Bilbao 1937 , 5000 Spanish little boys go out from Spain to Russia . This is the story of one of them . The group of kiddies aboard a boat , there Diego rebels against Germán Goeritz (Gérard Tichy) who takes him a cross-necklace and a photograph . In Russia Diego is educated in communist doctrines , Marx theories , proletarian dictatorship , anti-family life and the ¨hammer and sickle¨ ideology . He will be instructed to spread communism becoming a political agitator . In Turin , he demonstrates his revolutionary skills as a violent striker . His next mission is returning to Spain , being assigned by Germán Goeritz to spy his own father , an important deputy , a Francoist Colonel and chief of anti-communist repression forces . A bit later on , Diego (Francisco Rabal) arrives in Spain where meets his father (Rafael Rivelles) , cousin Mónica (Lyla Rocco) and the old maid (Carmen Rodríguez) . Then , conflicts arise when Diego has to choose sides .
This interesting flick deals with Diego who is taken as a child to Russia to avoid the Spanish Civil War , one time grown-up , at 25-year-old he begins a career as a spy and as a political agitator . The story concerns about thought-provoking issues , such as : denunciation , treason , and inner conflicts of the main starring . At the end takes place an atmospheric shooting filmed in ¨Noir film¨ style , including some deaths . Here stands out the peculiar plot , set in the ¨Cold War¨, an alright filmmaking and excellent interpretations from Rafael Rivelles and Francisco Rabal . In addition , a very good support cast , such as : Fernando Sancho , Félix de Pomés , Gerard Tichy , José Manuel Martín , Maria Piazzai , and it appears Maria Dolores Pradera -in a brief intervention- singing a catching song . During the fifties the great producer Vicente Escrivá writes and produces several films for filmmaker Rafael Gil that got big successes , these are the followings : ¨La Señora De Fatima¨, ¨Madrid Al Cielo¨ , ¨Guerra De Dios¨, ¨Beso De Judas¨ , ¨El Canto Del Gallo¨ , ¨La Gran Mentira¨ , and the best : ¨Murió Hace quince años¨ (1954) . It packs an expressionist cinematography , plenty of lights and shades by the great cameraman Alfredo Fraile . Including evocative sets from Bilbao , Barcelona , Madrid and El Escorial by Enrique Alarcón . And an original as well as thrilling musical score by the classic composer Cristóbal Halffter .
The motion picture was professionally produced Aspa Films-Vicente Escrivá and Suevia Films-Cesáreo González that along with Cifesa were the most known production companies during the Francoist period and often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles . The yarn was well directed by veteran Rafael Gil , though has some flaws and gaps . Being filmed in usual style of the fifties and in stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the historical-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Rafael was one of the best filmmakers from Spanish cinema , directing several classic movies such as : ¨Don Quijote De La Mancha¨ , ¨El Clavo¨ , ¨La Fe¨ , ¨La Señora De Fatima¨, ¨La Reina Santa¨ , ¨La Guerra De Dios¨ , ¨El Beso De Judas¨ , among others . And of course , this ¨Murio Hace 15 Años¨ that resulted to be one of the his best films . Rating : 6.5/10 , well worth watching . The picture will appeal to Francisco Rabal fans .
