This film is about a man who went into hiding when the Spanish Civil War started, and stayed there for 33 years. It's about living in a cave behind a cupboard, watching the world changing around you, and becoming afraid of the street life outdoors.
It's also about manliness: watching behind a crack in the cupboard while other men make a pass at your wife, how your only contribution to the family is to help your wife sewing, how your son, who grows up to be a socialist, accuses you of being a coward, hiding out while your comrades were fighting.
It's a great film with universal qualities.
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volvuspa28 February 2020
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juanmartinez17881 May 2020The story is set in Spanish Civil War time. A man is trying to escape from Nationalists in a village in Andalusia. His strategy is to hide. In the town there are doubts about where he is hidden, people suspect. Not only Higinio suffers his persecution, but his wife, Rosa, has to face many difficult moments. The setting of that time is perfect, also clothing and language. It is slow and long. It lacks emotion and intensity. 147 minutes are excessive for the story itself.
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This movie delicately captures how humans who are governed by fear not only rendered helpless, but are also transformed to alien versions of their former selves. What are the enduring repercussions of civil wars and dictatorships? What does life mean under these conditions? Is life a mere survival or do we stop living once our souls and spirits are crushed? Does a crushed soul and a defeated person stand a chance of living again? Can love survive military dictatorships?
This movie is an attempt to address all of these questions and its take is moving, heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time! -
"Let fascism find not even a single passage to power or else that poisonous snake will infiltrate into every vital corner of the country and kill the future of the nation!" Mehmet Murat ildan
So, you feel imprisoned by the virus? Well, you have been, as have we all yet never with the choking space of Anne Frank, and never as torturous as The Endless Trench's Higinio (Antonio de la Torre), who spends 30 years cooped up in a false wall of his Spanish home fearing death by Franco's fascist loyalists.
The trio of directors Altor Arregi, Jon Garano, and Jose Mari Goenaga apparently did not trip over each other with their variegated lenses and positions to perfectly capture for insid out the imprisonment and sheltered point of view of the exiled Higinio. In over two hours, the film allows a sense of movement outside to infiltrate inside the hideaway.
Something is always happening in this 1936 through 1969 Spain, be it the imminence of being discovered to the birth of a baby, and the endless arguments with his wife, Rosa (Belen Cuesta), about how he should trust the new liberty of the allies and leave hiding. The energy of the film comes from the energy of revolt, be it against fascism or thoughts of safety in prison.
The Endless Trench masterfully glides between dreams of liberation and the warmth of enclosure. Additional allegory crops up with the apparent parallel to all lives that feel enclosed by a mate who prefers to stay home avoiding the dangers of being public and the challenges of intimacy that liberation demands. Introverted spouses should pay attention.
Although our pandemic lockdown fosters a claustrophobic atmosphere, nothing could compare with the lockdown between Rosa and her husband, a closed world of lost youth and abandoned hope. The allies may have liberated, but a man who stays in his prison after liberation is a man who has given up on his family and his nation.
The Endless Trench is a classy little film whose multiple levels of meaning and contemporary parallels should satisfy the most discerning moviegoer. Netflix
"If we define an American fascist as one who in case of conflict puts money and power ahead of human beings, then there are undoubtedly several million fascists in the United States." Henry A. Wallace -
rps-23 March 2020An interesting and well done film. But at two and a half hours, the word "endless" in the title is ironic. It would have been more effective (and more enjoyable) had it been scissored to 90 minutes.
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kosmasp29 March 2020Movies that are quite claustrophobic are not easy to watch. I had no idea where this was going and while it is confined, it also is showing and going places. The acting is grand even in a closed setting. I can't even begin to imagine what a person goes through. And not just physically but also psychologically, which you can see and feel the effects towards the end.
Spanish language thrillers are quite something and if you like the genre, then you probably will have an idea what they are able to do. There is not much of a story here, this is about a setting and an evolution. It is about society and about human survival, even when it doesn't seem like living at all. Many great ideas, a lot of sexual encounters (violent and otherwise too, hard to watch - no pun intended and not trying to make light of many of the situations) and quite draining to watch to say the least ... but very well done -
korkuta131131 March 2020Beyond of historical movie and many more unforgettable scenes I would like to mention about actress Belen Cue's unbelievable performance,she was at movie stunning who kept me in movie till the end,last deceda she was one of the best performance I have seen,and movie contains psychological standpoint,loyalty and endless patience,absolute must watch.
