Figure 1.-- The main character in "The Devil's Backbone" is Carlos and this shot show you the first time he enters the school.

We have noted wonderful reviews for The Devil's Backbone -- El Espinazo del Diablo. The film is set during the Spanish Civil War and focuses on an unexploded bomb at an orphanage. This film employs magic in a darker sence. The clip we saw was a suspense-filled sequence a dormitory. The film is clearly a beautifully shot film. The boys wear pajamas. I'm not sure what the orphanage uniform or clothing was like.

Filmology

We have noted wonderful reviews for The Devil's Backbone. The Spanish-language title was "El Espinazo del Diablo". The clip we saw was a suspense-filled sequence a dormitory. The film is clearly a beautifully shot film. This Spanish film was directed by Guillermo del Toro. This film employs magic in a dark sence. "The Devil's Backbone" is beautifully made and filmed. It's not a really a horror film. Santi's ghost is rather like Hamlet's father's ghost, not a terrifying spirit but a restless one.

Setting

It is set during the Spanish Civil War and focuses on an unexploded bomb at an orphanage/school. The school is located in an isolated setting. It is the last days of the Spanish Civil War, about 1939, when the leftist Republicans are on the verge of defeat.

Cast

The adult and young actors play their parts well. Fernando Tielve plyed Carlos, the main character. He is depicted as an innocent. Tielve had auditioned as an extra before del Toro decided to cast him as the lead. This was Fernando's film debut. Both Tielve and his co-star Iñigo Garcés had cameos as guerrilla soldiers in 'Pan's Labyrinth'. Íñigo Garcés plays Jaime, the orphanage bully. He begins as an enemy, eventully befriends Carlos. Eduardo Noriega plays Jacinto, Celos' primary enemy. Marisa Paredes as Carmen plays the administrator of the orphanage. Federico Luppi plays Dr. Casares, the narrator and doctor of the orphanage. He narrates in bookends at the end and the beginning. Luppi had previously been cast in del Toro's earlier producrion, 'Cronos'. Junio Valverde plays Santi, an orphan who becomes a ghost. Irene Visedo play Conchita, Jacinto's fiancée.

Displaced Spanish Children

Those viewing this film might be interestd in some of the Spanish Civil War history, especially information on displaced children and the eforts tonasist them. We do not yet have any information on Republican orphanages or efforts to assist displaced children. We have some information ob the Nationalist orphanages and efforts to assist children by Auxilio Social. The Nationalist orphanages were called Centros Familiares.

Plot

The school/orphanage's headmistress and a professor support the Republicans and are rumored to be hiding a cache of gold for their cause. Carlos, son of a Republican hero killed in the fighting, arrives at the school with a tutor and a bodyguard--Carlos is not aware of wht is going on. Meanwhile an unexploded bomb ticks away in the courtyard. The other boys, particularly an older youth named Jaime, treat Carlos roughly until he wins their trust. Jaime tells Carlos that the school is haunted by the ghost of a boy named Santi, who was killed by a vicious school caretaker, Jacinto. Jacinto covets the gold which is supposedly in a safe within the school. One night, Santi came across Jacinto lurking near the safe, and Jacinto killed him accidentally in a fit of anger. Jaime, unseen by Jacinto, witnessed the murder, but he and the other boys fear Jacinto, so he told no one what he'd seen. Jacinto hid Santi's body by throwing it down a well. The killer won't let anyone near the well for fear Santi's remains will be found. Santi's ghost, however, reveals himself to Carlos, and tells him that many at the school will die. As the Republican cause becomes increasingly desperate, the headmistress and the professor decide to close the school and take as many of the boys with them as they can. Jacinto, determined to have their gold, causes an explosion that severely damages the school and kills the headmistress and causes the professor's death. A number of the boys are also killed and most suffer some injury. Jacinto, aided by two accomplices, confines the boys while searching for the gold. The boys decide to fight Jacinto, left alone when his accomplices abandon the search for the gold. Carlos, Jaime, and the other boys sharpen long sticks and lure Jacinto to them. Jaime deals a serious wound to Jacinto, who is cast into the well by the students. Santi's ghost then appears to Jacinto, his death avenged.

Clothing

The boys wear light, solid colored long sleeve shirts that they have universally rolled up to their elbows. They all wear short trousers of varying lengths, but appear to be either gray or black. Many of the boys wear suspenders with their shorts. Most of the boys wear sandals, some with short socks and others without socks. None of the boys wear knee socks. In one scene Jaime, who looks to be about 13 - 14, wore long black trousers, but in the rest of the film he wore shorts. Carlos wore a dark suit coat with his short trousers, short socks and sandals, but no neck tie when he arrived. They also wear pajamas.

Created: 5:59 PM 12/5/2004
Last updated: 11:54 PM 10/6/2015