On 6 June 1808, the aim of
Napoleon Bonaparte's lnvlncible army
was to destroy the Spanish army's
gunpowder store
and so control the who e of Europe
With only 25 km to its objective,
the Grande Armee,
for the first time in its history
knew the bitter taste of defeat
in the Sacred Mountain of Montserrat.
A defeat that encouraged
all the oppressed peoples
to flght for freedom.
Take care of those who have
a chance to survive.
What happened?
They jumped on us.
There were hundreds of them.
And that deafening noise...
It was the devil's own work.
Do you really believe they had
hundreds of volunteers?
I promised my mother I'd be back.
And you will.
It wasn't the devil's work.
Let us pray in honour
of Juan Casellas
and all those fallen
in the Battle of the Bruc.
With the help
of the Virgin of Montserrat
they defeated the French army.
Where is Juan?
I'll talk to that fool later.
We'd better go in now.
Excuse me.
I didn't mean to disturb you.
It's beautiful!
Are you a painter?
- A journalist.
Henry Magne from "Moniteur".
You must be the young man
they're all talking about.
People here like to talk.
Don't take any notice of them.
No one better than you
could tell me what happened.
How could a handful of volunteers
force a whole army to retreat?
It was...
It was the mountain.
The mountain?
The mountain and
the Virgin of Montserrat.
There's no more to tell.
Thanks for the drawing.
I doubt they'll be back. But if
they are, we'll beat them again.
They've defeated all
the armies in Europe.
A small failure won't stop them.
You say that because
you're half-French.
Miguel! Don't talk like that
to the doctor.
Leave him. He'll soon realise
all new ideas come from France.
No one can stop that.
- Father...
My brother will.
If he did it once in the Bruc
he can do it again.
That's enough, Miguel.
Listen to your mother.
Sorry, he's a bit impulsive.
I always wondered
when the first defeat would be.
I imagined something...
More glorious.
Choose!
The implacable style
of Pascal Baraton
or the iron fists of the "Turk".
Make your betsl
It's your last chance.
One...
Two...
Three!
Go ahead! The flght...
can begin now.
It's urgent, Captain.
From the Emperor's headquarters.
Dear, Eric:
I never thought l'd ever have to
read a communique of defeat.
It is at such moments of despair
that I need soldiers
like you.
You belong
to that race of brave soldiers
that only France can produce.
Don't let
our enemies defile the French flag
with impunity.
I know you'll pursue that drummer
till you find him,
and that you'll cut off his head
and show it to the World.
The whole of Europe will know
that those who threaten the honour
of France must die.
I'm counting on you.
We have a winner!
The implacable Pascal Baraton!
Gather all the men.
How many did you kill, Bruc?
My name is Juan. I hate to be called
Bruc, especially by my brother.
Pay attention. These weapons
are useless at over 15 metres.
Why won't you say what happened?
How many men where there?
To hunt you must be patient...
and quiet.
It can smell us. Come.
There it is.
What are you waiting for?
Shoot!
Run!
- Where to?
This way. Miguel!
Jump. Run!
I keep thinking about it.
You were very brave
in the Battle of the Bruc.
I was lucky.
Your mother and I
have some savings.
Not much, but enough
to get you to Barcelona
to join the Military Academy.
I've watched you grow, son.
You're as hard as these mountains.
And there's no better hunter
than you in the whole region.
Father, please...
There is no future here, son.
You'll be a coalman all your life,
same as your grandfather.
Same as your children
if you don't change.
And now is the moment to do it
Believe me, son.
Gloria's father is a doctor.
He won't let her marry
a mere coalman.
Then let me have that money
to start my own business.
So I can stop being
a mere coalman.
I'm proud of you, son.
We all are.
Marti!
- Juan!
What's my godfather doing here?
- I've a surprise for you.
Granted by the Field Marshall.
I wish I'd been with you
in the Bruc.
But first you should
wash yourself.
The Frogs will take their time.
