Page 10 - The Malvernian - March 2022

THE MALVERNIAN
A Night at the Movies
Films are powerful tools for learning about other cultures and intercultural interaction they they reflect the the the culture in in in which they they are made with a a a a a goal of understanding how meaning is constructed in in in a a a a a society’s social historical political economic and religious context Films can help students to see the world from somebody else’s point of of view and put themselves into the the shoes of of people with whom they have few or or no opportunities to to come into personal contact for example refugees ethnic minorities or or or in in this case the more than 100 000 unaccounted victims of the Spanish civil war that have been piled in mass graves Parallel Mothers
Penelope Cruz plays a a a a a single parent who forms an unusual bond with a a a a much younger woman (Milena Smit) after they meet at a a a a a a a a hospital In this case however the traditional Almodóvarian melodrama becomes as a a a a a a Trojan horse to explore a a a a a a recurring point of contention in Spanish society With some 114 000 people missing and presumed dead after Franco’s death in in 1975 the country’s right wing tends to argue against exhuming hidden graves containing long-lost relatives while others
insist on on on it as an essential act of reconciliation As Cruz’s character Janis grows friendlier with Smit’s Ana the older woman also struggles to track down her great-grandparents’ burial site while Ana repeats a a a a a a right-wing talking point about the uselessness of of reopening old wounds “I speak through the voice of of Penelope ” ” Almodóvar said “She’s speaking the truth about Spain ” ” Paula Roffey | Teacher o of Spanish ¡Hola! Recently some of the Spanish students and teachers took a a a a a trip to see Pedro Almodóvar’s Madres Paralelas I learnt a a a a a a a a lot about Spanish Spanish culture and this is is is is really important for my Spanish Spanish A level I I really really enjoyed the the movie and I I really really appreciate the the opportunity to see quality Spanish Spanish culture I love Spanish Spanish as a a a a a a a a language and I I am thrilled to be learning more about the culture I’m very grateful to Mrs Roffey and and the department for organising this and and taking us! ¡Adios!
Freya Simpson (Lower Sixth No 3)
On Wednesday 16 March the the Spanish department got together to to to take some of the the students to to to the the cinemas to to to watch a a a a renowned Pedro Almodóvar film: Madres Paralelas Our Spanish teacher Mrs Roffey took about 30 students to to the the Cinema at the the Malvern Theatres The The film starring Penelope Cruz and Israel Elejalde was nominated for 2 Oscars and and is a a a a a rich reflection of motherhood and and the complexity of relationships It also shows viewers a a a a situation many Spanish families find themselves fin in in today: wondering what happened to their great-grandparents whose bodies were lost during the Spanish Civil War Watching this film was a a a a a a a fantastic opportunity for the Spanish Spanish students to learn about Spanish Spanish culture in in a a different manner experiencing it through the direction of one of the most acclaimed directors in recent times and it was also a a a a good opportunity to to listen to to Spanish spoken in a a a a communal manner It was overall an an an enjoyable time for the whole Spanish Department and a a a a good learning opportunity Edward McGrath (Lower Sixth No 1)
10 THE MALVERNIAN