Adelina.
Good morning.
Arrua!
You promised you only had a few questions for her.
We're only going to question her.
Take her away.
Chief,
remember we had a deal.
I promised to bring her and you gave me your word
you'd leave her alone.
Your duty was to bring her.
You've done your duty.
Congratulations.
Now please go away.
They're swatting us like flies. What do we do, Teo?
What happened?
They picked up Julia at her house.
It's like they know
everything about us. Like someone's telling them...
We have to stick together. What about the others?
What about Satur and Damian?
Who?
Satur and Damian.
Do you know how to find Virtudes?
What was his name again?
Who?
Julia's boyfriend.
He might be able to help us.
How could you, Teo?
Relax, Carmen.
Don't touch me. Get your hands off me.
You're a pig!
- Stop it, Carmen. - Let go of me!
Stop her!
Let go of me! Long live the Republic!
It's okay, kid. As long as I'm here, you're safe.
I can see that. They let you play good cop now.
So you're Carmen.
What could we do with you?
Carmen!
Carmen, what's wrong?
Papers!
Look, Virtudes, it's Carmen.
Hi, Carmen!
Who's that?
Who?
I don't know her.
Yes, you do. It's Virtudes.
Come with me.
Excuse me...
Sir!
I'm only bringing my husband clean clothes.
Follow me.
I voted for the Catholic parties before the uprising.
So did my husband.
- I hear you're quite religious. - Yes, sir.
Did you know Juan Canepa?
Hardly. I know who he is, but...
I have testimony to the contrary.
No need to read it, is there?
You gave him money.
For what?
Was it the Communist Party's money?
No, sir. It was ours.
We saved it during the war.
But you knew he was a Communist Party member.
Why would a Catholic woman want to help him?
Your husband isn't a Communist?
- No, sir. - Just to make sure...
Canepa is this one here.
Is this other one your husband?
You're wrong about Enrique.
We know there was a plan to kill Franco during the victory parade.
Tell me everything you know.
This one's scared to death.
Tell me who your accomplices were.
I swear I have no idea...
Stop swearing! You weren't going to carry out the attack yourself.
- What attack? - You had a gun.
Who were you going to shoot?
I'll say it again.
I was given the gun with my uniform when I became an engineer.
Gaspar!
What a fool.
Thinks he can hide something from us...
Adelina, poor Gaspar is exhausted from all this exercise.
Let's give him a rest.
If you sign the statement, I'll release you.
You'll spend tonight in my home
and return to the village tomorrow.
Let's let him think it over.
Come on.
No!
We pray for the eternal rest of our sister Angeles.
Mother!
My baby!
What have they done to you?
No, I'm okay.
Are you all related to the deceased?
Why, is crying against the law?
Where's Perico?
He couldn't make it.
They won't take any more of my girls. I'll get you out.
RED PRISONERS
Come on, get out.
Religion?
Catholic from birth.
Sure, like all the rest.
Warden, ma'am,
there must be some mistake. There's a mistake.
- Let me explain. - There's nothing to explain.
Leave your personal objects on the table and take off your clothes.
But somebody will have to...
Didn't you hear me?
Your clothes, here.
- First and last name. - Julia Conesa.
Age?
Nineteen.
Place of birth.
Oviedo.
Turn around.
Raise your hands.
Get dressed.
Religion?
None.
Catholic. Back over there.
Where do we put them? There's no room.
There's space with the mothers. And in a cell with the minors.
I'll take Blanca with the mothers. Take care of the other one.
Get back.
Make way.
Move over!
Coming through!
Make room.
Come on.
- Here. - Sorry.
Wake up Adelina, she sleeps like a log.
Julia.
Virtudes.
Sorry.
I didn't know you were here.
Yeah, since last week.
How are you?
There, there. It's over.
Julia!
Julia...
Adelina!
Sorry.
They beat you.
It's okay.
They can't keep us down.
What was that?
There's a firing squad every night nearby in the cemetery.
Let's go.
Rise and shine, minors!
Get up, I said!
Get up, you lazy bones!
