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Bilbao, Bizkaia.   Basque-Peruvian journalist, Chema Salcedo will premier his lastest audiovisual work, the documentary Aita in Bilbao today.  It is a very special debut because of where it is taking place, Salcedo’s birthplace in 1946, and the film’s topic, that follows his father’s footsteps as a gudari during the civil war. 

Jose Salcedo Molinuevo was a gudari in the MAI Irrintzi Battalion of the PNV that fought until surrendering in Santoña.  After the war he was imprisoned in Burgos and in 1951 the entire family went into exile with Chema only being five. 

Chema grew up in Lima and dedicated himself to the world of journalism where he is now one of the most important figures in the country.  Salcedo has been a reporter, editor, director, essayist, columnist…and has also worked in radio, film, and above all on TV.  

The idea to do a documentary came out when the father and son saw La Pelota Vasca, by Julio Medem, and thought they recognized Jose in the historic images, loading a mortar.  From then, Chema decided to narrate his father’s experience, based on the memories that he wrote during the war, and as a tribute to the gudaris and those who had to leave in exile. Jose Salcedo died in 2012 before he was able to see his dream come true. 

The documentary will debut today at the Basque Museum in Bilbao at 19:00.  Tomorrow, you will also be able to see it at the same time at the Artium Museum in Vitoria-Gasteiz; while it will be shown on Wednesday at the Sala Kutxa in Donostia also at 19:00.  These screenings were organized by the Directorate of the Basque Community Abroad and are free and open to the public.