Section C New horizons - Pearson Education · 3 Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone The...
Transcript of Section C New horizons - Pearson Education · 3 Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone The...
1
Online chapter
In this case study we will cover:
the background to the Spanish Civil War and why it provides the
setting for The Devil’s Backbone
the themes and issues raised within the fi lm
the ways in which people, places and events are represented
the style and genre of the fi lm
possible creative responses to the fi lm.
2 Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
1 Promotional poster for The Devil’s Backbone
Country: Spain and Mexico
Spanish/Mexican title: El Espinazo del
Diablo
Production year: 2001
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Certifi cate: 15
Main awards:
Gérardmer Film Festival, 2002 –
International Critics Award, Youth
Jury Grand Prize, Special Jury Prize
Other well-known fi lms by del Toro:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Hellboy (2004)
Blade II (2002)
Mimic (1997)
Cronos (1993)
Section C New horizons
2
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
2 Jaime sees the bomb
approaching
Synopsis
The Devil’s Backbone follows the experience of Carlos, a young boy left at an orphanage
by his teacher during the Spanish Civil War. The orphanage is run by left-wing
sympathisers who are hiding stolen gold to help the cause of the socialist freedom
fi ghters. Carlos is haunted by the ghost of a young boy (Santi) killed in the orphanage
who seeks to warn the boys of impending danger and exact revenge for his murder.
AO3: Demonstrate planning, research and presentational skills
The Devil’s Backbone is a fi lm made by a Mexican director in Mexico but it is set in Spain
during the Spanish Civil War.
In small groups fi nd out as many facts as you can about the Spanish Civil War.
Why do you think this fi lm was made in Mexico?
Activity 1
Introduction
What is a ghost? A terrible moment condemned to repeat itself over and over... a
sentiment suspended in time.
This is the opening voice-over for The Devil’s Backbone. But The Devil’s Backbone is
not purely a fi lm about ghosts. Although the supernatural world is important to the
narrative and the director, it is also there to deal with other issues, much more real and
disturbing, that happened during the Spanish Civil War.
3
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
The director of The Devil’s Backbone, Guillermo del Toro,
was brought up in Mexico. He made fi lms from childhood,
although he started his career in the fi lm industry working on
special eff ects and make-up. He even had his own company in
this area for 15 years.
Although he has specialised in horror fi lms, The Devil’s
Backbone and his 2006 fi lm, Pan’s Labyrinth, explore the
fantasy world of children alongside brutal acts of the Spanish
Civil War. The fantasy world does not off er safety for the
children; both central characters of these fi lms have a quest, a
mystery to solve, which runs alongside the terrible events unfolding around them in
reality.
3 Santi in The Devil’s
Backbone
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how fi lms communicate
Watch the fi nal scene of Pan’s Labyrinth and compare it to the fi nal scene of The
Devil’s Backbone.
What similarities and diff erences of style do you notice? (Consider especially mise-
en-scène and colour.)
Activity 2
Del Toro often portrays realistic and quite disturbing images of brutality in his fi lms. He
says:
…pain should not be sought, but by the same token it should never be avoided,
because there is a lesson in facing adversity.
Do you think this idea comes across in The Devil’s Backbone? (This would make a good
class discussion topic.)
Del Toro has seen many violent acts in his home country of Mexico where there are
many social problems. Though his fi lms may not be about Mexico or these social issues,
it is evident that del Toro’s cultural background aff ects his work.
Sometimes directors and writers create stories about other events and fantasy worlds
that parallel some of the issues and problems that they see immediately in front of
them. This is referred to as an allegory. Although The Devil’s Backbone is not an allegory
for Mexican society, looking at the Spanish Civil War may be a way for del Toro to deal
with some of the current issues he sees in contemporary society too.
Key termsAllegory: a story that
carries messages through
symbolic images and
ideas
AO2: Explore, respond to and refl ect on a range of fi lms and topics
Carry out some research into positive and negative sides of Mexican society and
culture. Create a collage using images and text.
Does your collage have any visual similarities to The Devil’s Backbone?
Activity 3
4
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
AO3: Demonstrate planning, research and presentational skills
AO4: Use creative and technical skills to construct fi lm products
In pairs, look for some reviews of The Devil’s Backbone on the Internet.
Make notes on the opinions discussed in these reviews and then feed back to the
rest of the class.
Collate this information and discuss what you think are the themes and messages
in the fi lm.
Activity 4
4 Themes and issues
in The Devil’s
Backbone
Themes and issues
As with all the fi lms in this close study section, themes and issues are dealt with
through the experience of one young person, in this case, Carlos.
There are various issues in
this fi lm and the use of the
ghost of Santi, the bomb,
and Carlos’s connection to
these things, could be read in
diff erent ways by audiences.
