“Arrels Vives”: how would today's young people face 20th century life in the Marina Alta?

In order not to lose your roots, you have to know them, learn from them and know how to love them. But do our young people really know theirs? His story? What was life like in the region a hundred years, or more, ago? Immersed in a totally different social, environmental, political and economic context and with all the advances in technology that we know today, people who are beginning their journey in life face totally different issues than our elders.

One of the protagonists of 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

«There have been more changes in the last 100 years than in millennia», reasons José Gayà, director and producer of Pedreguer, while we chat with him at the Pòrxens. After studying in depth the complete history of the Marina Alta in one of his most successful recent documentaries, come from lluny, he saw clearly that "the youngest do not know our history". For this reason, his ultimate goal is to put everything within his reach so that this does not continue to happen.

José Gayà, from Col·lectiu Mirades, during the interview

Col lectiu Mirades

Gayà is one of the fundamental parts of Col·letiu Mirades, the independent audiovisual production company based in the region and organized as a non-profit audiovisual cooperative. Since the beginning of 2000 they have dedicated their work, and continue to do so, to the production and making of documentary and thematic fiction films. social, cultural and historical under a view of social conscience, accompanying causes for justice, defense of the environment and human rights.

Conversations in 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

When the rain drops are made, Finds of Exile, The fils of the tauler, The art of the llata o The Germans Come and Pedreguer: altruism and generosity These are some of the works that support its purpose. On numerous occasions, Gayà and his team have focused on their roots, on the land where they grew up and they want the cultural and historical wealth that belongs to us not to fall into oblivion, thus giving meaning to their next release: Arrels you live.

«Arrels you live»

The undisputed protagonists of come from lluny, the oldest women and men of our towns, are possessors of great knowledge and knowledge that is disappearing with them. "We have to show that, because we are going towards a totally different and uncertain future". Gayà points to a panorama of climate emergency, of addiction to screens, "tremendous" individualism, of loss of the family industry and of agriculture and fishing.

Conversations with the elders of the Marina Alta in 'Arrels Vives', the new project of Col·lectiu Mirades

For this reason, the Col·lectiu Mirades team, with José Gayà, Pau Barrull and Nerea Expósito, in Arrels you live, already in the filming phase, returns to talk to grandmothers and grandfathers, centenarians, mostly, from the Marina Alta. The clear objective is "not to forget" all those past experiences of our elders that have brought us to where we are now.

From left to right, Pau Barrull, José Gayà and Nerea Expósito, during the recording of 'Arrels Vives'

The three key parts of the new documentary

In this way, without leaving aside the great events of the last century (the Civil War and migration), because "the context of repression was what it was", but without them monopolizing the central attention, the production company will portray "in a sociological way and anthropological" how those people lived. Your daily life through various themes: community and ways of life, education, "which was terrible, controlled by Franco's regime", culture, health, the situation of women, technology and the relationship with nature, among others.

Scene from 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

In addition to this common thread, Arrels you live will show at people "who today try to recover, although in a utopian way, the customs, trades and life of the last century" and how they transfer it to younger people.

Plan of the documentary 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

Gayà tells us one of those stories. The one of Tadeo, a farmer from Xaló, who will tell his grandchildren how, at more than 80 years old, he manages a vineyard in the Valley of Pop, "near where the Llíber PAI is intended to be built and facing a brutal drought."

Plan of 'Arrels Vives', the new documentary by Col·lectiu Mirades

fishing in Dénia and the fishmongers in the towns, "which barely remain", the scalding of raisins in Gata de Gorgos, the making of ropes for making chairs or the traditional ovens and the baker's trade will also make up this part of the documentary.

Recording of the documentary 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

And as one thing leads to another, another "pattern" to deal with emerges from this thread. The production company will bring together the older protagonists with students from the educational centers of the region to debate and exchange ideas about their life in the 20th century as opposed to today's lifestyle.

Plan of 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

How would these young people from the region react if they did not have electricity at home? Without internet or mobile phones? What is your relationship with nature like? Do you know the historical trades in the area? How would they be able to face life in the last century in the Marina Alta? "We will confront the two worlds", advances the producer.

Protagonists of 'Arrels Vives', by Col·lectiu Mirades

And what form will they give to all this? Arrels you live It will consist of a long documentary, "about 70 minutes", and nine short films, "one for each town in the Marina Alta that has wanted to collaborate in the project." Dénia, Gata de Gorgos, Pedreguer, Ondara, El Verger, Els Poblets, El Poble Nou de Benitatxell, Xaló, Orba and its people They will once again be protagonists of the screens next 2025.