El crimen de Cuenca

Infobox Film
name = El crimen de Cuenca


caption = Spanish film poster
director = Pilar Miró
producer = Alfredo Matas
writer =
narrator =
starring =
cinematography = Hans Burman
editing =
distributor =
released = 17 August 1981, Spain
runtime = 92 mins
country = Spain
language = Spanish
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0079007

"El crimen de Cuenca, (The Crime of Cuenca)" is a Spanish drama film (made in 1980), directed by Pilar Miró and based on historical facts which happened in the early 20th century in the Spanish province of Cuenca. "El Crimen de Cuenca" is also the title of the book published at the same time by the author of the movie script, (Lola) Salvador Maldonado. in which she retells the same historical facts on which the movie is based.

Historical Facts

On 21 August 1910, in the small town of Osa de la Vega, in the province of Cuenca, Jose Maria Grimaldos, known as «El Cepa», is seen for the last time on the road to the nearby village of Tresjuncos and then disappears.

His family fear foul play and report it to the Guardia Civil (police). In the subsequent judicial investigation the family and others express their suspicions that two men, Gregorio Valero and Leon Sanchez had killed him for his money. This first case is closed in September 1911 without any indictments.

In 1913 a new, young and overzealous, judge by the name of Isasa arrives. Influenced by the local boss and right-wing politician, judge Isasa decides to reopen the case. The two suspects are arrested by the Guardia Civil and, under torture, confess to having killed the man and destroyed the body. The "fiscal" (district attorney) asks for the death penalty for both accused men. The case takes its time in the court system and finally, on 25 may 1918 a popular jury declares the two men guilty of murder and they are both sentenced to 18 years in prison. They are both released on account of a general pardon on 20 February 1924 having served a total of eleven years each.

Two years later, in early 1926, it is discovered by chance that the reputed victim, Jose Maria Grimaldos, «El Cepa», was alive and had been living in a nearby town. At this moment the ugly truth is exposed and the innocence of the convicted men becomes evident.

With much legal difficulty, the case is reopened and, after much delay and going all the way to the Supreme Court, the convictions are overturned.

The Film

Based on these facts, writer Ramón J. Sender, wrote the novel "El lugar de un hombre (The Place of a Man)" in 1939 and later, in 1979, Pilar Miro directs the movie based on the same facts while, at the same time, the author of the movie script, (Lola) Salvador Maldonado, publishes a book with the same title as the movie and telling the same story.

The movie is a very strong allegation against torture and it is understood that the crime it refers to in the title is that committed by the Guardia Civil (police) in torturing the suspects.

The torture scenes are depicted in great detail and crudity and the movie was initially banned in Spain and the director subjected to military court martial. Finally, in August 1981, the film was allowed to be shown in Spain and was a box office success.