The Good News
Helena Taberna (2008)
Feature film
A young priest arrives in his first assignment to a small parish serving a working-class village in the north of Spain in 1936. He is a witness of the military uprising that precipitates the Spanish Civil War and, moved by his faith, he stands up to defend his people. From the beginning of the war, the village where the young protagonist arrives remains within the area of the Francoist military insubordinates. It soon becomes a top target of repression for being considered as a “red village”. The loneliness haunting him brings Miguel close to Margari, a young schoolteacher, whose husband was killed by the fascists. Margari becomes the only shelter in the path of Miguel’s helpless fight, as well as the only aid to offset his deep disappointment.
Based on a real story, the fi lm portrays how the young priest commits himself to stand by his parishioners and how he denounces from the pulpit and before the Catholic Hierarchy the atrocities being committed on behalf of the Gospel (written of as a Holy Crusade) to the extent that he will risk his own life in the name of Christ.
Cast
Miguel – Unax Ugalde
Margari – Bárbara Goenaga
Hugo – Gorka Aginagalde
Antonino – Guillermo Toledo
Bishop – Joseba Apaolaza
Falangist Captain – Mikel Tello
Resu – Maribel Salas
Clara – Klara Badiola
Young Falangist – Erik Probanza
Accordionist – Fernando Ruiz
Priest – Rodrigo S. de Heredia
Crew
Director: Helena Taberna
Executive producer: Iker Ganuza
Scriptwriters: Helena Taberna y Andrés Martorell
Composer: Ángel Illarramendi
Line producer: Javier Arsuaga
Production manager: Mikel Huércanos
Director of photography: Gonzalo Berridi
Art Director: Peio Villalba
Editor: Nino Martinez Sosa
Sound: Pablo Bueno
Technical specifications
Feature film
Colour / 35 mm
Runtime: 95 MINUTOS
Sound: 5.1 / DOLBY
Aspect ratio: 1:1,85