While at War

July, 1936. Nationalists take to the streets of Salamanca to declare their resistance against the Second Spanish Republic. Miguel de Unamuno (Karra Elejalde), revered author, professor, and rector at the University of Salamanca, pays the uprising little mind until, one by one, his colleagues are rounded up on charges of affiliation. Initially considered a friend to the Nationalists, Unamuno believes he can use his influence to liberate the innocent; for all his wisdom and experience, this great man of letters realizes too late that his country is slipping into a fascist mire from which it will not emerge for decades. While at War scrutinizes complex historical events that are typically glossed over: among the film's most fascinating aspects is its depiction of General Francisco Franco (Santi Prego) as a man whose leadership was far from predestined. (Toronto International Film Festival)