The Endless Trench

The Endless Trench is a 2019 Spanish-French historical drama film directed by Jon Garaño, Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga. It premiered at the 2019 San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Shell for Best Director and the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay. It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, young newlyweds Higinio and Rosa are worried about the risk of reprisal killings, as Higinio is a Republican. He hides in a hole underneath their house with his wife's help. Despite the constant threat of discovery, as the Falangists search for him, the couple's love helps them to remain resilient. Higinio becomes increasingly isolated in his hiding spot, where he stays until the 1969 amnesty. The story is told in chapter-like sections, each with titles alluding to the themes. Plot In 1936, at the start of the Spanish Civil War, a newly-married man who has criticized the Nationalist army and government fears that he will be the victim of reprisal killings and goes into hiding. As Falangists search for him, he hides under the floor of his house with the help of his wife. The first section, titled “campeada” ("to run”) depicts his first period where he is on the run from his pursuers.