They'll never forgive us.
Napoleon had never lost a battle.
We'll thrash them again,
llke in the Bruc.
Like in the Bruc.
- Long live the Bruc.
Good night, sir.
Stop!
Load your weapons.
Stop or we'll shoot!
Where is he?
Where are you going?
Don't you dare follow me again.
Do you like it?
A lot.
- It's for you.
No it's yours.
You've earned it.
I want you to keep it
till the day we get married
That will be the only time
I'll wear it.
I've spoken to my father.
He knows someone at
Havana's General Hospital.
I could get a job there.
We could fulfil our dream.
Here he is, the hero of the Bruc.
Hunted down like a rat.
It's not him.
Who is he?
Not the one from the Bruc?
It's his younger brother.
It's his brother.
What shall we do, Captain?
Burn it!
Juan...
- It's my home.
What happened?
- I don't know.
Go and find Marti, qulck!
Father! Father!
Mother!
Mother!
Mother!
Miguel!
Miguel!
Miguel!
Miguel!
No!
Miguel!
Hang in there, Juan!
Marti!
Attab!
I want everyone out.
Don't make us throw you out
by force.
Are you French?
So am I.
Henry Magne.
Journalist
Here.
Five!
Leave your homes
or we'll burn the village.
I want names.
Fiancees, cousins, grandparents.
All your relatives.
Anyone related to Juan Casellas
come out here immediately.
Now!
No!
Please, stop!
He's just a child.
If you weren't French,
you'd be dead.
The next one in your head!
No!
Please!
I'm his flancee.
She's telling the truth.
Look.
Nouaille!
How many times do I have to tell you?
We must stay together. Let me see.
Attab, follow him.
- Don't move.
Two thousand silver reales
if you come with me.
Is no one going to do anything?
I'm offering two thousand reales!
We must do something.
For the love of God!
They took my daughter!
Take care of him.
- I'm not a doctor.
Never mind.
- I have no instruments.
Do what you can, please.
Baraton! Attab!
Let me see.
What you have done
is honourable.
If the wound is infected,
we'll be delayed.
He is there.
Let's wait for the Captain.
He's here somewhere.
No!
Down!
Captain, he's with the girl!
No!
- Don't movel
You've had no time to reload.
Run, Juan, run!
Nouaille, stay with her.
The others come with me!
Give it to me.
We don't know if he's dead.
I want his head.
Bring it to me.
Why do you sing in English?
You hate them.
With all my heart.
But their songs are merry.
This one is very popular.
"Garryowen'.
I'd never heard it.
It's one of my favourites.
Captain Maraval taught it to me.
He was my teacher at the Academy.
He's like a father to me.
Can you untie me a moment?
Please.
I cured you.
Captain?
Father!
Drop your sabre!
Drop your sabre!
On your knees!
- No.
On your knees!
- I only knee before the Emperor.
And you, free my daughter.
No! Father!
Father!
Murderersl
May God punish youl
Spare the journalist.
He'll draw us holding
the boy's head. Tie the girl!
Father!
Are you sure?
Yes, he was here.
Someone took him by mule.
Drink this, it'll do you good.
You're the young man
from the Bruc, right?
I wish I'd never been
in that battle.
Don't say that.
They all talk about you
since that battle.
You symbolise the struggle
against the invader.
They won't stop till I'm dead.
Don't let them.
We need you alive.
Then give me something to eat.
l may be a symbol,
but I'm starving.
No time.
They'll soon find you here.
Where can I go?
Come. The view from here
is marvellous.
Claim sanctuary,
and you'll be safe.
Austerlitz,
Heliopolis,
Eylau, Jena...
You've fought
in all the great battles.
You studied with the Emperor.
And everyone knows how highly
he thinks of you.
You should be in Versailles,
not in these mountains.
Since when have you been
covering the war?
Since Egypt? Jena?
Since I left my regiment.
I had my leg blown apart in Egypt.
You like the battlefield.