The narrative could be meant
to echo the confl ict within
Spain. The old Spain stands
for tradition and religious
superstition, the new Spain
for modern thinking and
democracy.
For example, the teacher,
Casares, off ers rational
explanations for events rather
than rely on superstition. He suggests a ghost is defi ned as a ‘displaced or repressed
version of the real’. This refl ects the beliefs of the socialists fi ghting for democracy in the
Spanish Civil War, who advocated rational discussion and explanation for events rather
than a belief in the supernatural.
However, Casares himself becomes a ghost at the end of the fi lm and seems to be
watching over the boys as they leave the orphanage, so ghosts and the spiritual world
seem to be a positive infl uence on events and defi nitely important to the narrative.
Also, considering the director’s position on the supernatural world, it is unlikely that
he would dismiss Santi as a fi gment of Carlos’s imagination – so as a member of the
audience it is up to you how you read this fi lm. You may consider it to be simply an
atmospheric ghost story, but there are other readings you should consider in your
studies.
Conflict
Tradition and
religious
superstition
Oppression/
bullying
Spirit world and
its relationship
with the real world
Spanish Civil
War
5
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
5 A 1937 pro-union
Spanish poster for the
UGT (Union General de
Trabajadores)
Spanish Civil WarThe reason the boys are in the orphanage is because of
the Spanish Civil War, a huge event in Spanish history; but
also an event that had repercussions around the whole
world. Events and issues relating to the Civil War unfold
in a parallel narrative to the story of Santi, and the politics
and events are intrinsically linked to the events within
the orphanage. It is important, therefore, to know a little
of the history of Spain in relation to this war to gain a full
understanding of The Devil’s Backbone.
Before the 1930s most working class people in Spain
worked the land and they were very poor. When
they started to move to the cities due to increased
industrialisation, their lives didn’t improve.
The country was run by King Alfonso from 1902. He was
a domineering ruler who was against any reforms that
would have helped the ordinary working people in his
country. He was constantly in confl ict with the Spanish
Parliament so in 1923 Miguel Primo de Rivera staged a
military coup; he said that he would only stay in power for
90 days and then give power back to the people.
However, de Rivera decided to keep his power and did
little to help reform Spanish society. After he was forced to resign, Alfonso agreed to
democratic elections, which had not been allowed for 60 years. This led to the ‘second
republic’. Understandably, change was not easy but eventually a coalition of left-wing
parties was formed and in 1936 they became the Popular Front party. They wanted to
implement many social reforms but there were still right-wing political activists, the
church and the army who did not want Spain to change. Five months after the Popular
Front were democratically elected, General Francisco Franco led the army to overthrow
the government.
The Civil War that followed tore Spain apart, with many using it as a way of settling
old scores. Throughout the world, the powerful and the ordinary were taking sides.
Ordinary people who believed in socialist principles from Britain, the USA and other
countries went to fi ght alongside the Spanish republicans; and Mussolini and Hitler
tried to maintain the power of fascism by off ering Franco arms and money.
About 500,000 people were killed in the three years of the Civil War, not only through
battle but through executions and even starvation. Though the republicans fought as
hard as they could, without support from other governments, they were no match for
Franco and three years of war were followed by 40 years of fascist dictatorship.
Throughout this time, fi lm-makers were not allowed to make fi lms criticising the
government so they would hide messages by using metaphor and allegory. Maybe
this is another reason del Toro uses such poetic imagery in The Devil’s Backbone; in
homage to the fi lm-makers of that era.
Key termsSocialism: a theory
or system of social
organisation where
ownership and control of
the means of production
and distribution, of all land
and fi nancial power, are
shared among a whole
community
Fascism: a system of
government where a
dictator (one person with
all the power) controls
society by suppressing
opposition, often using
violence and censorship to
help maintain this control
Metaphor: a fi gure of
speech where one thing
is described by the use of
another, e.g. ‘all the world’s
a stage’
6
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
6 Carlos at the orphanage
Representation
We see the narrative of The Devil’s Backbone unfold through the eyes of the main
character Carlos, who is a young boy. Carlos connects with the spiritual world; ghosts
and even objects (a bomb) help him. At the beginning of the fi lm Carlos is frightened
and lonely. He is bullied by the
other boys, especially Jaime; but his
courage and persistence not only
means he makes friends but that he
also faces up to Santi and helps to
save a lot of the boys.
Though the narrative has the
Spanish Civil War as the backdrop to
the fi lm, it is not hugely focused on it
throughout. It could be that diff erent
characters and events represent
elements of the war; and the story
of the ghost symbolises aspects
of Spanish society. Certainly the
characters that run the orphanage
are socialist sympathisers and the
audience is placed in a sympathetic
position to their cause. Jacinto seems
to represent the fascists, as he bullies
the children, killed Santi and is using
his position to try to steal the gold
Miranda is hiding for the socialists.