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Kakueke21 October 2021The Endless Trench takes place during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and its very long aftermath. The Franco regime received military and other aid from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in the civil war, and supported the Axis Powers materially until 1945. Afterwards, it gradually maneuvered itself into favor with the Western Allies through the time of Franco's death in 1975. However, until a general amnesty in 1969, it continued to vigorously root out and punish or execute various political enemies.
Some of Franco's political enemies were known to have hidden out over long periods to avoid arrest. Based on some real events, this is the story of one such man, Higinio (Antonio de la Torre), and his wife, Rosa (Belen Cuesta). Higinio, on the Republican side, is pursued at the beginning by fascist soldiers and manages to evade them, but instead of running off further he returns, so as he can hide out while remaining with his wife.
The two main actors did a nice job, and the focus was always primarily on them. There were no third or fourth principals, only secondary actors. The story revolved around Higinio and Rosa, who are tailors, and the movie achieved sentimentality between the two.
The difficult life Higinio led constantly trying to hide out in two residences (they switched to the house of Rosa's father-in-law) was developed well, and some tough moments were shown. Most intense was when neighbor and civil guard Rodrigo watches in secret after Rosa leaves and manages to see that Higinio is there. (Rodrigo blamed Higinio for the death of his brother.) Rodrigo knows the inner alleys and methods to break in, and Higinio is obliged to hide in a small closet and see a threatening Rodrigo through a keyhole. Luckily, Jaime, the son he had with Rosa over this time, was able to intervene.
Earlier, Rosa had been raped by a Gonzalo, a civil guard and customer, and Higinio was forced to watch with inaction (at first). There was doubt as to who Jaime's father was, but Rosa declared him their son. Later, as a student apparently in his teens, Jaime accuses his father of being a coward for hiding out, adding to Higinio's torment. More subtly this was an issue with Rosa too. (It is interesting that the screenplay has Higinio isolated almost right after the war started as opposed to near its end in 1939.) But Higinio did suffer; the miseries of his food and toiletry limitations, along with hygiene and dress, were displayed.
When the general amnesty comes in 1969, Higinio finally emerges from his literally closeted life. But that is as a movie of 2 hours and 27 minutes ends. For almost all of that to be in the orbit of Higinio's hiding in the houses is more than I can bear without becoming bored. I think I also have less tolerance vs. Other people for activity in a movie in dark background, whether it be sex or violence that one cannot see well or general movie action that is difficult to see and understand. The directors here certainly had their share of darker scenes.
So my main thought is, what could have been put in to add more action? Shortly after the movie begins, in a discussion Higinio has with his Republican "comrades," he tells them as he lectures them that bullets are not supposed to be used and landowners and Priests left alone. I guess a convenient set-up of good guys vs. Bad guys, but really, Republicans did that sort of thing too.
Does this preliminary info mean that things are clear and some opening action showing what happened and what Higinio was doing need not be shown? No.
There is an early exchange between Rosa and Isabel, Rodrigo's wife.
Rosa: "I mean that you could say it was a mistake - and take his name off the list." Isabel: "A mistake? He made the mistake when he burnt down what he shouldn't, huh?" Rosa: "Burnt what? Isabel: "Barcenillas hermitage belongs to the Carmelite nuns... Rosa: "It's not true... He may have his ideas, but he's not violent. Isabel: "What did he do when they killed Gonzalo's brother? He...didn't do or say anything, and he was a councillor." Rosa: "Isabel, go home."
In other words, there is still some doubt about Higinio's degree of culpability. This also is suggested later, in an exchange between Higinio and Jaime. Regardless, adding this action would have livened the movie up.
Another thing that would have helped would have been to show Franco's police capturing one or more Republicans and doing something to them, showing effect on their families, so to give the viewer an idea of what Higinio might face if caught. A brief sub-plot perhaps, and Higinio becoming aware of and discussing it. Or a few shorter dialogues and scenes, for the same purpose.
Finally, Jaime's political activities could have been shown more in their own right, rather than mainly just showing him bringing home a colleague and having his general conflicts with his dad. Perhaps enough to make him at least a semi-main character rather than only a secondary one.
