A new audiovisual project produced by the Fundación Bretal and directed by Cristina de la Torre seeks to preserve the history of Oia Monastery from the Confiscation of Mendizábal (Desamortización de Mendizábal) through to the present day—over 150 years of history told by the families who once lived there.
The production team highlights that this period is the least documented and least known in the Monastery’s history. As a result, it survives largely through the memories of those who experienced it first-hand and are still with us today. It is a story that must not be lost, and one that Oia Monastery, together with the support of Fundación Bretal, has chosen to produce and share with the wider public.
The documentary was premiered on Saturday 23 September in the Monastery’s refectory, with a first screening at 5:00 pm and two additional free screenings at 6:00 pm and 6:45 pm.
Following the first screening, a discussion took place between the Director of Oia Monastery, Xoán Martínez, and the film’s director Cristina de la Torre, exploring both the motivations behind the project and its technical and production aspects.
Among the key points discussed was one of the most distinctive features of the documentary: it does not feature professional actors. Instead, it brings together the voices of those who lived through these periods themselves, from the time the monks left the Monastery up to the present day.
This initiative is yet another example of Fundación Bretal’s ongoing commitment to promoting and energising Galician culture, this time through a work that will undoubtedly continue to add to the living history of Oia Monastery.
