Akelarre (1984) [N/A]
Featuring:
Silvia Munt, Mary Carrillo, Walter Vidarte
Written by:
Pedro Olea
Gonzalo Goicoechea
Directed by:
Pedro Olea
Release Date:
March 8, 1984
Original Title:
Akelarre
Alternate Titles:
Witches' Sabbath
Genres:
Drama | History
Production Companies:
Amboto
Production Countries:
Spain
Ratings / Certifications:
ES: 16 RO: 15
Runtime: 109
A small village in Navarre, Spain, XVII century. Garazi's grandmother is burned at the stake when accussed of being a witch and convicted by an inquisitor, something that brings Garazi under suspicion and eventually into prison, where she is atrociously tortured and humiliated.
Clashes between opposite ends of the economic and cultural spectrum. A literal witch hunt in a village in Navarre sets orthodox religion against pagan beliefs, feudal lords against the impoverished peasantry, abusive men against defenseless women. The witches are female and from the lower classes, the persecutors are wealthy white Christians. Garazi's grandmother is burned at the stake when convicted by the Spanish Inquisitor of being a witch, something that brings her under suspicion and eventually into prison. She is tortured in prison and raped by her rejected suitor, the vicious son of a local landlord. While she is suffering her own pain, a struggle on a much broader scale is in the offing.
