King Felipe VI has appeared in a Netflix documentary for the first time, providing a first-person account of the 1997 kidnapping and murder of Miguel Ángel Blanco. According to director Jon Sistiaga, the film “Miguel Ángel Blanco: las 48 horas que lo cambiaron todo” (premiering July 10) marks the first time the Spanish monarch has participated in a documentary project or given this type of testimony.
Why is King Felipe VI’s participation in the documentary significant?
The monarch’s involvement is a departure from traditional royal communications. Sistiaga stated during an interview on the program ‘La Revuelta’ that the King has never previously appeared in a documentary. Rather than a standard interview, Sistiaga describes the segment as a first-person testimony where the King recalls the emotional weight of the tragedy.
The documentary uses the age of 29 as a central narrative thread. Miguel Ángel Blanco was 29 when he was killed by ETA; Jon Sistiaga was 29 while reporting the events; and Felipe VI was also 29 at the time, according to Sistiaga.
How did the King describe his experience during the 1997 crisis?
Felipe VI describes the events as his “first great act” of remembrance, according to Sistiaga. While he had attended funerals and institutional events before, he recalls the “overwhelming” atmosphere of the cemetery and the proximity to raw human suffering.
Sistiaga noted that the then-Prince of Asturias attended the funeral specifically because there were fears of further ETA attacks, making it too risky for the King at the time to attend. This connection to victims of terrorism continued into his reign; Sistiaga points out that the King’s first official act upon ascending the throne was a meeting with terrorism victims.
What role did Queen Letizia play in the production?
The production team experienced a high level of collaboration from the Casa Real. Sistiaga reported that Queen Letizia was deeply involved in the filming process at the Zarzuela Palace, acting more as a journalist than a queen. He described her as a “curious” host who spent time with the directors and production crew, a behavior Sistiaga attributes to her professional background in media.
How did the filming at Zarzuela Palace unfold?
Sistiaga shared an anecdote regarding the King’s punctuality, noting that Felipe VI arrived at his office two hours before the scheduled 12:00 PM interview. While technicians were still laying cables and setting up tripods, the King requested to stay in his office to continue working.
According to Sistiaga, the King asked the crew, “Do you mind if I stay here working, since I’m not making any noise?” He remained at his desk reviewing documents until the technical setup was complete.
