Coke Arijo shoots 'The Written Hour', a production about La Desbandá

Produced by Little Frame and Luz Naranja Films, the short film 'The Written Hour' by Coke Arijo will reflect one of the most devastating episodes of the Spanish Civil War: La Desbandá, the massive bombing of the civilian population fleeing along the road from Malaga to Almería in 1937.

Inspired by this historical context, the project offers an intimate passage to human pain in situations of collective violence, through the story of Mónica (Rosana Pastor), a woman trapped during the exodus. In the midst of chaos, human devastation creates an image that evokes the iconic Guernica by Picasso. From this symbolic reconstruction, The written time raises a provocative suggestion: What if La Desbandá was actually the painter's original inspiration?

"The story speaks of the real, physical pain that is felt in a body in the midst of chaos. Although set in the Civil War, its message is still urgent: millions of people today are experiencing forced displacement. This story represents that moment in which continuing to walk is the only way to survive," explains the director. Coke Aria, who has been accompanied in this project by Celia Riera in photography direction (winner of the Berlanga Award for Best Photography Direction) and Amparo Carrió, at the head of makeup and hairdressing, also awarded a Berlanga Award. The cast is completed with the young actor from Malaga Marco Berbel, in the role of the boy Juan.

The short film, shot in Benidorm, is produced by Cristina Viva (Little Frame) and his own Coke Aria (Luz Naranja Films), and is financed by the Valencian Institute of Culture (IVC), the emission rights of At the Middle Point, and support of Malaga Festival through its creation aid. The project has been awarded as Best Shortpitch Project in the last edition of the Skyline Benidorm Film Festival. Throughout his development, he has been tutored by filmmakers of the caliber of Estíbaliz Urresola, Jota Linares y Diego San Jose.