The Guernica Tree (1975)

The Spanish Civil War, as experienced by the town of Villa Ramiro. The local count and his Fascist nephews ally with the rebels; the count's son, indifferent to politics at the outset, later makes a choice; the town's teacher, Antonio Garcia (Rocco Fontana), a pacifist, tries not to take sides but to inspire the children with ideas; a beautiful eccentric woman, Vandale (Mariangela Melato), brings leadership and strength to the town; dwarfs long for equality. The fictive story of Villa Ramiro is inter-cut with archival footage of the war itself. The town is near Guernica, and the local Republicans draw inspiration from its freedom tree.