Me too.
I don't Iike watching from afar.
I like being among my men.
And they know it.
Like in Eylau.
De la Mata, the Catalan fellow,
saved my life
I owe him one.
Did you talk to the coalman?
- Yes.
How did he defeat
Schwartz's column?
He said it was thanks
to his Virgin.
And to the mountain.
If you kill him,
he'll become a legend.
If I kill him,
he won't even be a footnote
in the history books.
Good morning.
We're looking for a young man.
A coalman.
There's no coalman here.
Someone took him by mule.
By mule?
Everyone here has a mule.
Do you llke chickpeas?
He's deaf and dumb.
He was taken prisoner in Egypt.
The Mamelukes tortured hlm,
but they couldn't get
a word out of him.
And you know what happened?
They cut his tongue.
Difficult to understand him.
Captain!
Try them!
Try them!
How many did you kill, Bruc?
You wene very brave
in the Battle of the Bruc.
Are you ail right, son?
Why won't you tell us
wnat happened?
Everyone is waiting for you.
I doubt they'll be back. But if
they are, we'Il beat them again.
A small failure won't stop them.
My brother will.
If he did it once in the Bruc,
he can do it again.
Isn't fighting for your country
a good emough reason?
We could fulfil our dream.
I'm proud of you, son.
I love you.
- We all are.
Where is he?
This is a sacred place.
You can't come in here armed.
Father, we know a coalman
is hiding here.
Hand him over to us,
and we'll leave quietly.
People here come and go
at thelr own will.
They claim sanctuary.
The Revolution doesn't
believe in God.
This is the House of God!
Armed men have no place here.
The cowls!
Remove your cowls!
This is outrageous!
- Get out of here!
Remove your cowls!
Tell me where he is,
or I'll set fire to the monastery.
Nothing will be left of your Virgin.
Enough!
Stop killing innocent people!
Attab!
Flnd Nouaille. Bring the girl.
I'll kill you. Better still,
they'll cut your girl's throat.
Tell him to surrender!
He says you should surrender.
We have your fiancee.
Surrender and she'll be spared.
If you don't surrender, she'll die.
We have no interest in her!
Don't do it, Juan!
Don't hurt her! Let her go!
Next it will be her ear.
Her ear!
Let her go or he dies!
Captain, I trust you.
I owe him my life.
Let him go and I'll free the girl!
Let me go, he says!
Let her go first!
Let her go.
Run, Juan!
Help the girl!
- What?
Help her.
This one, Captain!
If you get in the way again,
I'll klll you.
Have you got a flint?
I need to cauterize my wound.
Gloria!
Maybe you really are the devil.
Gloria.
My father...
he also.
- Gloria, I'm sorry.
Sorry I got you involved in this.
Don't say that.
Take her down to the village.
You're not coming?
If I go down with you,
they'll find me.
And more people wlll die.
I need you to go down
and ask for help.
Don't let them kill you, Juan.
If there's hand to hand combat,
look out for Maraval's boot.
We should go to the village.
He needs help.
I'll wait for him here.
You go down, if you want.
He needs me.
The food is good.
It's your stomach that's not right.
We are soldiers.
We deserve to die fighting
against a wall of bayonets,
not in these damn mountains
He's takang us to his territory.
Damn mountains!
He leaves no trace on the rocks.
He's there
- Let me go.
I'll bring you his head.
Each hour that goes by
is like a dagger in France's heart.
I want his head.
It can't be!
He's just a coalman.
A nobody.
Come out!
Fight bravely!
Be a man!
You wanted to bring me here?
Well, here I am!
Come on out!
Be a man! Fight!
You murdered my parents!
You murdered my brother!
You're as hard as these mountains.
But you won't come out alive.
Juan!
I love you so much.
I'm so proud of you.
Have this.
You deserve it more than I do.
"Ah, the Spanish War!
That damn war was the onigin
of the tragedy of France"
Napoleon Bonaparte, 1816