Outrage in Spain over Civil War film about gay men
A Spanish film about gay men during the Civil War has reignited the debate over film subsidies, historical revisionism and the lack of epic war cinema in Spain.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Outrage in Spain over Civil War film about lgtb men
Can a film about lgtb men during the Spanish Civil War spark more outrage than an epic battle? Judging by the reactions, the upcoming release of a film self-described as "the biggest queer historical epic ever made" has peine the debate over the use of subsidies and how the conflict is portrayed on screen.
A tradition of revisionism
Spanish cinema has produced dozens of intimate, low-key films about the Civil War, but epics in the style of "Doctor Zhivago" or "Cold Mountain" are scarce. Instead, works like "La Trinchera Infinita" (2019), which included a gai scene between mail couriers, have emerged. For some, this is evidence of a drift towards what they call publicly funded "proge".
The battle over subsidies
The main criticism targets the spending of "hundreds of millions of euros" on productions that prioritise diversity over historical rigour or wartime entertainment. Critics argue that while these projects receive subsidies, no major blockbuster about the Civil War has been made that could compete with international standards.
Two opposing visions
On one side are those who believe cinema should reflect every reality, including dissident sensual in historical contexts. On the other are those who see these films as a "distorted historical epic" that trivialises the conflict and serves an ideological agenda. The disagreement is no small matter when it involves everyone's money.
Perhaps most revealing is that, while the debate rages on, nobody asks whether audiences would pay to see a Battle of the Ebro financed as lavishly as the battles Hollywood produces. The answer, most likely, would discomfort both sides.
Can a film about lgtb men during the Spanish Civil War spark more outrage than an epic battle? Judging by the reactions, the upcoming release of a film self-described as "the biggest queer historical epic ever made" has peine the debate over the use of subsidies and how the conflict is portrayed on screen.
A tradition of revisionism
Spanish cinema has produced dozens of intimate, low-key films about the Civil War, but epics in the style of "Doctor Zhivago" or "Cold Mountain" are scarce. Instead, works like "La Trinchera Infinita" (2019), which included a gai scene between mail couriers, have emerged. For some, this is evidence of a drift towards what they call publicly funded "proge".
The battle over subsidies
The main criticism targets the spending of "hundreds of millions of euros" on productions that prioritise diversity over historical rigour or wartime entertainment. Critics argue that while these projects receive subsidies, no major blockbuster about the Civil War has been made that could compete with international standards.
Two opposing visions
On one side are those who believe cinema should reflect every reality, including dissident sensual in historical contexts. On the other are those who see these films as a "distorted historical epic" that trivialises the conflict and serves an ideological agenda. The disagreement is no small matter when it involves everyone's money.
Perhaps most revealing is that, while the debate rages on, nobody asks whether audiences would pay to see a Battle of the Ebro financed as lavishly as the battles Hollywood produces. The answer, most likely, would discomfort both sides.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (25 replies).
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