(To My Son in Spain: Finnish Canadians in the Spanish Civil War)

Content: This documentary features the story of Jules Paivio, the last living Canadian volunteer of the infamous Mackenzie-Papineau Battallion of the “International Brigades”. When Jules left from his home near Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario, his father, a famous Finnish poet, wrote a lasting lament: “To My Son In Spain”. In 1936-37, 1700 Canadians volunteered to fight with the Spanish people against a fascist coup d’etat led by elements of the Spanish Army. Backed by Musselini and Hitler, the fascists were bent on overthrowing Spain’s democratically elected socialist government and replacing it with military and church rule. It could be argued this conflict marked the true beginning of what would become World War II.

Countries:

Genres:

Documentary

Runtime:

42 minutes

Year:

2009

Directors:

Dave Clement

Production companies:

Ontario Arts Council,

Thunderstone Pictures,

Canada Council for the Arts

Actors:

Narrator

Self, Spanish Civil War veteran

Self, author of 'Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War'

Crews:

Producer

Sound

Music

Animation

Animation