La memoria es nuestra

The history of the Barrio del Pilar as told through the collective memory of its residents. A story about its urban origins, the figure of José Banús-aka the "regime builder", and the struggles of the associative and neighborhood movements that emerged in the Barrio del Pilar late in the Franco regime and the onset of democracy. The film's preview will be accompanied by a session featuring a wide range of varying voices involved in the project. Also participating will be Terrorismo de Autor; the Grupo de Historia Urbana Barrio del Pilar; Marina Ballesteros Sanz, educational psychologist and a resident of the neighborhood; and Óscar Chacón Díaz, who has extensive experience in community revitalization from the neighborhood.

The Grupo de Historia Urbana (“Urban History Group”) was established in 2016 as part of the activities of the Adult School of the Barrio del Pilar neighborhood. Formed through collaborative efforts and strong personal or professional connections to the neighborhood, the GHU has dedicated itself to recovering the history of El Pilar and its inhabitants. To this end, the GHU has used oral histories of neighbors and merchants, as well as documents, photographs, film footage, objects, news reports, and other relevant materials, to document and contrast the information obtained.

Óscar Chacón Díaz, a trained librarian and documentarian, has spearheaded several community revitalization projects, collaborating with both the Madrid City Council and the neighborhood association La Flor. A lifelong resident of El Pilar, he has always actively participated in various social organizations in the district of Fuencarral El Pardo.