Data sheet
Gender:
Documentary film exploring human rights, border policy, and community resilience.
Duration:
70 minutes, presented with a concise yet immersive narrative that invites viewers to reflect on real events.
Age:
+12A and suitable for a broad audience; the documentary aims to inform while remaining accessible to younger viewers.
History:
Friday, October 20, 2023, marked a public screening followed by discussions that contextualize border dynamics along the Pyrenean-Atlantic corridor and the enforcement actions that shaped recent migratory routes.
Manager:
Fermin Muguruza, a noted producer whose work often intersects culture and social issues, spearheads the project with a focus on community voices and historical memory.
Company:
BARTON MOVIES SL, a production entity known for documentary storytelling and advocacy-driven cinema, distributes the film to diverse audiences while supporting critical discourse around migration and humanitarian concerns.
Summary:
The film records a period when authorities tightened crossings at the Bidasoa, the natural border where the Pyrenees meet the Atlantic. In 2018, France implemented measures intended to curb the flow of migrants transiting toward other European nations, a policy move that coincided with a series of悲惨 events along the frontier. The documentary notes that ten people died within a year linked to these border controls. Since April 2021, seven individuals perished by drowning in the waters of the Bidasoa River between Irun and Hendaye, while in October 2021 three others lost their lives after being struck by a train in Ziburu. Beyond chronicling the grim toll, the film gives voice to activists from both sides of the river, highlights the identities and stories of those affected, and honors those who disappeared or lived in hiding. By moving past statistics, the film humanizes tragedy and invites audiences to see each person as a name, a journey, and a dream, rather than a sole entry in a ledger of deaths. The narrative interweaves testimonies, historical context, and reflective moments to illuminate the human dimension of border policy, drawing attention to the lived reality of communities caught in the crossfire of enforcement and migration. It is a sober reminder that policy decisions have real consequences on families, workers, and volunteers who navigate perilous paths in search of safety and dignity. The film also addresses broader themes such as solidarity, resilience, and the long arc of history that shapes present-day responses to migration and asylum. In presenting these perspectives, the movie emphasizes memory and accountability, ensuring that those who were lost are named and remembered, and that the stories of hidden lives are brought into the light of day.