A powerful new Kazakh-Spanish historical drama, La Tregua (The Truce), is set to make waves as the first Kazakh production to premiere globally on Netflix.
Directed by renowned Spanish filmmaker Miguel Ángel Vivas, the film explores the resilience of the human spirit in the darkest corners of war, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.
Set between 1937 and 1945 in Karlag, one of the largest Soviet-era labor camps in Kazakhstan, La Tregua tells the intertwined stories of two Spaniards-former enemies from the Spanish Civil War-and a Kazakh intellectual navigating life under inhumane conditions. The film presents a narrative of reconciliation, empathy, and survival.
“It’s a film about finding consolation between people,” said Vivas. “We live in a world where division persists-people fight over religion, ideology, nationality. This film asks us to look beyond that.”
Vivas, best known for directing episodes of the international hit Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) and films such as Extinction and Inside, emphasized the emotional journey of the film. “It’s a transition from darkness to light. The story is heavy, but when the truce happens, everything opens up-visually and emotionally. We want audiences to cry, not from despair, but from hope.”
La Tregua debuted on July 12 at Comic Con Astana 2025, ahead of its global Netflix release later this year. The project, a collaboration between Kazakh and Spanish filmmakers, was pitched to Netflix through an existing relationship with Spanish producers.
“Netflix was immediately interested,” said creative executive producer Erlan Bekhozhin. “Our Spanish partners had a strong rapport with the platform, and this story-while fictional-has deep roots in real, lesser-known history.”
The film sheds light on a forgotten chapter: the presence of Spanish prisoners in the Soviet Karlag camp, a fact concealed until 1980. That year, Kazakhstan handed over lists of detainees to the Spanish monarchy as a gesture of goodwill. The revelation inspired the Spanish documentary Forgotten in Karagandy, which eventually led to the development of La Tregua.
The cast includes Spanish stars Miguel Herrán (Money Heist) and Aron Piper (Élite), alongside Kazakh talents Dina Tasbulatova, Sergey Ufimtsev, Altynay Nogerbek, and Farabi Akkozov.
Tasbulatova, who portrays Aisulu-the film’s central female character-praised the Spanish team’s openness and creativity. “They gave us space to explore our roles. It felt like true artistic collaboration,” she said.
She also credited her experience on the historical series Alzhir, which depicts the lives of women imprisoned in Soviet camps, as vital preparation. “Though this story is centered around men, Aisulu brings emotional gravity and strength. She’s not just a survivor-she’s a woman who knows her worth and doesn’t hesitate to pursue her path.”
