European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Belchite

by Nomad
Wed May 7th, 2008 at 09:28:20 AM EST

The past weekend I finally saw "Pan's Labyrinth" (El laberinto del fauno), and despite its simplistic story and relative bland characterization, it was by far one of the most depressing movies I've seen in a while, akin to the level "The Departed" depressed me, if that means anything.

It was the mental push needed to let germinate what had been fermenting inside my brain for almost 4 years now - because I recognized the opening scenes of "Pan's Labyrinth" with an immediateness that made my brain hurt and made the hairs in my neck stand up. And then I also unerringly knew the movie would depress me.

As we've passed April 26 this year without remembrance, I only have this to give.

09 May: Poem removed out of copyright consideratons

Pictures from: Belchite website

2007- Remember Guernica
2006 - The Anniversary of Guernica

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Belchite | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Sigh (4.00 / 8)

I've honestly no idea why the Spanish Civil War haunts me so much.

by Nomad on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 09:31:24 AM EST

Re: Sigh (4.00 / 4)

It's not just you.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 09:45:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sigh (4.00 / 4)

you bet .. one of my grandpa was a republican president escort.... of course he had to go to France... luckily Fraaco judiciary-military system dictated that he (and all similarar in rank) could get out of prison.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 01:41:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Belchite (4.00 / 5)

Thank you for this, Nomad. I loved the movie, but I tend to be, weirdly, uplifted by things others find terribly depressing.

Is that your poem? It's extraordinary. Truly.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 09:44:48 AM EST

Re: Belchite (4.00 / 4)

I second the question.

About the film, because in the end there is still no final fascist victory, I found it less depressing that it could have been, yet - I wouldn't call it uplifting, that final revenge is not my idea of uplifting, but very forceful.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 10:01:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Belchite (4.00 / 3)

It's idiosyncratic. The movies that cut me deepest do so for highly personal reasons - they play into my emotional situation, self-image and worldview. The political can be personal too, of course, but I don't often take it that way.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 12:13:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It is mine (4.00 / 7)

As hinted, it has been writing itself for nearly 4 years - it just came out in a burst of 12 hours.

Because of the movie's open interpretation, I could also see to view it with a more uplifting end - but I can't stand it when fantasy culminates into downfall. That alone depresses me...

by Nomad on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 10:42:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It is mine (4.00 / 5)

The movie has an open end only if you see it out of context.

It is set after the war, and the maquis ultimately died out with the fascists comfortably established.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 10:46:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well (4.00 / 4)

I was hinting at the "What was real?" interpretation of the movie's fantasy intermeshing.

But what you point out sealed it for me: the war had been lost (or won) already for years - even when the maquis win a battle, they lose, because history tells us so. We're watching at ghost faces.

by Nomad on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 10:58:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Well (4.00 / 2)

In addition, the girl is the daughter of a republican, the mother is clearly with the Fascist captain only out of survival and the child kills the mother. The whole story is an allegory of Spain being raped by the Fascists and being killed by the regime that emerges... which is then taken away from the Fascists and raised among the people; in addition, the Fascists kill the previous regime.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 03:05:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It is mine (4.00 / 3)

My friend, you may well be in the wrong line of work.

It's not the plot of the movie that appeals to me, and I don't know if I meant to say that this movie itself is uplifting, that's probably not the right word anyway and I meant it to apply to "things" more generally, not to this film in particular. But I did like it very much. I think, in part, its ambiguity appealed to me. It would be hard for me to say why else, other people have asked that and I haven't been able to come up with a good answer.

At any rate. Extraordinary poem. Thank you.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 11:03:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Heh (4.00 / 2)

the stormy present:

My friend, you may well be in the wrong line of work.

For some reason people keep saying this to me...

Thanks stormy.

by Nomad on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 07:03:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It is mine (4.00 / 2)

Very good writing. More please ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 11:25:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Belchite (none / 1)

That film is sat on my shelves waiting a viewing, along with control both of which I know are going to depress me and so I've only got as far as watching the trailers.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 01:19:30 PM EST

Re: Belchite (none / 1)

Thank you, Nomad!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed May 7th, 2008 at 03:29:01 PM EST

Re: Belchite (none / 1)

Brilliant Nomad. I haven't seen the film and didn't know the story, but your poem told it for me.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 06:16:56 AM EST

Re: Belchite (4.00 / 2)

The film is not about Belchite, the ruins were used as a location to shoot some scenes of it.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 06:33:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Uhm (none / 1)

At the risk of looking stupid...

The past days I've given some thought in response to the kind words posted here: in the course of nearly ten years I've had had a continuous influx of advice I should do something with creative writing. Ten years and not doing anything to realise this is enough. I don't know where to start, but it will have to start somewhere, and right now I don't know any better than to be selfish, start hoarding, stop giving to the public domain and take care of copyright / creative common licenses before I move forward.

In that light, I've removed the commemorating poem that did form the core of this diary for now. I hope for your understanding.

by Nomad on Fri May 9th, 2008 at 08:20:57 PM EST

Re: Belchite (none / 1)

Sorry, Nomad, I'm so far behind in my reading that I missed the poem, but I'll get it when you are ready. Good that you are taking the writing seriously because what I read before was clear and deep!

This is the kind of movie I'd never watch to avoid 'that sinking feeling', but I can stand documentaries and personal stories from people who lived that war. Can't explain why small pieces of horror are more bearable.

I'd like to think that movie and other art, have helped cut through some denialism and silence here, after 30 years. There is still a lot of work to do, though.

With the recent law of ´historical memory´, some fascist names have been taken off streets, etc. In my town? The signs of the street named ´generalisimo´ have, just this year, been changed to.... the last pope!

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 11:51:44 AM EST

Belchite | 19 comments (19 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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