Instead, the directors chose to have the obligatory gay scene as two gay mean take over the house for a while, reaching an agreement with Higinio. That is just how it works today regardless of LGTB issues being irrelevant to the movie's main points. This could have been cut, and little parts of other scenes could also have been, to add up and make room for more action. -
steve-brule5 March 2020The film deals with multiple issues including the psychological effects of isolation, the relationship consequences, trauma of rape, and childhood problems as a result of parental illness. I was initially put off by the length of the film, but it needed this length in order to fully develop the themes. This is one of the few long films that I've seen in which the length of the film was justified.
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ma-cortes11 November 2021This La Trinchera Infinita or The Endless Trench 2019 is a story based on true events and it was very well directed . The yarn takes place in a small and remote little town of Andalusia (southern Spain), during and post-Spanish Civil War , between the years of 1939 and 1969 . The country taken by uprising and by Republican and communist forces . Francisco Franco is in power, after his coup d'état in 1936, which resulted in the civil war between the Nationalists (supported by the right and the church) and the republicans (who were supported by socialists and communists). Stars Higinio (Antonio de la Torre) , he is a tailor and a town councilor who has recently got married to Rosa (Belén Cuesta) . After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Higinio hides in his own house , chased by communist militia and awaiting the right moment to escape with his wife . But he is trapped in his attempt by his neighbor , Gonzalo , who blames Higinio for his brother's death and is looking for vengeance . Captured by Franco's soldiers , Higinio is driven by truck, along with other opposition prisoners and waiting for being condemned to death row . But an unwitting distraction from one of the prisoners gives him a chance to getaway . He runs across the town to his house where he is to remain hidden in a secret hole . In the meantime , Gonzalo pays Higinio's wife occasional visits in the belief that she knows his whereabouts . When the civil war comes to an end in 1939 , evaded Higinio learns from Rosa that there is a reward for capturing him as well as other insurgents, as Higinio spends an endless incarceration in his own home. .....
Depressing and downbeat film with magnificent performances , specially by Antonio de la Torre and Belén Cuesta . Dramatic picture about the consequences of Spanish civil war , being realized with academicism and general coldness . ¨La Trinchera Infinita¨ results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with dramatic deeds regarding the Civil War background . A familiar theme about the global horrors of a fratricide war , impossible to forget to Spanish cinema . Resulting a be a correct film about love , sacrifice , ideal , fight , cowardice and personal tragedies as parts from national drama . The message transmitted in the movie is very powerful , as its purpose is to highlight the deep love between the distressed couple by facing dangers and misfortunes during these war and post-war times . And only sin of film is the common style , after many movies about Civil War traces, it remains one for them . Touching moments from the two principals , Antonio de la Torre and Belén Cuesta, playing a deranged marriage who learn painfully about their closed relation , dignity and courage , as well as ccasional flashes of bravery and of compassion. Sombre interiors and little exteriors convey the gloom that prevails, intensified by a sparse soundtrack by composer Pacal Gaigne , being adapted from a story by Luiso Berdejo and Jose Mari Goenaga , supposedly based on actual events and following other flicks in similar tendency , as ¨The voice asleep¨ by Benito Zambrano and ¨"Pa Negre (black bread)" by Agustí Villaronga . The movie evokes more than sadness through Higinio and Rosa's love story ; about a husband marked for a merciless pursuit and a wife determined to all for saving him , their love is strong, and they help themselves to get through a lot of the struggles they face . While trying to save her husband from execution , it causes Rosa's character to change dramatically, from a naïve girl who didn't want any part in politics to an obstinate woman who would do anything to protect those she loves. The music at times exemplifies the strong emotions felt by the audience , but also makes the plot lighter in tone at times . In my opinion, this movie is a must-see for anyone willing to gain an understanding of the sociopolitical climate in Spain during and after the Civil War . Although it is, without a doubt, romanticized at parts and some people may say it's just another movie about the war climate .
