If you've seen Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, you might be interested in his 2001 movie, El Espinazo del Diablo or as we know it, The Devil's Backbone. He called it the spiritual sequel to Pan's Labyrinth.
Like Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone is set during the Spanish Civil War. This war began in 1936 and ended in 1939, with the victory of the rebels against the Second Spanish Republic government, leading to the establishment of the dictatorship of Nationalist General Francisco Franco. The republicanos or Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico.
Because of the Soviet support, they were seen as communists and referred to as Reds. The supporters of the rebellion, nacionales or Nationalists, had the support of Italy and Germany, already united as the Axis powers. Although Germany would later persecute Catholics, in Spain, the nacionales had the support of the Roman Catholic clergy.
As in Pan's Labyrinth, the audience is asked to sympathize with the republicanos, war is seen through the eyes of children, and a doctor plays a pivotal role. Yet while Pan's Labyrinth is an adult fairytale, The Devil's Backbone is a ghost story. This isn't a Hollywood fright tale with screaming, stupid teens. This is a gentle, thoughtful tale, with a logic of its own - a story about impotence, war, and revenge.
According to the DVD commentary, del Toro is uncomfortable with writing dialogue. He prefers images. It seems logical then that the commentary is provided by del Toro and Guillermo Navarro. Del Toro talks about the repetition of images and that this movie is meant to be visual poetry. Navarro's camera operates as another witness, a restless witness, always moving. This affable pair gives an entertaining and informative commentary.
The movie begins with images we don't completely understand and words that set up a mystery.
What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect taped in amber.
The palette is dominated by the steely blue and blue-black of the night, contrasting the golden fields and light and the friendly blue skies of the day. The colors are deeply saturated like an impressionistic painting and the shadows seem to swallow up faces although there are strikingly dramatic rim shots. The obscuring of faces makes one peer into the darkness, looking for whatever details might be given.
Article comments
1 - Jerocca
This is much better than the Pan's Labyrinth
Well or I may said prefer it mroe ^^
very nice story