Black Humor In Spanish Cinema

Introduction

Spain is one of the few countries outside of America that makes a big impact on global cinema. Yet, Hispanic cinema has gained a high status everywhere and Hispanic directors are in high demand to produce films internationally ever since the death of Franco in 1975. Most of Spain’s films produced in the country are of Spanish origins such as ‘El Espíritu de la Colmena’ and ‘Todo sobre mi Madre’. In this essay, one will discuss the use of black humour as social satire. One will discuss also the techniques used in films i.e. shots used, camera angles etc., which are widely used in the film industry today to highlight this black humour, and will refer it with two films which studies the importance of this humour in Hispanic cinema.

Progression from Censorship

Directors had avoided not to force their political views in their films, and took on a different approach on traditional views that was approved by the Catholic Church. The meaning of the word ´censor´ leads us to believe that no nudity was deemed appropriate during the regime. Many films produced during this period have proven this in both ´Un Chien Andalou´ and ´Viridiana´. Viridiana was created to represent the acceptance of the regime in a comedic sort of way. Most films produced during the dictatorship, has depicted an image of holy saints or priests as a subject topic of their films, or if not, associated with the Catholic Church. This was referred in Un Chien Andalou when the young man dragged a piano with two priests carrying the