"Spain"--the violent and tragic Spanish Civil War--was the "Vietnam" of the 1930s. The war began as a conflict between the elected Spanish Republic and military rebels led by General Francisco Franco. Spain soon became an international battleground as Germany's Hitler and Italy's Mussolini supported the rebellion, while volunteers from 52 countries organized the International Brigades to defend the legal government. Nearly every major artist and writer of the era addressed the issues of the Spanish Civil War.

The intense passion of that conflict takes a surreal twist in Ay, Carmela! a movie set in Spain in 1938. Spanish director Carlos Saura, who lived through the war as a child, understood its enduring emotional power. The title of the film comes from the chorus of the militant song of the International Brigades, "Viva La Quince Brigada" ("Long Live the 15th Brigade"). (The 15th International Brigade consisted of English-speaking volunteers, including the North Americans in the famous Abraham Lincoln battalion.)

As the film opens on the Aragon front in 1938, the camera shows a ruined city, bombed into rubble, and worn wall posters that indicate the political parties of the embattled Republic. Stage entertainers Paulino (Andres Pajares) and Carmela (Carmen Maura) are presenting a "musical extravaganza" of songs and skits to build the morale of weary soldiers on the Republican side. The couple has adopted an adolescent youth, Gustavete (Gabino Diego), made mute by an earlier bombardment, who participates in the show.

The performance reveals the Republic's liberal sympathies. Carmela performs a sexy dance, and Paulino reads a revolutionary poem by the Spanish author Antonio Machado. But the performers and the audience are suddenly silent as they hear Nationalist airplanes overhead. When the noise passes, the show goes on enthusiastically, culminating in a rousing rendition of "Libertad" (Liberty).

By evening, the reality of war returns with the arrival of battle casualties. Exhausted, frustrated, and frightened, the entertainers decide to return to the Republican-held city of Valencia. Carmela's sex appeal enables them to siphon gasoline from a military truck, and the group drives toward Valencia, singing "land of flowers, of light and of love."

The mood changes when they lose their way and are arrested by Franco's Nationalist soldiers. Paulino tries to bluff his way through the mistake, but Carmela has trouble expressing a change of allegiance. Arrested and jailed in a converted school, Carmela befriends a captured Polish volunteer of the International Brigades. He is immediately enraptured by her and begins to sing the tune "Ay, Carmela."

The arrival of Nationalist officers stops the music. They select a handful of civilians, including the town's mayor, for execution. Visually, the scene is reminiscent of Goya's etchings, "The Horrors of War." The prisoners are startled, too, when another messenger arrives, summoning the performers outside.

Taken to the Teatro Goya (Goya Theater), headquarters of the Italian forces that are fighting with General Franco against the Republic, they confront the fascist Lieutenant Ripamonte (Maurizio di Razza) who charges them with infiltrating Nationalist lines to create disorder. However, the music-loving fascist offers a reprieve from the firing squad, if they will perform a parody of the Republic cause. When the actors suggest the inadequacy of their preparations, he replies that in the "New Spain," as in Mussolini's Italy, there are no excuses for failure. They must accept the fascist mantra: "Believe! Obey! Fight!"

The pragmatic Paulino sets aside his principles, but Carmela in unhappy about her approaching role. Watching the Italians devouring spaghetti, she remarks, "If the fascists always eat like this, we've lost the war!" When the guard falls asleep, they wander into an empty bedroom, eager to make love, until Carmela sees a wall photo of the executed mayor and loses her enthusiasm.

As they rehearse, Carmela is troubled about wearing the Republican flag to personify what the fascists consider a political "puta" (whore). The Italian lieutenant brushes off her objections, saying he wants a vulgar song because it is dedicated to the International Brigades "who have no culture or spirituality." Informed that the Polish volunteers will be attending the performance, Carmela expresses a deepening remorse.

The show begins with a celebration of Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco, in the lieutenant's words, "the Christian west fighting against Communism, Judaism, and Masonry." Goaded by Paulino to perform, Carmela sings in honor of Franco as the Nationalist soldiers jump to their feet and extend the fascist salute. She wins applause from the entire audience, fascists as well as Internationals.

At last, they reach the finale, written by Lieutenant Ripamonte, titled "The Republic Goes to the Doctor." As the scantily dressed Carmela plays the "Republic," fascists in the audience scream obscenities at her. Aroused by the spectacle, the Poles shout encouragement for the Republic, and their angry guards begin to beat them.

Anguished by this brutality, Carmela disregards her own peril and sings "Viva La Quince Brigada!" An enraged fascist approaches the stage and fires a bullet into Carmela's head. The mute howls in pain. After a pause, the movie cuts to Carmela's grave, where Paulino and the boy place flowers and leave to face a fascist future in Spain.

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