The motion picture was well directed by Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga , but it tourns out to be overlong , dull , boring and tiring , at times . Because the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this slow-moving and sometimes heavily shot film with no exteriors . Filmed in the usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Including a spotless pictorial but dark cinematography Javier Agirre (Handia, Aquelarre, Destierros , On the line) and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence, every space, the main problem has to face "The Endless trench", beyond not being able to avoid falling into the politic pamphlet is precisely derived from the coldness of its staging, which eventually become monotonous over two hours and some of long footage . But anyway, its is compensated with the great performances from Antonio de la Torre and Belén Cuesta , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result . These filmmakers are great directors of actors and the main players are complemented by a good cast of secondaries forming a powerful human group giving excellent interpretations . In the 2020 Annual Goya Awards , presented by the Academia De las Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas De España (Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences), main national film awards, considered by many in Spain, and internationally, to be the Spanish equivalent of the American Academy Awards , ¨La Trinchera Infinita¨ won deservedly several prizes : Best Lead Actress Belén Cuesta , Goya Best Lead Actor Antonio de la Torre . Best Sound : Alazne Ameztoy , Xanti Salvador , Nacho Royo-Villanova Iñaki Díez , Best New Actor : Vicente Vergara , Best Director : Aitor Arregi , Jon Garaño , Jose Mari Goenaga , Best Original Score (Mejor Música Original : Pascal Gaigne , Best Cinematography : Javier Agirre , b est Original Screenplay : Jose Mari Goenaga , Luiso Berdejo , Best Production Manager : Ander Sistiaga . Be prepared for an emotional experience and an amazing story. -
Like all dictatorships, it comes with victims, beneficiaries, traitors and so on. This movie ignores most of that and instead it shows the suffering of a single family for over three decades, showing it well in a very intimate way. In times of today it is very hard to believe that this period actually wasn't so long ago.
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sergepesic31 January 2022The end of the bloody Spanish civil war brought vengeance and oppression. Executions and long imprisonments, winners didn't show much mercy. This is a powerful, claustrophobic movie about a man who hid in his house for 33 years. Confined spaces, dark rooms, dust balls and endless fear of getting caught. This movie is a continuous, relentless assault on viewers senses that, unfortunately could've used more discerning editing job. It was, to put it bluntly, at least half an hour too long. There is only so much time that we can spend in a prison cell, or secret compartment in the wall, in this case. Sometimes less is more, and more is less.
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FriendGod8 November 2020Long, drawn out scenes, repetitive themes...Not enough interesting developments. Could have been wrapped up in a hour and 1/2 runtime. Boring!
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They were called moles. They were afraid of reprisals and hid in their own houses for 30 years without stepping out in sun and fresh air. Some of them lived in the makeshift trenches inside their homes which eventually became their homes for 30 years!!! This is not some fiction but a true story of one such mole and his battles with ennui and isolation.. Spain civil war 1936, the social unrest that costed almost half a million lives not to mention of which many were never accounted for. As the fascist Franco's general Emilio Mola said "It is necessary to spread terror. We have to create the impression of mastery, eliminating without scruples or hesitation all those who do not think as we do." Although the tempo and gravity could have been projected little better, it is a good watch..
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mauricevdklundert9 November 2021First the good points: because of Belen Cuesta and Antonio de La Torre's talent, it is recommended to watch. And if you like intimate and romantic in movies. I found the film itself disappointing because it was long-winded and not much happened for me. Little action or sensation because there is still talking about the incarceration. There are also few other characters. I stopped watching halfway through but don't want to stop others from watching it anyway! I give it a 6 but that's also because I didn't watch it ;)
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u-emoli4 March 2020This is a beautifully written, directed and acted little film. The script is very original, parabola like and very sweet. It's a timeless wonderful little gem.
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fostrhod13 April 2023Endless Trench. 2017 (Spanish Language) Netflix.
Set pre 2nd world war during the Spanish civil war. Fleeing from a fascist clampdown, Hignio hides away helped by his wife Rosa, He fashions a meagre and solitary existence in the dark behind the walls in their house. At over 2 1/2 hours long the film is a bit of a tunnel, with no obvious light at the end. Bizarrely you do feel for the characters and what originally was self preservation, after 1, 2, 10, 15, 20 30 years becomes a prison of their own making.
There are a lot of what appear flaws to the idea behind the film. But once you realise that these moles "topos" as the locals would call them where scattered all over Spain and this story is loosely based on fact, it does become quite riveting.
By the end the film does become incredibly sad , when you realise what the couple have sacrificed over the years. Is a worthy watch, but probably could have been a lot shorter. -
zed1615 November 2020A potent mix of love and fear of a man who spent 33 years hiding out in his own home. Featuring remarkable central performances from Antonio de la Torre and Belén Cuesta, and a bold cinematic language that captures Higinio's entrapment in highly visual terms, "The Endless Trench" functions both as the portrait of the couple's astonishing predicament and as a broader study of the changing face of Spain under a brutal dictatorship.
