While at War

Set in Salamanca in 1936, While at War follows the writer Miguel de Unamuno during the opening days of the military rebellion that led to the Spanish Civil War. He initially backs the uprising, believing it will put an end to the country's political disorder. As the conflict turns violent, he begins to reconsider that stance, while General Franco's rise brings the people close to him under threat.

Alejandro Amenábar directed the film, working from a screenplay he wrote with Alejandro Hernández. It is the seventh feature he directed, arriving after Regression and Vale and before The Captive. Karra Elejalde plays Unamuno, with Eduard Fernández as Millán-Astray, Santi Prego as Franco, Nathalie Poza, Luis Bermejo and Tito Valverde among a credited cast of 46. The production, made in Spain and Argentina, cost about 5 million dollars and took roughly 13 million dollars worldwide.

On IMDb the film holds 6.9 out of 10 from around 7,600 votes, and on TMDB it rates 7.1 from over 300 votes, a close agreement between the two audiences. The subject matter, a national reckoning from the 1930s, gave the drama a strong turnout in Spanish-speaking markets relative to its modest budget.