Marzano Del Diablo Essay

Children represent a specific part in a context of history and politically aware conflicts and wars. This is shown by the common existence of children in movies related to disputed histories or continuing violence. The Spanish Civil War occurs as a popular topic in Spanish and global media. The Spanish Civil War took place from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939 between the Republicans, who were loyal to Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a fascist group guided by General Francisco Franco. This war is a frequent topic internationally and is discussed in many Spanish films and books related to the history. This essay discusses the role of children in the film ‘El espizano del diablo’ directed by Guillermo del Torro and in the novel ‘La lengua

The film takes place in 1939 – the final year of three years long Spanish civil war. The story focuses on children and they play the most important part in the film. The main character is a young boy named Carlos who after the death of his father, a war hero, is taken into an orphanage care. The boy tries to integrate himself into the community of other orphans that live there. Carlos then discovers a ghost of another child named Santi that used to live in the orphanage and who was killed by the cruel caretaker Jacinto on the same day when the bomb appeared in an orphanage’s courtyard. The bomb appears to be undetonated and lies there as a symbol of a cruel war, although children believe that it is alive. Youngsters are shown as brave characters that are not afraid of any ghosts unlikely like grownups. Santi’s ghost represents unfinished business, he was cruelly killed by an orphanage worker just because he saw what he was not supposed to see and Santi is waiting for revenge. Carlos is then sort of replacing Santi. A child gets his bed and along the narrative he starts to see Santi’s ghost. Carlos is the only one who actually is not afraid to see the ghost and talk about it. Children often like to uncover secrets and in this movie it is shown by Carlos’ efforts trying to find Santi in