The Strategy of Silence (2017)

Valencia, July 2006. One of the worse subway disasters in history occurs when a train derails, killing 43. While relatives mourn the victims, attention turns to the arrival of the Pope five days later, a PR agency is hired to sweep the incident under the carpet and within a month the case is closed. Faced with a media blackout and a wall-of-silence from the government, a small group of families of the victims led by Beatriz Garrote begin what at first appears to be a hopeless cause - to find the truth about what happened that fateful day and seek justice for those who died. The Strategy of Silence chronicles their 9 year struggle, and along the way exposes government corruption, mass safety breaches, a cynical culture of cover-ups and both a media and judiciary in thrall to government officials. From nothing the protests grow until they can no longer be ignored, Beatriz's band of bereaved campaigners first take over their local television station and finally reach the European Parliament. They are granted an independent investigation vindicating their entire struggle and finally leading to the downfall of the leading PP party. The Strategy of Silence is an under-dog story, that showcases government capacity for deception and abuse, but also the power that we as citizens can - with courage and tenacity - take back.