Q&A with Valérie Delpierre, Producer of END OF WAITING TIME

Beyond the Box Blog recently interviewed Valérie Delpierre, producer of END OF WAITING TIME, airing Sunday, September 20 at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS WORLD (check local listings). The film looks at the long dictatorship of Spanish General Francisco Franco during which hundreds of people were arrested, executed or disappeared. Learn more about her interest in the topic, how audiences have been reacting to the film and more.

What has the reaction to the film been like?
Valérie Delpierre: In general, the reaction has been great. It’s strange because this documentary is being released at a time when people in Spain are very interested in this subject. Media outlets and TV programs had started to think that there was too much information on this, but the public is still reacting really well to everything that comes out about the civil war and Franco’s dictatorship. Every time a movie or a book comes out about these themes, people respond and that’s been the case with our documentary, too. At the international level the response has also been positive. Many people are surprised to see not only how cruel this period was but also to discover that until recently no one could touch this subject. It’s an open window to the most recent history in Spain, seen from the inside.

What were some of the challenges you faced in making this film?
VD: For me it’s been all about sticking with it. It was difficult to not lose concentration during all these months of work. It was not a continuous job, but we have been working together on this documentary for more than three years. Also, as a producer it was important never to lose sight of the main argument and the objectives that we had set out to achieve. We’ve been lucky because all of our collaborators and broadcast partners that joined this project really respected the work of the filmmakers. One of my greatest fears was that by having two directors, they would not be able to agree––but the truth is that they found an equilibrium and treated each other with a lot of respect.

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Tags: Francisco Franco, Human Rights, Spain

Watch END OF WAITING TIME on Global Voices on PBS WORLD

In 1936, General Francisco Franco lead a coup d’ etat against the Spanish Republic that gave rise to a brutal civil war. During his long dictatorship, hundreds of people were arrested, executed or disappeared. Today, family members of those who vanished have begun to look for their relatives’ remains and reflect on that dark period and its ongoing effect on their lives.

END OF WAITING TIME airs Sunday, September 20 at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS WORLD (check local listings).

Tags: Francisco Franco, Human Rights, Spain