‘Time of Silence and Destruction,’ About the Writer Who Dragged Spanish Novel Into the 20th Century, Pounced on by Filmax (EXCLUSIVE)

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for Spanish literature and a soft spot for tales that delve into the lives of influential writers, I find myself utterly captivated by the announcement of “Time of Silence and Destruction.” Growing up, my late grandfather would often force me to read Luis Martín-Santos’ works – little did I know then that those very books would spark a lifelong fascination.

In San Sebastian, the Barcelona-based production company Filmax has purchased the international distribution rights for “Silence and Destruction at Hand,” a bio-documentary feature about Luis Martín-Santos. Together with his close companion Juan Benet, this Spanish author significantly transformed the nation’s literary landscape in a way comparable to James Joyce and William Faulkner, who had already made substantial impacts on literature decades earlier outside of Spain.

Martin-Santos’ “Tiempo de Silencio” (1962) and Benet’s “Volverás a Región” (1967) disrupted traditional social realism, instead propelling Spanish literature into the 20th century through the use of stream-of-consciousness narratives and multiple perspectives. These groundbreaking works have had a profound impact on contemporary authors, reshaping the focus of novels from factual accounts to high literary style and linguistic expression.

Under the guidance of Martin-Santos’ children Rocio and Luis, who were still young when their father passed away in a car accident in 1964, the film “Time of Silence and Destruction” unfolds. They delve into the unpublished works of Martin-Santos, discussing with his remaining friends and associates to understand him better within his environment, such as the Academia Errante, a group of progressive Basques in San Sebastián that transcended political boundaries. A pioneering psychiatrist, Martin-Santos also rose to prominence as a key member of Spain’s Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), a party that currently governs in Spain. The film additionally examines Martin-Santos’ second novel, which was published in an unfinished state in 1975 following his demise.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the film “Time of Silence and Destruction,” directed by Joan López Lloret (“Hermanos Oligor”), is set to make its world premiere this year at the San Sebastián Festival. Produced by Marta Esteban’s Imposible Films, a long-time collaborator with Cesc Gay (“Truman,” “The People Upstairs”), and in co-production with public broadcaster RTVE, this film will kickstart the Made in Spain strand on September 21. I can hardly wait!

The movie titled ‘Epoch of Quietness and Ruin’ centers around the renowned post-war author, Luis Martín-Santos. The film intends to introduce his literary works to younger generations, while providing fresh insights even for those who believed they knew him well. Martín-Santos remains a rich reservoir of thoughts that continue to challenge and intrigue minds today.

Sometimes, life can be quite ironic. As it turns out, Martin-Santos is one of my favorite authors, and this is due to the fact that he wrote a book that my late grandfather made me read against my will!” expressed Ivan Díaz, head of international at Filmax.

He went on to express his excitement about now marketing a documentary on him. As an author, Martin-Santos has earned legendary status within the realm of Spanish literature, and it’s truly unfortunate that we didn’t get to appreciate his giftedness for a longer period.

2024-09-21 09:47

‘Time of Silence and Destruction,’ About the Writer Who Dragged Spanish Novel Into the 20th Century, Pounced on by Filmax (EXCLUSIVE)

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