Some years ago two letters dated 1946 came into our hands. Their author announced his imminent suicide, due to the negative effects of the war and the Nazi, Germany concentration camps, where he apparently lost his family.
El último abrazo (“The last embrace”) is a short documentary film about the reconstruction of this man’s life. A research that depends primarily upon historical documentary sources and the few people who might have known or heard about him. And the only clues in order to do it come from these two farewell letters, where he says good bye to the world and to his addressees. “Sending you the last embrace” are his last words and hence the title of the documentary.
Hopefully the truth about this man will be out during the investigation. We might find him and thus understand through his eyes the cruel reality of a generation of Spanish men and women who lived war, exile and desperation during the mid-20th century in Europe.
WHY DO WE WANT THIS PROJECT TO BE DONE?
1936-1946 was a dark and sad period in European history and, particularly, in Spanish history. Both Second World War and Spanish Civil War altered forever the life in the country. Thousands of Spaniards were forced into exile and ended up in nazi concentration and extermination camps. After the war, 1945, those who survived came back to Spain. However, they found a country where republicans were not very welcome by Franco's regime, a world where they did not belong anymore.
It is our wish to tell the story of this man because he represents a whole generation of Spaniards who was devastated and just fell into oblivion. This documentary pretends to be a kind of tribute and an act of justice in memory of the people who suffered the consequences of war, abuse and violence.
WHY DO WE NEED THE MONEY?
The estimate budget to produce "The last embrace" is 4.600 €. The contributions we are asking for will be used to cover the following costs:
-Our team: scriptwriter, director, producer, cameras, editor, translator and music composer.
-Travel expenses: probably to Germany (Bergen-Belsen concentration camp), Madrid and other Spain locations.
-Taxes and campaign charges.
-Perks: purchase and delivery costs.
PRODUCTION TIMES AND RELEASE
We are at a good point in collecting information and the release of "The last embrace" will depend on the evolution of our investigation. The shoot is scheduled between December 2013 and January 2014.We reckon to issue the documentary by may 2014.
THE CONTENT OF THE LETTERS
Two letters, dated 1946, found inside a handbag bought by chance at an auction in Valencia. Two letters written in a slow and deliberate way. No doubt the author was a learned man. You can see it in his vocabulary, handwriting and use of language.
In both letters, the author announces his suicide after the lost of his whole family in the German concentration camps, which he survived. He has lost any hope to be happy again and for him death is just a release:
«It is the most immediate way to finish with my all my suffering», he says.
“Sending you the last embrace” are his last words and hence the title of the documentary.
But who did write these letters? What has happened to him? Why did he really commit suicide? Did he really kill himself? And moreover, did he send the letters? Why did both letters were together? Who were their addressees? And who was the girl he talks about?
SOME OF OUR TEAM
Sergi Pitarch Garrido, scriptwriter and journalista. Juan Padilla, video production and post production. Javier Pitarch Garrido, original soundtrack and production. Maria Sanchis Marco, production, translation and foreign relations Joaquín Romero, video production and post production. Christian Hervás, video production and post production. Josep Pitarch Garrido, video production. Rosa Roig, script and production.
Some previous works:
Un año y un día Feliç dia Z Indígenes L'horta importa Dejarlo por amor Tío Marco
MORE INFORMATION
www.elultimoabrazo.com
www.facebook.com/elultimoabrazo
info@elultimoabrazo.com
16 comments
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Sergi Pitarch i Garrido
Author
Gracias por la pregunta. Y por la confianza en este proyecto. Para nosotros, la nominación ya es un premio y nos ayudará a dar a conocer esta historia más aún. Escríbeme a info@elultimoabrazo.com y te contaré cómo, cuándo y dónde ver el corto.
José Amselem
Enhorabuena por ser nominado para los Goya, lástima que no ganara, es el que más se lo merece en mi opinión.
¿Cómo se va a comercializar?, me interesaría comprarlo o visionarlo pagando en algún sitio de los muchos que hay en Internet.
Un saludo.
Sergi Pitarch i Garrido
Author
Existe esa posibilidad si la historia da de sí. Es algo que tenemos en cuenta y que valoraremos en su momento, cuando tengamos todo el material grabado. En principio decidimos que fuera cortometraje porque creemos en el formato del cortometraje documental y estamos convencidos de que no por ser más largo se es más serio o mejor.
Javier
¿Qué duración aproximada tendrá el corto? ¿Existe la posibilidad de que se haga un mediometraje o, en el mejor de los casos, un largometraje si el material lo permite?
Sergi Pitarch i Garrido
Author
Estamos en plena investigación y trabajamos con la idea de que sí, de que vamos a encontrar al autor. A través de las cartas, del contexto histórico y de las referencias que tenemos de los destinatarios podemos explicar muchas cosas de nuestro hombre y su generación. El documental trata de cómo buscamos la respuesta a las preguntas que plantean las cartas, independientemente del resultado. Por otra parte, no puedo hacer spoilers aquí...
Ana
Lo he entendido bien? Entonces no sabéis quién ha escrito las cartas? Qué pasa si no lo encontráis? No se hace el documental?
Sergi Pitarch i Garrido
Author
Te daremos una clave y podrás ver antes que nadie y desde tu casa, el documental. Podrás verlo tantas veces como quieras!
Juan José Alfaro
El visionado online quiere decir que solo se podrá ver una vez????
Sergi Pitarch i Garrido
Author
Por supuesto estamos encantados de recibir cualquier tipo de apoyo, donación, colaboración y patrocinio. Hemos puesto el límite en Verkami de 200 euros en base a otras experiencias parecidas y a nuestras estimaciones de participación y necesidades económicas, sin embargo cuanto más recaudemos, mejor será el producto final ya que podremos asumir más días de rodaje, mejor material y equipo técnico. Si quieres, puedes ponerte en contacto con nosotros en info@elultimoabrazo.com
Juan José Alfaro
¿Se puede donar más de 200 euros?