Quite what the
devil's spine has got to do with this Spanish horror war drama,
I am not quite sure. The only connection that I can see is the
visible spine of a pickled foetus in one of the good doctors
medical samples! But don't let that distract you. I have got to
say from the start that I am not into history so my background
knowledge of the Spanish civil war is pitifully - Historically I
just about know that Jonathon Rhys Meyers killed Michael
Collins!!
But anyway, this
film is set in a remote  orphanage
in central Spain at the end of the civil war. It is run as a
refuge for children by 3 main characters, all of whom are
communist sympathisers. The impotent Professor Casares and his
lover Carmen who doubles up as the school governor. The
greedy and devious caretaker Jacinto who pleasures the one
legged Carmen in bed, so that he can access the keys of the
school safe containing the gold.
The film opens with
a trio of communist fighters from the front seeking medical
attention from the doctor and depositing a young lad
'Carlos' unwillingly into the hands of the school governess.
Both his parents like the other children present were killed at
the front. As in all our childhoods, there is always the one
school bully -'Jaime', who picks on the new arrival as soon as
he arrives in the school yard. As with all school bullies his
only defence is by attacking. But Jaime being the oldest knows
things that the others don't and in particular about the missing
'Sanit'.
This is where the
ghost part of the story comes in. Santi, was a pupil in the
orphanage and disappeared with out trace one night, during
aerial bombardment, not to be seen again. the bombing raid did
how ever leave an unexploded bomb in the school yard that
provides the ever present warning that the war is not far away.
Not dissimilar to
"The Others" Carlos strikes up an interaction with the
ghost of Santi ("the one that sighs") in whose bed
Carlos is billeted. Its not exactly scary stuff, but the film
does invite the audience to try and piece together the links
between Jaime and Santi, the caretaker Jacinto and his runaway
bride and that's leaving out the professor and Carmen!!
Why did the ghost of
Santi pick on Carlos?  What
was hidden in the basement of the school - why did Jacinto fly
into a rage when he found the two children in the kitchen area.
Very good acting by both Jaime and Carlos who were only about
ten and twelve years of age. Needless to say, wars are cruel
things and a summary execution of some of the professor's commie
sympathisers in the local town forced a hurried change in plans
of Carmen and the professor.
Their
immediate evacuation from the school was rumbled by the greedy
Jacinto who always had his eyes on the school's/communist gold
reserves. What followed was the destruction of the school by
Jacinto along with Carmen and some of the children as predicted
by Santi- "many people will die" As the good Professor
lay dying amongst the ruins of the school all set to kill
Jacinto with his last breath, all is revealed by Jaime.... what
really happened to Santi and why is he only now satisfied??
Overall then, not a
hugely scary movie, but good direction from Guillermo Del Toro
who was probably best known for his work "Cronos" He
made good work out of a limited story line.
Reviewed by Tomer Avshalom
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