You're a bunch of lazy bones!
Let's go!
The same ones, always playing around!
Let's go! Go get cleaned up!
Quickly, go on!
Come on, time is valuable! Quickly!
What the? Carmen, you, too!
Bedrolls against the wall.
- Hurry! - I bet there's no water again.
Here's some for you!
Stop playing around, it's time for roll call.
What's going on here?
Knock it off!
Two missing. But don't worry, it's the two extras from the 2nd block.
There's no way. We can't go on like this.
- Spain! - One!
Spain!
Great!
Spain!
Free!!!
Long live Spain!
Stop giggling back there, I can hear you.
Let's go.
Move it.
The mail.
Go on, get inside.
I have the mail here.
- Get inside. - Thank you.
Hi!
The mail.
- Let's see... Martina. - That's me.
Here.
- Conchita. - I'm here.
Here.
Another one for Martina.
How many boyfriends has she got?
Leave some for the rest of us.
Ana.
Grab it!
And Teresa.
Ventas Prison, wonderful hotel.
The food and service are the best,
no beds or time to rest.
We'd be better off in hell.
Long lines even for the toilets,
tasty cement instead of bread.
For lunch they give you lentils,
one bowl a day you're fed.
Fancy floor tiles for a mattress,
sore backs every morning!
Virtudes!
- How are they treating you in Minors? - Fine, but I'd rather be with you.
Don't worry, we're not going anywhere.
Dioni is our official
- delouser. - Sure.
- She gets them all. - Keep your head
away from the wall when you sleep. The tics prefer
the corners.
Weren't you two learning tap dancing?
Dionisia!
Is it from him?
It's his handwriting.
Well?
- I don't understand. - What?
"I love French music,
but I prefer mariachi bands, which I hope to be hearing soon."
You get it? He's in France and he's leaving soon for Mexico.
Mexico!
Carmen, ma'am...
This is for you.
Thank you.
Have you ever worked, Blanca?
Since I was 16 I've done nothing else.
Yeah? What can you do?
Play piano.
What about typing?
I can sew.
Okay, we'll see.
Carmen, ma'am...
- I wanted to say... - I know, you're in here by mistake.
Things will work out. Have faith in the Lord.
With so many inmates, mistakes are normal. Don't you think?
And don't be afraid of me. I don't bite.
I'm not afraid of you.
Hello, Father.
It's good to see you.
How are you?
Fine. How are you, darling?
I'm doing just fine.
I brought you...
some clothes. I thought...
I don't know. Tell me what you need.
Mother is very upset.
Seeing you in here wouldn't have helped.
The doctor told her to rest.
To rest!
But you know her.
She's asking neighbors for signatures saying you were never political.
Will any of them sign?
Sure.
How could they?
You've been concierges for years
without any complaints.
It's because of me, right?
They would never employ the parents of a Red.
How is Carmen?
Fine.
They arrested her father.
- And her mother... - What?
Her mother went into hiding.
Where?
Don't tell me, it doesn't matter.
Don't worry, she's okay.
Poor Mother.
I have the best parents in the world.
Have you seen Perico?
No.
Were you two serious?
I'm very sorry, Julia.
- Time's up. - Here.
Mother.
Thank you, Mother.
Keep your head high.
Tell Father to be strong. Tell him I'm doing all right.
Of course.
I love you.
Goodbye, Lola.
Goodbye, Carmen.
- Take care, Mother. - You too.
If there's anything special I can bring,
fruit, perfume...
Didn't you hear me?
Time's up!
Please.
I LOVE YOU
Me too.
Very much.
Quiet!
Would you please settle down?
You, yes, you!
Show a little respect!
Who asked for me?
What was so important
that you needed to tell me?
Another child has died.
One dies every day.
And not of a disease, of hunger.
You think people on the outside are much better off?
You have to do something.
You're the warden.
If the children aren't given milk, we won't...
What?
We won't sing during roll call.
Really?
Who won't?
Me too.
You, Blanca?
What's happening to them isn't fair, ma'am.
Put them in solitary!
