The documentary film “Asier ETA biok (Asier y yo)” opens in cinemas
Actor and director Aitor Merino makes an autobiographical reflection on his childhood friendship with Asier Aranguren, who subsequently became a member of ETA
Asier Aranguren and actor and director Aitor Merino grew up together in the then conflictive streets of Pamplona around the mid-1980s, though at a later date the two ended up going their separate ways. Aitor went to live in Madrid to follow his dream of becoming an actor, while Asier remained in Pamplona, involving himself in markedly political activities up until 2002, when he became a member of the terrorist organisation ETA. He was subsequently arrested and spent the next eight years in prison.
On Asier’s release, Aitor Merino took his camera and set out to make a film examining the reasons why his childhood friend choose the direction he chose and, at the same time, try to reach an understanding.
The result is the documentary film Asier ETA biok (Asier y yo), co-directed by Merino and his sister Amaia, which opens in cinemas on Friday the 17th of January having previously being shown in the San Sebastian Film Festival where it won the Irizar award for Basque cinema. On a further note, the reflections and conversations revealed in the film are all the more pertinent considering the subsequent detention and imprisonment of Asier Aranguren.