After the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1938, Republican guerrillas continued to fight against the Franco government carrying out sabotage actions and executions of Francoist authorities and members of the hated Civil Guard guilty of crimes against civilians. During WWII they substantially contributed to the fight against Nazi Germany and the Vichy regime in France, both as members of the Resistance and as soldiers in the Free French army.
By 1944, with German forces in retreat, the guerrillas refocused their attention on the liberation of Spain. That year, there was an invasion by a maquis force through Val d'Aran and other passes in the Pyrenees with the hope of being supported by the invading Allied Armies in France. However, the Germans were still a formidable menace, the Allied command was wary of opening a new front, and help didn't materialize.
Guerrilla activities intensified right after the end of WWI in 1945. Due to its support for the Nazis during the war Spain was internationally isolated, its economy collapsed, and an uprising seemed imminent. However, the Franco government joined the nascent crusade against Communism and opened Spain to American bases. The enemy now was Communism, and Nazi crimes were discreetly swept under the rug. The Spanish government carried out a savage campaign against the guerrillas where civilians suspected of collaboration were tortured and murdered without trial. Savagery worked, and the guerrillas gradually faded away. All the while the regime suppressed every bit of information about this war, which may be the reason for the title Silencio Roto (Broken Silence).
The movie begins in 1944, with Lucía (Lucía Jiménez) returning to her birthplace, a village in Navarra and getting involved with Manuel (Juan Diego Botto), a blacksmith that acts as contact for the guerrillas and joins them shortly after. However the romance, realistically presented, is not the main subject. Navarrese director Montxo Armendáriz weaves an atmospheric tale of day-to-day life in the village, where guerrilla successes translate in savage reprisals, not reporting suspicious activities may be fatal and where neighbors denounce each other for survival or to avenge old grievances. Cinematography captures skillfully the melancholic landscapes and shady interiors and acting is excellent not only from the principals but from all the supporting cast, with special mention for Maria Sampietro. The movie can be found in the streaming services with the title Time of Honor.