Ventas Prison, wonderful hotel.
The food and service are the best,
no beds or time to rest.
We'd be better off in hell.
Silence!
Long lines even for the toilets,
tasty cement instead of bread.
They won't shut up.
For lunch they give you lentils,
one bowl a day, you're fed.
Fancy floor tiles for a mattress,
sore backs every morning!
Is that them?
Need any help?
Give me your gun!
Get out with your hands up!
Everybody out!
Pilar, sweetie...
Hold it, hold it! Your gun.
Slowly.
- Pilar! Come on. - You, bastard!
Move!
Quickly.
Please let me go, I didn't do anything. Father!
Do whatever you want to me, but let her go.
She's only a child.
Please!
Please.
Don't kill her. Let her go.
She's a child.
You'll be sorry for this.
Think of your girlfriends, your sisters...
Pilar...
Pilar!
You bastards!
- What about this one? - Don't do it.
Please, don't.
I'm one of you. I'm a worker, too.
Ana.
Martina.
Victoria.
To court.
- To court? - Yes, to court.
You can't go dressed like that. Go change clothes.
Let's get dressed up, girls.
Can we wash up first?
We want to smell nice, don't we?
How can you joke about this?
Why?
- Why can't I go with them? - Don't complain, stupid.
You're the lucky one.
Why can't I go? I don't understand!
Have you heard? They killed a Civil Guard commander.
And his daughter and driver.
- What's that got to do with us? - Nothing.
But they'll ask for the death penalty.
They always do, but later the judge lessens the penalty.
Not the best time for a military court.
They need a scapegoat.
Look, it's Retiro Park!
Sit down!
Come on!
Didn't you hear me? Sit down!
- Wearing anything borrowed? - Not me.
Me neither.
They say it brings luck.
It brings luck?
Shall we change?
- Somebody trade with me. - Can I have your shirt?
Who wants a scarf?
A new dress and a stroll through the park.
I'd give anything to trade places with them.
I want to see!
Everybody out.
Mommy, Mommy!
Where are you going?
I have to talk to my mother.
I haven't seen her in three months.
- She one of them? - Yes, sir.
Kid's got balls. Which one is she?
That one.
Two minutes.
Sweetheart. How you've grown...
You're so handsome!
Are you behaving yourself?
You'd better!
How's your French?
Don't stop studying. Keep learning French.
- Mom... - The kid's right.
Who needs French anyway?
The goal was to bring down the new government.
The statements made by these 56 individuals leave no doubt:
The plan was to reorganize the Socialist Youth,
the clandestine, Marxist-inspired organization
whose aim was to provoke disorder
and sabotage initiatives contributing to the greater glory of the nation
through infamy, lies terrorist attacks,
class struggle...
basically, Communism and Free Masonry.
Thanks to their arrest,
we thwarted a terrorist attack planned for
the day of the Victory Parade,
for which they had gathered in the previous days
all sorts of weaponry abandoned in trenches
and sewers.
The accused are guilty of supporting the rebellion
as penalized by articles 237
and 238 in the second paragraph
of the Code of Military Justice,
with the aggravating circumstance
of withholding evidence and endangerment,
cited in article 173 of the legal code.
Therefore,
on behalf of the Head of State,
the prosecution asks that each and every one of them be given
the death penalty.
The defense may now speak.
Given the late hour
and the time we've spent taking preliminary statements,
please be brief and concise.
With your permission.
Given the abundance of obvious evidence,
the defense can do little more than ask the court for leniency.
That's our lawyer?
Apparently.
The aggravating circumstances cited by the prosecution
are not relevant in all cases, therefore...
Naturally each case will be studied individually.
The accused shall rise.
This court is adjourned for sentencing.
A secret session shall be convened.
"With the utmost humility I write to Your Excellency
to plea for mercy,
trusting the strict justice
the glorious Caudillo promised to the Spanish people."
Very good, sign it.
"...undefeated Generalissimo of the Spanish Armed Forces...
Army, Navy and Air Force..."
You think we'll be shot?
