The Basque separatist organisation ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna), founded in 1959, became (circumstantially) part of the anti-fascist struggle in Spain. Because of this, ETA combatants found sanctuary in the northern part of Euskal Herria (the Basque Country) during the 1970s – with quite a bit of (unofficial) support from the French government. When the PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) under Felipe González won the general election in 1982 with a landslide, open season was (unofficially) declared on ETA, including veritable death squads. The GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación) tracked down and murdered combatants, as well as many innocent bystanders accused of armed activities – on French territory.
The French government paid the price. Between 1983 and 1987, the region around Bayonne in particular became a war zone. Sanctuaire is the political thriller version of this bloody chapter in French history – and a most supportable piece of counter-history and information.
Film details
- Country of production
- France
- Year
- 2015
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 89'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
