Tells the story of babies (now adults) stolen between 1939-1992 in Spain and their search for truth, justice and reconciliation in a system determined to keep the truth dead and buried.
This feature length documentary film is based in part on over 300 victim interviews and 4 years of research and combines intimate, personal interviews with live action footage of victim rallies in Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Sevilla , public protests, and behind-the-scenes coverage of victim strategy sessions, meetings and an inside the courtroom look at the notorious Dr. Vela trial (accused of stealing hundreds, even thousands of babies over decades) to provide the audience with a complete look at this horrific human rights violation and struggle.
The filmmakers were also granted exclusive rights to film victim exhumations which revealed more lies and questions unanswered.
The film also presents on-camera interviews with Spain's leading journalists, advocates, lawyers, historians, historical memory officials, elected political leaders, stolen baby association presidents, and of course, victims currently searching for their biological family-babies (now adults) and surviving mothers and fathers to tell the full, unfiltered story.
It is our pleasure to interview the director of the film, Greg Rabidoux.
What was the inspiration behind the making of Stolen Babies of Spain?
We had learned of the many human rights violations and struggles so many had suffered over the years in Spain and were still enduring today as part of our early research. So, what started out as a dissertation project turned into us deciding to put our filmmaking skills to use to try and do justice to their cause and so many stories through film. For many victims it is sadly, the only “justice” they will ever know.
When did you realize that you wanted to make films and what was your first film project?
I’ve always loved film and would immediately take on the persona of characters in films I’d see at a young age. I always felt the power of film, directors like Ridley Scott who craft scenes like “Roy” regretting all the memories that will be lost when he “expires” in the Bladerunner or Coppola’s Apocalypse Now when a young Sheen meets the crazy Marlon Brando, well you just don’t shake. My first film project, let’s just say I’m the only one who has the negatives.
Which genre of filmmaking fascinates you as a director?
Film Noir. Rainy nights, dark alleys, broken protagonists and dangerously manipulative femme fatales, it has always spoken to me. Characters trying to overcome hitting rock bottom and doing the right thing even when the easier thing to do is the wrong thing is irresistible.
How did you find the cast and the crew of the film and how did the film go into production?
Stolen Babies of Spain is very much a family project. My wife, Maravillas, who is a native of Spain conducted the actual interviews, and along with myself co-founded ValMar Films, our son Valentin worked endless hours with myself in post-production as well as being one of the cinematographers on location as well. We were able to round out our film crew with recent FSU film school graduates whom I met and worked with when I acted in several film projects there.
How can films and cinema change the world?
By changing people’s minds, by challenging people’s beliefs, by opening up worlds to people that they didn’t know ever existed before. In our film, hopefully, by attracting people to the plight of these victims who can help them and their loved ones finally get justice and discover the truth.
What was the most challenging aspect of making the film?
Taking the nearly overwhelming amount of stories and human rights violations suffered by so many and crafting it into a coherent story that people who have never experienced such pain can relate to.
What is your next film project?
I am writing a screenplay now which is a psychological thriller and is based in part on true stories we learned of dating back to the days of Spain’s Franco and Hitler’s Nazi eugenics experiments.
Watch Trailer: