The Main Plot

1936: David, an unemployed man from Liverpool, leaves to join the fight in Spain. He joins an international section of the POUM militia on the Aragon front and with Bernard, Lawrence, Coogan and Blanca he becomes part of the war.

He gets wounded and is sent to Barcelona, discovering his own side - the Communists is more concerned with internal problems than the real war. He finds he is torn between loyalty to his party and his new found love. The resolution of the conflict and David's return to his comrades may seem to end in tragedy, but in the end the dream of revolutionary change remains undimmed.

The Detailed Plot

The film opens on a Liverpool council estate in 1994. An old man has a stroke and dies in the ambulance on the way to hospital. That night his Granddaughter Kim, sorting through his things comes across an old suitcase. She finds old letters, newspaper clippings, and old photos of her Grandfather dated 'Barcelona 1936'. She opens an old red knotted handkerchief containing some dried earth and a leaflet advertising a meeting to help the Spanish Republic.

Over Kim's thoughts come images of a packed meeting in Liverpool in 1936 addressed by a passionate young Spanish militiaman pleading support from his fellow workers. He explains how Franco led a military revolt against the republic, and how they were denied help from other countries must recruit help from fellow workers around the world.

In the audience is David with his fiancee Kitty. Inspired he tells her he going to Spain to fight Franco. He is fed up with the dole and the hunger marches. He wants change and Kitty reluctantly lets him go.

On the train through Spain, David meets up with Bernard a French soldier bound for the POUM militia. They reach Aragon and are packed off for military training. They are surprised when Maite, a fiery young woman, rebels against the barracks discipline. It is their first taste of Anarchism.

They leave for the front where David meets Gene Lawrence an American, and is introduced to the rest of the English speaking group by Captain Vidal. They find the weapons they are given are of an antique vintage.

In the trenches on the Aragon front David gets to know Coogan an ex-IRA man and his girlfriend Blanca.

There first offensive action is against an army held village, in the action Coogan is shot dead . David believes his own hesitation causes Coogan's death. The village is taken easily and the Priest of the village is cruelly executed by the militia. The land of the 'liberated' village is then collectivised after a debate in which the militia organise.

Behind a new front line, Capt. Vidal leads a discussion as to whether or not they join the new Communist led army. They vote against it maintaining their status as a revolutionary militia even though they maybe disarmed as a result. Lawrence is angered by this and warns David he will have to decide sooner or later between the two.

David is then wounded whilst training new recruits when his rifle explodes. Blanca takes him to Barcelona to find medical help.

David, three weeks later, leaves hospital and finds Blanca still in Barcelona. He then tells her that he has signed to join the Communist-led International Brigades. Blanca is furious over his betrayal of the POUM militia and storms out.

Barcelona meanwhile is gripped in a struggle between the militias and the Asaltos acting on behalf of the Communist-led government.

David finds out that their is a fierce battle at the telephone exchange between the Asaltos and the POUM militia. He joins in, later on tearing up his Communist party card and heads back to the Aragon front.

The militia are winning the war in Aragon. One day a column of trucks arrive. Which they soon find out are popular army troops led by Lawrence. There task is not to reinforce them but to disarm them and arrest them. Blanca resists them and is shot dead.

Stunned David takes back Blanca's body to her home village where is buried by the grieving villagers. At the burial Blanca's mother gives David her red handkerchief and he places a handful of Earth from her grave.

Liverpool 1994. Another cemetery, another funeral. Kim says a few words of farewell to her grandfather as his body is lowered. She opens the faded handkerchief and spills its dusty contents on to the coffin. She understands through his letters and clippings the idealism of the cause for which he fought.

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Review: Land and Freedom