Vindication of history and democratic culture in Spanish biopics (2000-2010)

Abstract

Within the social and political context of the so called “Historic Memory”, which implies a vindication of antifrancoist resistance and investigation of murders during the Civil War, Spanish cinema turns to a series of historical films in order to make an interpretation of the History of Spain through biographies of prominent personalities. Together with political leaders (Azaña, Líster, Blas Infante) and antifrancoist fighters (Caracremada, Puig Antich, Solé Tura), there are secret agents (Garbo), Latin American leaders (Allende, Pinochet, Che Guevara) and ordinary people who become protagonists of events that have a great impact in public ethics. These biopics pay tribute and make these admired figures known, but they also make a reflection and an interpretation of the past–in interaction with the present- and at the same time they clearly support democratic values.