'Pieces of Madrid' — Resistance to social crisis in Spain (Video)

In the short documentary below, we can experience the ongoing resistance in Spain to the economic and social crisis, as well as the effects of budget cuts and austerity measures.

It tells the story of a massive mobilization which saw millions of people converging on the capital city, Madrid, March 22, 2014, and how people are self-organizing to survive.

While the initial protests that started in Madrid on May 15, 2011, were the work of the 15M movement, now many organizations are involved in ongoing protests, including groups fighting home evictions and trade unions.

The documentary tells how the Spanish people are struggling to cope with lessening social services and massive unemployment and how they are turning to each other in an effort to find solutions.

For those lucky enough to have a job, their salaries are being cut. For those without employment, they find no assistance from the government, as social services are both lessened and privatized, and unemployment benefits run out.

On a more positive note, we also hear about the proliferation of social centers, self-organized food banks and community gardens being set up to help and feed the needy.

With evictions a constant worry, we hear the story of large-scale housing occupations by families, who have been forced out of their own homes. In the face of need, creativity arises as people find a way to survive.

While the Spanish government insists that things are improving in the country, there is a protest happening somewhere in Spain on almost a daily basis - you just don't always hear about it in the news.

People are fighting to resist the gradual destruction of public and social services and the fact that the government makes no real attempt to solve the crisis for anyone other than the banks themselves.

Finally, the film asks what the future may hold for Spain and its people.

The documentary was filmed and edited by award-winning independent filmmaker, journalist and writer Brandon Jourdan during March and April 2014 and is part of the excellent and informative Global Uprisings documentary series, which can be viewed here and on both Vimeo and YouTube.


Pieces of Madrid from brandon jourdan on Vimeo.



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