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Donostia-San Sebastian.  The documentary Basque Hotel, is a journey that begins in the Basque communities in the west (California, Nevada and Idaho) and ends in New York.  Directed by Josu Venero, the movie debuted last Wednesday on ETB1, and has been available to view for free on the internet, through ETB’s “A la Carte” system.  To watch the movie click here:

The documentary is enhanced by texts by Basque or Basque-American writers like Robert Laxalt, Bernardo Atxaga, Asun Garikano, Joseba Zulaika, Kirmen Uribe, William A. Douglass, Iñaki Uriarte and David Rio.  Their writings and reflections accompany the viewer on a trip through history, the present and the feelings of the Basque community in the United States.

The starting point of the documentary is the story of Lucy Garatea, Basque immigrant who recently passed away, as well as that of Robert Laxalt’s father, subject of the novel Sweet Promised Land, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.  Also appearing are anthropologist William A. Douglass, founder of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, writers Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe and Iñaki Uriarte, ranchers Richard Eiguren and Buster Dufurrena, and John Ascuaga, owner of one of the largest hotel/casinos in Reno.

Basque Hotel is coproduced by Signo Digital – Art Frame, TVE, EITB and Idaho PTV, with the support of the Basque Government’s Department of Culture as well as the Etxepare Basque Institute.