Fe de Etarras is a Spanish comedy about Basque terrorists. Obviously, that sentence means the film will be received with some controversy.
The Story
With one older, presumably experienced, member (Javier Cámara as Martin) and 3 new recruits, four somewhat clueless Basque separatists join together and live in un piso franco (a safe house) while they wait for orders to arrive. But the phone never rings and the orders never come. The group needs to blend in, and while trying to figure out how to assemble bombs, they unexpectedly get into the business of remodeling apartments.
The 2010 World Cup is going on in South Africa and the group roots against the NT. But as Spain advances through the tournament, they need to support the team in order to fit in with their neighbors and not raise suspicion. Eventually they become fans.
In Conclusion
Fe de etarras is a droll comedy about aspirational Basque terrorists, but it is not a soccer movie or futbol film. The joke is that if people have jobs and good food, maybe they will form a family and fit themselves into society. Especially if they are very bad at being terrorists.
I’m posting this review because I assume the film will show up in searches, which is how I found it in the first place. At least it made me look up where is Basque country and what is the Basque conflict. And it made me want to go there and see what the food is like.
6 Soccer Movie Mom Rating = 6
Resources:
- Released: 2017-09-29 (Donostia-San Sebastián Festival)
- Spanish title is Fe de Etarras, literally Faith of ETA Members
- In Spanish with English subtitles
- 1 hr 29 mins
- IMDB
- Director: Borja Cobeaga
- Stars: Javier Cámara (Martin)
- Watch the Trailer in Spanish
