3/19/2005: Views: The Devil's Backbone
The Devil's Backbone 2001, dir. Guillermo del Toro
This is a trippy movie. It's part ghost story, part war story, and all-out character study. It takes place during the Spanish Civil War and opens with a bomb being dropped onto an orphanage - from the bomber's POV.
It's a hard-knocks life for the boys in the unofficial school/orphanage, which has a skeleton staff due to its remote location and the effects of the war getting closer and closer.
The characters are surprisingly well developed even though their stories are presented subtly, without a lot of hoopla. We come to know them for who they are rather than what they've done, and they're understandable and for the most part, likeable. We care what happens as this one unfolds, and it does so with some surprising twists and a quite a few high-adrenalin scenes.
The movie is in Spanish (El Espinazo del diablo) with subtitles - but don't let that put you off. The dialogue is short and sweet, and the movie's so good you'll forget you're reading along in no time. The acting is superb by all including the kids - particularly Fernando Tielve and Íñigo Garcés. Federico Luppi plays the old teacher who has a sort of Gandalf-vibe about him, and Marisa Paredes and Eduardo Noriega also do a tremendous job bringing individuality and humanity to their roles.
No clue why it's rated R - some graphic violence I guess, but it didn't seem much worse than a typical PG's worth to me. The DVD has a few deleted scenes.