Carlos plays an important role in helping the boys at the orphanage survive the events
he foresees. He is the protagonist of the narrative and is the one that solves the mystery
of Santi.
For example, the boys and Jacinto’s girlfriend, Conchita, stand up for themselves in this
fi lm. With the help of Santi, the boys at the orphanage prevent Jacinto from escaping
with the gold he has been planning to steal for quite some time. And Conchita refuses
to help her lover, even though this means he will kill her.
Jacinto’s oppression could symbolise the oppression of the Spanish people and how
they must fi ght for their freedom.
In this possible reading of the story, it is Jacinto that represents fascism and Santi could
therefore represent the conscience, the voice in our heads telling us what we know is
true but don’t want to hear – in this case, telling people they must not accept tyranny
any more. With this reading Carlos would represent the socialists fi ghting for freedom,
even though the odds are against them.
7
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
AO3: Demonstrate planning, research and presentational skills
In the extras on the DVD, some of the actors and the director are asked what they
think a ghost is. Some of their replies are:
– an obsession
– an emotion
– the conscience.
What kind of ghost is Santi?
In a class discussion, consider your beliefs and opinions about what a ghost might
be.
Find images of ghosts and create a collage – how do diff erent cultures see ghosts
and spirits?
Activity 5
Style and genre
By beginning with the question ‘What is a ghost?’, the audience is immediately
encouraged to question the narrative of The Devil’s Backbone. This is not simply a story
about ghosts. Del Toro explores ideas of what a ghost might be and off ers diff erent
options to the audience. This suggests the director is expecting you to make up your
own mind – what do you believe? The narrator’s language is not factual, it is poetic and
mysterious. The images cut together add to the enigma – who is the dead boy? What
happened to him?
It is often established in horror fi lms that there is a ghost that will do terrible things and
the characters have to stop it. However, The Devil’s Backbone doesn’t start by showing us
a ghost – it shows us a death; so we assume this is the boy who will become the ghost.
We can also assume his mysterious death is the puzzle that will be solved.
There is also the image of the bomb dropping from the plane, which we see from a
bird’s-eye view shot. (Notice how the door to the cellar becomes the door of the plane,
linking the two images together.) This adds another aspect to the story – telling the
audience that the bomb is signifi cant and the narrative may also be linked to war due
to our generic knowledge of this kind of shot: we associate it with a war fi lm. This may
also work against the idea that this is simply a horror fi lm about the supernatural. We
associate the war fi lm genre with the real world so the opening gives us clues to the
dual aspect of the fi lm’s narrative.
The bomb in the courtyard of the orphanage is a constant reminder of the war that
surrounds the boys, the reason they are orphaned. Although a huge symbol of violence,
the bomb has a ‘heart’. It ticks, which instils fear in the audience that it could go off and
kill them all; but the boys look on it quite fondly. It even helps Carlos fi nd Santi.
So Santi and the bomb provide a mysterious edge to the very real aspects of the civil
war presented in the narrative of this fi lm. But the visual style and use of atmospheric
music and sound eff ects also adds to this enigmatic fi lm.
8
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how fi lms communicate
AO2: Explore, respond to and refl ect on a range of fi lms and topics
Exam preparation
Key scene: Chapter 7
In Chapter 7, Carlos investigates the sounds he hears coming from the cellar.
How is this scene typical of a sequence you might expect to see in a horror fi lm?
Identify the diff erent sounds you can hear. Is the sound important in creating the
eerie atmosphere?
We see Santi, but Carlos doesn’t – why do you think this is?
Key scene: Chapter 14
This is where Carlos sees Santi for the fi rst time. He has been seeking him out but when
he does see him he is frightened and runs away. The sequence is typical of the horror
genre in the way it creates fear and excitement in the audience.
Analyse the way this is achieved through the use of camera and editing in particular.
AO3: Demonstrate planning, research and presentational skills
AO4: Use creative and technical skills to construct fi lm products
Exam preparation
Here is a fi lm poster used to market The Devil’s Backbone.
Design an alternative for a British teenage audience which
still maintains a style suitable for the fi lm.
Activity 6
Activity 7
9
Section C, Case study: The Devil’s Backbone
Additional resources
Other fi lms include:
Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del Toro
The Orphanage (2007) produced by Guillermo del Toro
Pan’s Labyrinth: DVD extras and excellent interview with del Toro
Websites include:
www.imdb.com: a portal into a number of excellent reviews
The Devil’s Backbone: Wikipedia