Netflix’s Bank Under Siege recounts the tense 1981 bank robbery in Barcelona, a period of political turmoil in Spain following a failed coup attempt.
Initially, the robbers’ demands seem political, calling for the release of high-profile prisoners involved in the coup.
However, as events unfold, it becomes clear that the heist had a different motive altogether: a hidden document within the bank’s vault.
The robbers, led by Jose Juan Martinez Gomez, are hired by Alonso Manglano, an intelligence operative, not just to steal cash but to extract a confidential document detailing the planned new government if the coup had succeeded.
This document exposes powerful allies of the coup who have since escaped scrutiny, and Manglano is rewarded with a prestigious government role in exchange for keeping it hidden.
As the heist concludes, Manglano abandons the robbers, hoping they’ll die during a police raid. Despite this, Jose and some crew members evade capture by blending with hostages.
Jose is eventually arrested, but Manglano pressures him to lie, threatening his family’s safety. To cover his tracks further, Manglano fabricates a narrative linking the robbers to a far-right conspiracy.
Detective Paco and journalist Maider uncover the truth, but they’re soon threatened by Manglano.
A car bombing forces them to back down, realizing that exposing the conspiracy could cost them their lives. In the end, they abandon the investigation, and the real motives behind the robbery remain hidden from the public, with Spain’s political landscape moving forward as if nothing had happened.
Bank Under Siege blends historical events with fictional elements, leaving viewers questioning the hidden power struggles and unreported truths behind seemingly straightforward events.
Initially, the robbers’ demands seem political, calling for the release of high-profile prisoners involved in the coup.
However, as events unfold, it becomes clear that the heist had a different motive altogether: a hidden document within the bank’s vault.
The robbers, led by Jose Juan Martinez Gomez, are hired by Alonso Manglano, an intelligence operative, not just to steal cash but to extract a confidential document detailing the planned new government if the coup had succeeded.
This document exposes powerful allies of the coup who have since escaped scrutiny, and Manglano is rewarded with a prestigious government role in exchange for keeping it hidden.
As the heist concludes, Manglano abandons the robbers, hoping they’ll die during a police raid. Despite this, Jose and some crew members evade capture by blending with hostages.
Jose is eventually arrested, but Manglano pressures him to lie, threatening his family’s safety. To cover his tracks further, Manglano fabricates a narrative linking the robbers to a far-right conspiracy.
Detective Paco and journalist Maider uncover the truth, but they’re soon threatened by Manglano.
A car bombing forces them to back down, realizing that exposing the conspiracy could cost them their lives. In the end, they abandon the investigation, and the real motives behind the robbery remain hidden from the public, with Spain’s political landscape moving forward as if nothing had happened.
Bank Under Siege blends historical events with fictional elements, leaving viewers questioning the hidden power struggles and unreported truths behind seemingly straightforward events.
