Five Cartridges

The events unfold during the summer on the Ebro front, amid the brutal conditions of the Spanish Civil War. The five volunteers endure dehydration, shelling, and pursuit as they attempt to reach the battalion. The period is marked by international involvement and partisan warfare.

Set on the Spanish Civil War front along the Ebro River, the landscape is scorched by heat and constant danger. The area features drying wells guarded by Nationalists, forcing soldiers to fight for scarce water. The terrain becomes a crucible where camaraderie and survival override individual differences.

💧 Survival

Thirst and scarcity push the volunteers to their limits, turning basic needs into a daily test of resolve. The landscape and combat force split-second choices that reveal each character’s character. The film uses dehydration and scarcity to explore how far people will go to stay alive.

🤝 Solidarity

A cross-national band of volunteers must rely on one another beyond borders and languages. Their cohesion becomes essential as they battle thirst, heat, and enemy pursuit. The goal to stay together under fire highlights the power of collective action.

🗡️ Sacrifice

Self-sacrifice drives the climactic choices, most notably Vasia’s delayed death to slow pursuers. The group bears the cost of risking life for the mission and for each other. The story emphasizes that sacrifices can define the outcome of a fragile stand.

✉️ Communication

The mission hinges on a message split into five cartridges, a literal code that must be reunited to convey meaning. The revelation that the note’s real instruction is to stay together reframes the group’s purpose. The theme shows how trust and clear signal triumph over confusion in crisis.