The film is set in the summer of 1936 , the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, until the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 , ending in the days leading up to Barcelona's encroachment carried out by the Nationalist troops . It deals with two bourgeois families : the Republican (the pregnant Concha Velasco , her brother Vicente Parra , husband José Sacristán , grandfather Ismael Merlo, ...) with many children, and the Francoist (Analia Gade, Jose Vivó , Charo Soriano...) spending their holiday near Barcelona, both of whom attempt to remain neutral between the Republicans and the supporters of General Franco. As the families and their children surviving at Barcelona next to the invasion by Francoist troops , while happens bombing and destruction .
Detailed recreation about the significant period leading up to Barcelona invasion during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939 , adding coming-of-age stories about some kiddies and teens that recreate records of Jaime Camino's own infancy .The flick is spoiled by some disjointed scenes , interiors overusing , lacking exteriors and battle scenes . It is narrated by means of some parallel stories , and retelling historical as well as fictitious events . The picture is partially based on historic events , though it has some inventions and including well recreated settings carried out by production designer Josep Maria Espada. The main and support are pretty good with full of important Spanish actors , such as : Analía Gadé , Ismael Merlo, José Sacristán , Concha Velasco , Ángela Molina , Francisco Rabal , Vicente Parra , Charo Soriano , José Vivó , Alfred Lucchetti , Manuel Gas , among others . The prestigious director Jaime Camino was very interested in Spanish Civil War , as he made this "Long Vacations of 36", in 1976 , it was followed by a particular sequel ¨The Long Winter¨ in 1992 that dealt with a descendant , Ramon Casals Jr who arrives in a mansion and attempting to find out what happened his family after they fled the country in 1939 , then he learns the details of the fascist takeover from the former butler , being starred by an international cast as Vittorio Gassman , Jacques Penot , Elizabeth Hurley , Jean Rochefort ,Sergi Mateu and a notorious support cast , such as : Adolfo Marsillach , Asunción Balaguer , Teresa Gimpera , Ramon Madaula , Àlex Casanovas , Silvia Munt , José Luis de Vilallonga , José Luis López Vázquez , Ovidi Montllor.
The Long Holidays of 1936 packs an atmospheric and sensitive musical score by Xavier Montsalvatge . As well as an evocative cinematography by Fernando Arribas. Adequate and interesting screenplay written by prestigious writer/director Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón and Jaime Camino himself .This motion picture well produced by Jose Frade, was profesionally directed by Jaime Camino , and got success enough at the Spanish boxoffice . Jaime Camino was a fine writer/producer/director and member of the ¨Barcelona School¨ , as he financed his films by means of his own Company : Tibidabo Films S. A. . His films were strongly censored from ¨Los Felices 60¨ dealing with adultery , to those regarding the Spanish Civil War as ¨Largas Vacaciones Del 36¨ (1975) , and directed a follow-up ¨The Long winter¨ (1992) ; besides, ¨Dragon Rapide¨and two documentaries as ¨La vieja memoria¨ and ¨Los niños de Rusia¨. He directed several dramas as ¨Mañana será otro dia¨(1966) about the loves of a prostitute , ¨España otra vez¨ (68) that won the Spectacle Syndicate Award , ¨Un Invierno En Mallorca¨ about Federico Chopin and George Sand in this island , ¨La Campanada¨ upon crisis of a middle-age man , ¨El Balcón Abierto¨ about poet Federico Garcia Lórca , and ¨Luces y sombras¨(88) about a director who shoots ¨Las Meninas¨by Velazquez . And a prestigious documentary titled ¨La Vieja Memoria¨ and finally ¨El Largo Invierno¨(1992) about the end of the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona and his last one , the documentary titled ¨Los niños de Rusia¨(2001).
