Film: There be Dragons

[H.M.Stanley]

I've just bought the DVD and wondered what you guys thought about it?

I enjoyed it but wasn't blown away by the film in the way some people are. I'm an Agnostic (at best - as is the Director) although i don't think that's the reason.

I just can't put my finger on what, for me, is missing from the film. Roberto's father made up in a bad latex mask perhaps but that aside ...

The Militia protrayed as simple thugs in Madrid (i.e. executing a priest - despite a modest attempt at explaining in the dialogue how the Clergy are associated by the Workers with the status quo)? No real attempt at showing the differences within the Republicans? There were lots of vehicles with CNT painted on them but no meaningful mention of the Anarchists, Unionists or the Communists for that matter. The Nationalists were mostly absent although it was good to see La Legion with Regulares

There's much to like in the film, it's just not ..... what? Maybe i was expecting a film about the SCW while the themes are clearly meant to go far beyond that and not confined to just warfare

[janner]

So no dragons as such then 

[H.M.Stanley]

So no dragons as such then 

Ha ha - very good.

That'll be it - no Dragons in the film. Ahem ...

[Arlequín]

I haven't seen it myself, but it's on my 'to watch' list. Up until recently there has been a sort of a reflex action, to years of Francoist politics about the Civil War, to see the Republic as some sort of Socialist Shangri-La cut off in its prime. Which wasn't the case. To be fair the Church was part of the system of oppression in Spain, but there were also many in it who tried to do the right thing.

Priests and nuns etc were executed/lynched by mobs, graves desecrated etc... but then many in the church actively worked against the Republic... shades of grey on both sides of the divide if we're honest. Needless to say there was a great deal of antipathy towards the church in general for obvious reasons.

The CNT/FAI were quite prolific on the streets in the early days of the Civil War, especially in Catalonia, with only the UGT coming anywhere close in numbers. Their failing was a split in opinion regarding involvement in governmental politics and resulted in the Popular Front eventually side-lining them politically and incorporating them militarily within the EPR, following a great deal of violence.

[H.M.Stanley]

Hi. I'd certainly watch it - from what i understand it shows pre-war Spain, and in particular Madrid, very well. Hell, even i recognised parts of (modern) Madrid.

I also picked up a book on posters of the Civil War although sadly not the 2 x Volume Work for which the seller wanted £200.

Its a very good film just not quite what i expected