The Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) was fought between the Republicans, who were loyal to the democratically elected Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a fascist rebel group led by General Franco. The war is often called the "dress rehearsal" for World War II and is a milestone in the history of socialism. Ken Loach’s "Land and Freedom" (1995, 109 min) narrates the story of David Carr, an unemployed worker and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, who decides to fight for the republican side. It’s a complex portrait of events which otherwise have had very little film coverage, beautifully capturing the idealism of the protagonists, their diverging beliefs and attitudes, and the ultimate logistical barriers and strife.