I just saw this film and was blown away by its realism and its heart. “Land and Freedom” (1995) is roughly based on George Orwell’s experience as a volunteer in the Spanish Revolution / Civil War of 1936 – 1939, which he journaled in his fantastic book Homage to Catalonia.
David is a British radical who goes to Spain to fight the Fascists, and discovers the reality of revolution, counter-revolution, and love. The film does an excellent job portraying the political debates, struggles and betrayals between the various factions (Fascist, Communist, Anti-Stalinist Marxists, and Anarchists). The entire film is available in one video on youtube (109 min). It is directed by Ken Loach, and is in English and Spanish. Highly recommended!
The End of Capitalism 
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February 1, 2011 at 10:39 am
Tristan Husby
My favorite scene in the movie is when they’re holding a meeting in the occupied Spanish manor. The line, “What, who’se running this meeting?!” reminded me of far too many meetings I’ve been to.
February 13, 2011 at 3:27 am
Marie Marshall
I watched this on TV when it first came out. I watched it all the way through again on YouTube. I think I cried al the way through it.
It’s strange which bits struck me as moving. Like for example when David is over on one balcony and an anarchist from Manchester – about twenty or thirty miles down the road from where he comes from – is on another balcony, and neither of them really know why they are there shooting at each other.
I think the film is sufficiently remote from George Orwell for us to ignore the ‘Orwell connection’. Eric Blair was definitely NOT an unemployed, working-class boy from Liverpool!