The Devils Backbone - Lisa's Review

This weeks movie is another Guillermo del Toro movie to find a place in this list.  From the start, let me make it clear, I am a big fan of his work.  I adore the spanish language, I love the almost poetic nature of his scripts and the beautiful cinematography that always comes from Guillermos movies.  This movie is no different in this respect.

The movie is set during the Spanish Civil war in a remote boys orphanage run by the very strong characters of Dr Casares and Carmen who are married.  They also employ a caretaker (Jacinto) and a couple of teachers, including Conchita who is involved with Jacinto.  As I come to expect of Del Toros movies, the depth of the characters is as strong as usual, as is their scrutiny.  The orphanage is a poor one, but it has hidden gold bullion, which is used to back the Republicans.  Our story starts off following a young boy, Carlos, being dropped off at the Orphanage (unbeknown to him) by his tutor.  It really tugged on the old maternal heart strings when Carlos, upon realizing he's been left behind, runs desperately after his tutors car to no avail.  The emotional way this is played out is typical of Guillermo del Toros work.

The movie follows Carlos settling into the Orphanage and finding his feet amongst existing groups of boys and the ever present bully, Jaime.  There is much talk amongst the boys of a ghost within the grounds.  They refer to it as 'The one who sighs' and everyone seems to be terrified of it.  The one who sighs appeared the same day as one of the boys, Santi, disappeared, causing all kinds of speculation within the orphanage as to what happened to Santi.  Also on the same day that Santi disappeared, a large bomb fell into the yard and remains (supposedly diffused) large and imposing, stuck into the ground.

There are obviously all kinds of ways we could be taken during this movie.  This is one thing I love about Guillermo del Toro, he is far from predictable.  His movies are always a surprise and are always thought provoking, deep and engaging.  This one is no different.  I won't go into any more detail about the movie as if you haven't watched it, DO!! It's obviously sub-titled as it's spanish, but please don't let that put you off.  People who have problems with sub-titled movies are missing out on a whole world (literally) of amazing movies.

I stick a big, fat recommended on the arse of this movie.  Go forth and watch it immediately!  I will leave you with a beautiful quote from the movie:

"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 trapped in amber."