Displaying items by tag: Marco: the Invented Truth movie

MARCO, THE INVENTED TRUTH

Spain, 2024, 104 minutes, Colour.

Eduard Fernandez, Natalie Poza, Chani Martin, Fermi Reixach.

 Directed by Aitor Arregi, Jon Garano.

This is the story of the life and career of Spaniard, Enrik Marco (1921-2022). His story is well-known in Spain but not so well-known outside. For those who have never heard of Enrik Marco, this film is quite a startling experience.

The focus of his story is on many of the Spanish veterans who opposed Franco during the Spanish Civil War were later deported to Germany, because of an agreement between Hitler and Franco (some actual footage inserted here in the film). Most of them found their way to the camps at Matthausen and Flossenburg (where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed). The information at the beginning of the film indicates that Spain and other countries were not willing to rehabilitate these deportees after the war. Eventually, an association to support the deportees on their return and their life in Spain was established. At the end of the 1990s, Enrik Marco, who stated that he had been imprisoned in Flossenburg, became the chair of the deportees’ organisation.

The film moves around in different times. There are some footage clips of prisoners in the concentration camps. There is a sequence where Marco and his wife go to Flossenburg to obtain an official document stating that he had been interned there. There are some technical difficulties with the record. Then there are sequences of him in his role with the organisation, his friends on the committee, giving talks to high school students, alerting them to the camps, the treatment, their questions, is vivid way of telling the stories.

So far, so interesting. And, on screen he is something of a mesmerising character as he was in real life. He is played by veteran Spanish actor, Eduard Fernandez (also seen in the central role of El 47). Short, stocky, tinting his hair and eyebrows as he grew older, gazing at himself in the mirror, quite an intriguing character, not hesitant in the limelight, supported by his wife at home, a loving daughter who gives birth to his grandson.

Then, questions arising, a historian wanting to make contact with him, some questions about the authenticity of his story… Marco is firmly resistant, avoiding meetings with the historian, more and more urgently defending himself, especially to his close associates on the committee for the rehabilitation of the deportees.

Enough of a review. The recommendation can be that if this story sounds interesting, it certainly is on screen, the character of Marco, the raising of the issues of the authenticity of his story, the consequences for the Association, for the Spanish government, especially at a celebration he had organised for the 60^th anniversary of the opening up of the camp at Matthausen.

Marco lived to 101, the film showing his life after the crisis which occurred in 2005, his relationship with his wife and daughter, with the Association, with books being written about him and films made.

An intriguing story of 20^th century Spain.

1. Audience knowledge of the actual story? Its place in Spanish history? Worldwide audiences not knowing the story?
2. The context, the Spanish Civil War, the role of Franco, the alliance with Hitler, the transferring of the veterans to the concentration camps in Germany? Matthausen, Flossenburg? The footage of prisoners in the concentration camps? The end of the war, the return of the deportees to Spain and then non-acceptance? The founding of the organisation to support them?
3. The time shifts within this drama? Going back to the Civil War, back to the concentration camps? 1940s, the presence of Marco, his connections, the stories of the concentration camps, his becoming involved? 1999, the visit to Flossenburg with his wife, the interviews with the authorities, trying to get documentation, his name not in the register, later seeing him forge the entry?
4. The 1990s and the 2000s, Marco, his involvement with the Association, his leadership, his giving the classes to the students, their response, their questions? His reputation within the Association? His friendships with the members of the board? Moving towards his re-election?
5. The journalist, contacting Marco, questioning the story, Marco and his avoiding phone calls, ignoring the journalist, the one meeting and walking out, the effecting his moods, relationship with his wife and her support, his pregnant daughter and giving birth, his agitation at meetings to avoid the journalist?
6. The first part of the film and the portrait of Marco, age, appearance, background, patriotism, his story, seeing him with the young people and absorbing the stories about the concentration camps? His identifying, the historian discovering that he had fabricated his story? His personality, self-focused, in the public eye?
7. The beginnings of the exposure, his work for the 2005 60 year celebration, the contacts with the government, wanting the president to be present, canvassing opinion, his pressures? The decision that the president would go? The preparations? The issue of the central speech? The committee, the discussion, Marco willing, saying that the actual veteran would not communicate well? The reaction of Pere, his presence on the committee, the fact that he was a veteran, friendship with Marco, suspicions of Marco, and the final disillusionment?
8. The unfolding of the false identity, the dismay, the reaction of his wife, the hostile reaction of his daughter? The members of the committee, past friendships, the challenge, his denials, excuses, manipulation, the scene where he admitted all the truth, the disillusionment of Pere? The holding of the anniversary celebration, the speech by the veteran, his going to the venue, his being excluded, the effect?
9. The aftermath of the exposure, Marco living another 15 years, his wife’s support then her death, the daughter and her condemnation, the various interviews, the film made about him with the German title, the books written, his going to interviews, public events, his denunciations?
10. Marco and the disgrace, his way of coping, and his living on to die at age 101?