'The Female Teachers of the Republic'

The Spanish documentary explores the experiences and ideals of all those pioneers whose project was so savagely destroyed by the Civil War that started in 1936.

Education was one of the greatest social tenets of Spain’s Second Republic, with the objective of bringing culture and education to every corner of the country in order to achieve a fairer, more equitable and harmonious society. A group of women, standing for modernity and independence, took these principles to heart, bringing down the walls between male and female students. Winner of this year’s Best Documentary Goya Award, Las maestras de la República explores the experiences and ideals of all those pioneers whose project was so savagely destroyed by the Civil War that started in 1936.

The Female Teachers of the Republic

• Original title: Las Maestras de la República. Directed by Pilar Pérez Solano. With Carmen Agulló, Mar del Pozo, Sara Ramos, Hilda Farfante, Laura de Pedro. Spain, 2013, color, documentary, 65 minutes | cert. PG. 
• In Spanish with English subtitles. Watch trailer.
• On November 4  at 6 pm. At Harrison Hall 1261, James Madison University.
• On November 5  at 6 pm. At Nau Hall 101, University of Virginia.
• On November 7 at 3 pm. At Virginia Film Fest, Regal 3 Downtown Mall.

A discussion with Pilar Pérez Solano, David Gies (U.Va.), and Esther Poveda-Moreno (U.Va.) will follow all screenings.