The Devils Backbone
The Devil's Backbone opens with the question 'What is a ghost?'. The bottom hatch of a fighter-plane are shown releasing a bomb. As the doors of the hatch close, it doesn't show the bomb exploding, which seems quite odd. It blacks out and comes to the scene of a young boy weakly trying to gasp air with a major wound upon his head and blood underneath it. This shot alone makes the audience sympathetic and sad since he's a child and too young to die. Another boy approaches the dying boy, shakily putting his bloodied hand to his mouth in disbelief. This shows he might have something to do with it or he's there simply because he survived whatever conflict the other little boy didn't. A shot of the dead boy sinking down, slowly, under what seems to be a river is shown. However, it shows ropes around his torso and feet, suggesting murder of the boy as no one would be able to swim when their feet and arms are bound. The gash on his head dilutes the water above him red as he descends down. The boy who found him at first is suggested to have something to do with his death as he looks very upset as he sits opposite the river. A baby's body is shown, seeming normal at this moment, but then seeming to be somehow supernatural as a set of spikes are shown on it's spine. The colours are amber - which relates to the line: 'Like an insect trapped in amber'. |
CARLOS
When Carlos is first introduced, he exits the car and looks around like a wonder. He is completely oblivious to the gun that his tutor holds underneath his blazer which shows that he isn't entirely sure what's going on, even about the war since he doesn't know his own father is dead. His good friendship with his tutor is shown as he's pat on the head and smiled at shwoing he is cared for afer his fathers death. it shows that Carlos trusts him, which makes the audience upset and sympathetic for the main character as his trust is broken when his tutor leaves him without saying goodbye and carlos sees him when he leaves. He's quite vulnerable to the adult situations going on so far in the film, yet will not hesitate to fight for himself - shown when he pushes a bully back when he takes his comic.But Carlos soon begins having visions of a mysterious apparition he can't identify, and hears strange stories about a child named Santi who went missing the day the bomb appeared near the orphanage, this shows he is interested in doing things other people are afraid to do. |
CARMEN
Carmen is the head of a very big orphanage situated far from any civilisation. Due to this, she has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders; looking after dozens of small children and keeping them safe from the war all of this to do but with little money. She has a false leg, which suggests that's her only weakness as she walks with difficulty and a limp. The false leg makes her out to be a brave woman who's endured many things in the past, including her husbands death to which she says that she was the brave one when told he was a brave man in condolence. Carlos' tutor tries to push Carlos into the orphanage, and she tells him that she 'cannot accept another boy'. It shows she's been very generous in the past by exceeding the limit of boys that she has taken in is nearly impossible for her because she cannot afford to accept carlos. Her sympathetic and caring heart gives in once she's told 'The boy goes hungry here, or gets killed out there'. It shows that despite her strict appearance with her tightly pinned up hair and black clothing, she does care very much for all the boys in the orphanage and wants to protect them no matter what. She seems to have a lot to be ashamed of - for example, having a scandalous affair with Jacinto, Conchita's boyfriend. Her leg is expressed by her as her largest weakness but she does not let it take over her responsiblity as the owner of the orphanage and the boys which shows great strength in being a woman like her who has gone through many hardships in life; she says 'it hurts' and doesn't like thinking about it which she is strong and does not let her past affect her current life and future. She may be shown to be strong to everyone, but it's clear that she still craves passion and some kind of freedom, and Jacinto, to her, is what can help with her with that - which is why she still goes on with the affair despite telling him every time that it's their final beacuse its as if she needs that kind of love and passion that somone else can give her. She repeats that she's never been scared, which shows she still stands to her brave facade. She still laughs and smiles with the boys, and take interest in their personalities and how comfortable they are in the orphanage under her responsibility. This is shown when she finds Carlos quiet, gentle, easily imposed on at first sight, and tells the Doctor to stay with him to keep him company. Carmen will also laugh along with the boys when they shout silly answers to her questions. She is shown to be very independent and strong also very maternal, but at times she does need the Doctor to take a stronger role in the orphanage. |