5 Movies You Should Watch to Understand Spain
Fran Glaria | Traveling Steps
Spain’s culture is as rich, intriguing, and complex as its history. Here are 5 movies that will help you better understand both. I have organized them in historical order, rather than by date of release. Click on the links to watch the trailer or an excerpt from the movie.
EL CID | 1961
El Cid (1961)
If anybody from Spain sees that I recommend this film from 1961, they will probably think I am crazy and will not keep on reading this post. This is a movie from Hollywood’s golden era, where they would sacrifice historical facts for a love scene.
But to me, this film is a good introduction to the beginning of the Spanish reconquest. The movie is based on the anonymous epic poem from circa 1200, “El cantar del mio Cid” (“The song of el Cid”). It tells the story of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a Castilian general who fought against the Moorish empire.
Most of my generation hates this poem because it was a mandatory book you had to read in high school.
We find the two of the biggest stars of that era, Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren portraying El Cid and His wife Doña Jimena, directed by Anthony Mann.
¡BIENVENIDO, MR. MARSHALL! | 1953
WELCOME, MR. MARSHALL!
¡Bienvenido, Mr. Marshall! (1953)
Image | Diario16
This magnificent black-and-white movie from 1953 (directed by Luis García Berlanga) talks about how a small village gets ready to welcome the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was the economic plan designed by the USA to help Europe after WW2. But Spain never took part in WW2, so we were never meant to benefit from it. We see a metaphor for this at the end of the movie, when we see the American cars arriving in the village and leaving without stopping.
As part of the welcoming celebrations, the village sings this song “Americanos, os saludamos con alegria…” (“Americans, we welcome you with happiness…”) Everybody in Spain knows this melody, and if you hear somebody singing this near you, it means that you have done something 100% American. It will not be sung in an offensive way, but you will be spotted.
EL LABERINTO DEL FAUNO | 2006
PAN’S LABYRITH
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Image | IMDB
This magical 2006 movie by award-winning director Guillermo del Toro mixes a fairy tale world with the terrible years in Spain right after our civil war of 1936-1939. It shows us two worlds from the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. One is the Pan´s fantasy world, where fairies and monsters live together. The other one is the real world where human greatness shares the scene with the worst of brutalities.
MUJERES AL BORDE DE UN ATAQUE DE NERVIOS | 1988
WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (1988)
If I have to recommend just one Spanish movie director, it has to be Pedro Almodóvar. I love almost all of his movies, but this 1988 comedy is where you see the essence of Almodóvar.
This movie is about love and relationships, but to me it represents the Spain that came out of a 40-years dictatorship, when we were leaving behind that stigma. It is a celebration of happiness, freedom, and love.
All the cast became Spain's favorite actors and actresses, especially as we discovered a very young Antonio Banderas. This movie was also nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 1989 Oscars.
TODO SOBRE MI MADRE (1999)
ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER
Todo Sobre Mi Madre (1999)
This is my favorite Pedro Almodóvar film, from 1999. Get some tissues and be ready to cry your eyes out. This is a drama with a capital D.
All the characters are searching for that mother figure that we need, love, or hate. The movie talks about pain and the scars in our hearts. The reason I recommend this film is because it touches (in a very Spanish way) some big human topics: love, solitude, religion, homosexuality, grief, and empowered women. It is a masterpiece.
With this film, Pedro won the 2000 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. The award was handed to him by Spain's most famous actors, both introduced to the world by him: Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
The following clip is when Penelope Cruz´s character (a pregnant nun) waits on her taxi to see her dad, who no longer recognizes her because he has Alzheimer’s disease. Her tears make me cry every time.
