An annual program that reinforces its commitment to linguistic normalization and access to culture in Valencian.
Last Thursday, Gandia hosted as part of the campaign Cinema in Valencià 2026 the projection of The invasion of the barbarians the movie directed by Vicent Monzonís in a session that was completed with an interesting discussion with the director. The activity not only allowed to know a cinematographic work with a strong historical burden, but also to deepen in the process of creation and in the documentary rigor that has made it possible.
One of the aspects that Monzonís emphasized most insistently during the colloquium was the degree of documentation in the film. As he explained, practically all the elements that appear in the narrative – from the main plots to seemingly anecdotal details – are based on real events or witnesses of the time. This includes, for example, short stories told to the character of Esperança that come directly from true experiences. This desire for historical fidelity endows the film with great verisimilitude and makes it a particularly valuable proposal from an informative and cultural point of view.
In this line, the director also revealed that some of the most surprising elements of the film have a real basis. This is the case of the character Esperança, who takes the name of a woman who really existed, or the presence of Nazi visitors in Valencia, a little known historical fact that for decades remained hidden. As explained, this invisibilization is due to the fact that, after the fall of Nazism, the Franco regime tried to disassociate itself from any relationship with Hitler. However, later research and preserved graphic materials have confirmed these contacts, providing a new perspective on that period.
The film has its origin in the play of the same name by Chema Cardeña, which Monzonís saw in 2020. From that moment on, he began a long process of writing the script that lasted until 2025, marked by an intense task of documentation. This dedication is evidence of the director’s desire to build a solid story that respects historical memory.
Even so, the road to bringing the film to the screen has not been an easy one. As was commented in the colloquium, the project encountered numerous obstacles when it came to finding financing. Several production and distribution companies rejected it with arguments such as that the Civil War is a theme “too exploited” or that a film in Valencian would not have enough audience. Faced with these difficulties, the team opted for a mixed financing model: on the one hand, with the institutional support of the Generalitat Valenciana through the Valencian Institute of Culture; on the other, through a crowdfunding campaign on Verkami that managed to exceed the 40,000 euros needed.
Despite having completed production, the problems did not end there. The director explained that no distribution company – not even the smaller ones – wanted to take on the distribution of the film, again conditioned by the perception that the subject matter would not arouse interest. Faced with this situation, the team opted for an alternative, self-managed distribution, based on itinerant screenings in different towns and cities.
This strategy, far from being an obstacle, is becoming one of the project’s strengths. As Monzonís pointed out, word of mouth is working very well and the public is responding very positively. The proximity of the screenings and the possibility of talking directly with the director contribute to generating a richer and more participatory cultural experience, which strengthens the bond between the work and the spectator.
Overall, the Gandia session demonstrated not only the interest of The invasion of the barbarians as a cinematographic work, but also the importance of creating and disseminating Valencian cinema committed to the memory and the reality of the territory. The activity was thus an opportunity to reflect on the past, but also on the difficulties and potential of contemporary Valencian cinema.
The UPV, through the Service of Promotion and Linguistic Normalization of the Gandia Campus, participates in the cycle Cinema in Valencià jointly promoted by the Agència AVIVA de Promoció del Valencià of the City Council of Gandia, the University of Valencia (through UVgandia) and the Mancomunitat de Municipis de la Safor.