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DogePelis201522 February 2021An excellent Spanish film; the plot is very tense and the performances are excellent. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!
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bshaef10 November 2020Torturing you viewers with black screens and whispers. I had no idea what was going on and kept waiting for something to happen but after fifteen minutes of an almost totally black screens, I gave up and moved over to Prime to see if they had anything better which they did. I don't understand why filmmakers believe that people are willing to stare at black screens for long stretches. I think its a copout by the director and cinematographer saying they don't know how to make a watchable movie.
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gkarahalia19 March 2020It' s a good movie with historical events, showing how the things were in Spain during the period of 1937-1969 with dictatorship of Franco. A man was hiding from government for 30 years behind the walls of his house (as many others did) and we see how he and his family deal with it through the years... I have only one objection about the story which is obviously fictional based in true events but anyway I didn' t like it! The sex the couple had in times that you feel that in real life they wouldn't have the mood doing it!! For example in one scene the wife returns from the police in bad shape where they were asking her informations of where her husband is and we see that they didn' t do it politely to her, she was at least exhausted and they are having sex!! I generally like and enjoy seeing sex in movies, I don' t have a problem with that, but in my opinion in this particular movie with such a sensitive historic event they shouldn' t have so many sex scenes, or they could show a little with not so many details!!! I wanted to give a 7 for that reason, even a 6 (which for me is not good rate, I usually give 6 in movies I didn' t like and 7 that I liked a little bit but not much), but because is a good story and nice movie I give an 8... Other thing that is not about the plot but with the actor, and it has nothing to do with my rate but I wanted to mention is that always when I see in Spanish movies the actor Antonio de la Torre it makes me wonder if this is the only one they have? They don' t have other good actors?? In all good, important Spanish movies you see him!! And ok I don' t have a problem with him as an actor but it' s kind like boring seeing the same actor in all movies!!!
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ozguryilmaz95518 February 2024A film about the devastating civil war that began in Spain in 1936. While social and political events are the driving force behind the film, we also follow a personal story. Cinema often overlooks the story of ordinary people, focusing on leaders and their biographies, but this film pays attention to that.
The cinematography, editing, and pacing are all very well done. Additionally, the choice of locations sets it apart from typical films. Silence intensifies the impact of the reality portrayed. The casting, especially the performances of the main characters, is fantastic.
It's a realistic film, yet not boring. I recommend watching it. -
Erik_Surewaard14 August 2023Also known as "The Endless Trench", this is a spanish movie about life during the "Franco Regime", the fascist rule over Spain that - supported by Hitler - started during WW2. And unlike for instance Mussolini's ruling over Italy, Franco's fascist ruling over Spain did not end when the allied forces claimed victory over Germany and later on Japan. No, it was even until 1975 that Spain was basically under fascist dictatorship. Since this movie is completely linked to what happened during WW2, this movie deserves a spot in any serious list about WW2 movies and series.
This movie is about how people with social political ideas were regarded as communists and at the start of the Franco Regime were all of a sudden enemies of the state. Similar to the jews in Nazi Germany, it was the communists in Spain that were actively persecuted and - if not immediately upon arrest - were later on executed. It is therefore important for these people to prevent capture. And an important means to do so - other than for instance to flee to another (friendly) country - is to go into hiding.
And since this movie is about hiding, I want to draw a comparison with life of the dutch Frank family during WW2: i.e made famous by "Anne Frank's Diary". Although not an identical situation, both make clear how life in hiding must have been like.
Based on true events as experienced by Manuel Matin - a mayor of a town in Malaga (Spain) - it is also many other spanish "enemies of the state" that had to live in hiding. Before seeing this movie, I had no idea whatsoever that people in Spain had to live in hiding, long after WW2 ended.
I personally found this movie a very attractive watch. Of course it is not easy to keep a viewer interested for a period of over 2 hours, whereby the main element of the story is bound to only a small place where someone hides. But the director succeeded very well in building fear of being captured. Where they also excelled in, is to show the tensions between someone in hiding and the people supporting him.
Concluding, I score this movie with 7.7/10, thereby making it an 8-star IMDb rating.