priest Enrique de Castro received the '' award whereas the '' career award. The Spe ...
, , Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role , , Marta Etura , , , , rowspan = "4" , , - , rowspan = "2" , Best Film Actress in a Minor Role , , Nadia de Santiago , , , - , María Isasi , , , - , Best Film Actor in a Minor Role , , José Manuel Cervino , ,


References


Bibliography

* Mary Farrelly (2021
A work of death: martyrdom, myth and dead women in contemporary Spanish film
Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies, 22:1, 77–93, DOI: 10.1080/14636204.2021.1880785 * Larson, Kajsa C. 2012.
Remembering the Thirteen Roses: Blurring Fact and Fiction
” ''Nomenclatura: Aproximaciones a Los Estudios Hispánicos'' 2: 1–21. doi:10.13023/naeh.2012.08. * Rodríguez-Solás, D. (2016)
‘I haven’t done anything wrong!’Melodrama and victimization in Las 13 rosas/13 Roses (2007) and La voz dormida/The Sleeping Voice (2011)
''Studies in Spanish & Latin American Cinemas'', ''13''(3), 303–317.


External links

* {{IMDb title, 0809533, Las 13 Rosas 2007 films 2000s prison drama films 2000s historical drama films 2000s Spanish-language films Spanish historical drama films Films set in Spain Films set in Madrid Films set in prison Films set in 1939 Spanish Civil War films Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Goya Award–winning performance Films scored by Roque Baños 2007 drama films 2000s Spanish films Spanish prison films Enrique Cerezo PC films Films about Francoist repression Spanish-language historical drama films