Bringing to the cinema the story of the police infiltrated in the Donosti orders ETA In the late 90s, it was not easy. The project began in 2017 when María Luisa Gutiérrez, producer of Bowlfinger International Pictureslearned about this risky operation from a personal friend who worked in the fight against terrorism. It was at that precise moment that he decided to make the film. When you propose the project to Mercedes Gamero and Pablo Noguerolesof the production and distribution company Beta Fiction, did not hesitate to join him.
To tackle a project like this, it was essential to have direct testimonies from the protagonists. In March 2022, the producers entrusted this documentation work to Pablo MuñozABC journalist, whose main concern was that the characters, both police officers and terrorists, were well profiled and that the very harsh reality experienced at that time was reflected, especially in the Basque Country. Also, the Security Forces deliver them without limits to fight terrorism. But that was not enough: the actors had to know some of the protagonists of this operation, which was also achieved.
The director of the film is Arancha EchevarriaBasque by birth and therefore connoisseur of reality, who also wrote the script with Amèlia Mora. In addition to the documentation provided to them, both were able to interview the real protagonists of the story. “The Departed was a personal and emotional journey to the Basque Country of my childhood, towards pain, towards memory, to try to understand the absurdity”, says Echevarría, who has directed films such as “Carmen y Lola”, “Les Chines” or ‘Politicamente’ incorrect’, among other works, for which he has received several awards. By ‘Carmen and Lola‘, For example, received the Goya for best new director.
As for the cast of actors, the main roles include Carolina Yuste, who plays Arantxa Berradre, the policewoman infiltrated within the command, and Luis Tosarwho puts himself in the place of the policeman who plans everything and acts as the officer’s controller; the person who directs him, guides him, encourages him or scolds him, depending on the circumstances of each moment.
The role of the two terrorists, individuals ready to murder in cold blood – one of them had already done so – to “liberate” Euskadi was particularly sensitive. Inigo Gastesi He plays Kepa Etxeberria and Daniel Anido plays Sergio Polo.
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Director
Arancha Echevarria -
Screenwriters
Arancha Echevarria and Amelia Mora -
executive production
Maria Luisa Gutiérrez and Mercedes Gamero
Victor Clavijo, Nausicaa Bonin, Pepe Ocio, Jorge Rueda and Carlos Troya They give life, for their part, to the police team created by the head of the operation to protect the infiltrator and discover the rest of the members of the ETA commando that at that time was under reconstruction and that was going to be the vanguard of the offensive that the terrorist organization was planning once it had broken the trap of the truce of Lizarra. Pedro Casablanc, finally, is the highest police officer.
During the production of the film, shot in Guipuzcoaare also Pasará with the participation of Movistar+, Atresmedia and EITB, in association with Film Factory, with the participation of CREA SGR and financing from ICAA.