They can't shoot us for trying to feed people.
You'll end up getting pardoned,
you'll see.
I'll add a favorable report about you.
And your husband.
And the others?
Leave them.
Don't ever forget what matters most.
What's that?
That we're right.
We're fighting for a just cause.
I don't know what's just anymore.
Yes, you do. Of course you do.
You also know that when this is over someone will have to remember it.
How could I ever forget?
It would be like forgetting you.
Exactly, Carmen.
Don't forget me.
We mustn't be afraid.
Promise me you won't be afraid.
I promise.
We have to be brave.
Very brave.
Because they're not going to pardon us, kid.
I can't stop thinking about my mother.
Poor thing. This must be so hard for her.
Midnight.
We can rest at ease now. They won't come for us tonight.
Really?
Sleep easy.
Let's go!
Get back!
Move over!
Let's go!
Move it!
My God, it can't be...
Blanca Brisac Vazquez.
You have to look pretty.
You're going to see Valentin.
Come on, hurry up!
You're in such a hurry to kill us?
Martina.
Victoria.
Carmen...
Go on, wash up.
This can't be happening.
Franco hasn't answered yet.
You're thirsty for blood!
Murderers!
Get moving!
Where's Victoria?
Tell my mother I'm innocent.
Please.
There!
I don't want to die, ma'am!
Let's go!
If you don't confess, you can't send a letter.
It's up to you.
That goes for everybody.
If you want your letters to reach your families, you must confess.
Do you want to go first?
Hail Mary full of grace.
Conceived without sin.
Go on, child.
But...
I have nothing to confess, sir.
I've done nothing wrong.
Julia...
What do I tell them?
I don't know what to say.
"Dear parents, brothers and sisters..."
"Dearest..."
Valentin...
Father, never let go
of your strength and peace of mind
until the very end.
Do not be overwhelmed by tears.
My hand does not tremble as I write this...
My dear,
most darling boy.
In these last instants, your mother is thinking of you.
I shall die with my head high,
only for doing good.
They're not killing me because I'm a criminal.
They're killing me for an idea I consider just
and worth dying for.
I say farewell in hopes that you will always remember me.
Your daughter, with love...
I die as any innocent person should.
Goodbye, Mother.
Goodbye forever.
Your daughter will never again be able to kiss or hug you.
Let my name go down in History.
Come on, hurry up.
Get in.
Go on.
Julia!
Julia, darling!
Julia!
- Julia! - Mother!
Julia!
Let her go!
Julia! Kill me in her place!
We're the Young Guard,
forging the future.
Tempered by suffering,
we shall prevail or die.
Noble is our cause
to free man from slavery.
We'll spill the blood of the young
along the way if we have to.
Beware,
beware,
the bourgeois, the greedy and the warmongers.
Young Guard,
give no quarter!
Firing squad!
Line up in two rows!
Everybody out!
Single file!
Hurry up!
Squad!
- Let's go! - Attention!
Right turn!
First row, left knee!
Quickly!
You're not men!
You have no hearts! You have no souls!
Otherwise you wouldn't be here!
Squad...
Ready.
Aim!
Stop moving!
Keep still!
Hold on!
Keep aiming at them!
Aim!
Fire!
Carmen.
My dear, most darling boy.
In these last instants, your mother is thinking of you.
I shall die with my head high,
only for doing good.
You know that better than anyone, Quique.
Fire!
All I ask is be good.
He's still moving!
Love everyone and never hold a grudge against those who killed
your parents. Never.
Good people never hold grudges.
You have to be a good man,
hard-working.
Enrique,
never let them erase the memory of your parents.
Make sure you take your first Communion properly.
Let religion guide you as it did me.
I'd keep writing you until the end, but I have to say goodbye to the others.
My boy,
my child...
for all eternity.
Yours with love that shall never end,
an eternal kiss from your mother.
On August 5th, 1939, in the East Cemetery in Madrid,
43 men and 13 women were executed by firing squad.
Almost all minors, the women are known as "THE 13 ROSES."
The documents and letters cited in this film are completely authentic.