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La voz dormida Posted by on Nov 15, 2011 in Spanish Culture, Videos

¿Cuál es la última película que visteis en el cine? El pasado fin de semana yo vi La voz dormida, de una novela de Dulce Chacón. Basada en hechos reales, cuenta la historia de un grupo de mujeres republicanas en una prisión madrileña tras la Guerra Civil Española.

Los críticos dicen que la película, y por supuesto la novela, son tan solo un ejemplo más sobre el mismo tema. El cine español ha estado muy influenciado por el acontecimiento más cruento que sufrió nuestro pais, la guerra fratricida ocurrida entre 1936 y 1939, tras la cual el gobierno de la nación se estableció como una dictadura militar. También se ha criticado por ser narrada desde el lado de los perdedores, como normalmente se hace.

Benito Zambrano como director, Inma Cuesta (famosa por su papel de Margarita en la serie Águila Roja) como Hortensia, una mujer republicana embarazada que espera su juicio, y María León como Pepita, la joven e inocente mocita que viaja a Madrid para ayudar a su hermana, son los nombres ligados a esta película. ¡Debo decir que María León está simplemente fantástica!

No esperéis ver una peli de guerra llena de sangre, disparos y muerte. La historia es más intensa y sobrecogedora. Las voces silenciosas de aquellas valientes mujeres, esperando una dura libertad o la muerte, con tan solo su coraje y su dignidad como consuelo me conmovieron. Tras verla, solo pude preguntarme: ¿habría habido alguna diferencia si la historia hubiese terminado de otra forma? ¿Existe alguna diferencia entre aquellas “rojas” encarceladas hace setenta años en Madrid, y cualquier hombre o mujer inocente encarcelados en cualquier parte del mundo a consecuencia de una guerra? No puedo evitar pensar como Thomas Hobbes, que “el hombre es un lobo para el hombre”.

What is the last movie you have seen at the cinema? Last weekend I watched La voz dormida (The sleeping voice), from a novel by Dulce Chacón. Based on true events, it depicts the story of a group of Republican women in a Madrid prison after the Spanish Civil War.

Critics say that the film, and obviously the novel,  are just another example about the same topic. Spanish cinema has been deeply influenced by the bloodiest event our country ever suffered, the fratricidal war that took place from 1936 to 1939, after which the nation’s government was established as a military dictatorship.  It also has been criticized for being a recount from the losers’ side, as it is usually done.

Benito Zambrano as the director, Inma Cuesta (famous for her her role of Margarita in the series Aguila Roja) as Hortensia, a pregnat republican woman waiting for her trial, and María León  as Pepita, the young and naive girl who travels to Madrid to help her sister, are the names related to the film. I have to say María is simply wonderful!

Don’t expect to see a war movie full of blood, shootings and death. The story is more intense and heartbreaking. The silent voices of those brave women, waiting for a hard freedom or death, with only their dignity and courage as comfort really touched me. After watching it, I just asked myself: would there had been any difference if the story had had a different ending? Is there any difference between those “red” women imprisoned in Madrid seventy years ago, and any innocent woman or man imprisoned in any part of the world as a consequence of war? I can’t help but think as Thomas Hobbes that “man is a wolf to man”.

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About the Author: Magda

Hi all! I’m Magda, a Spanish native speaker writing the culture posts in the Transparent Language Spanish blog. I have a Bachelor’s in English Philology and a Master’s in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Granada, in Spain. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and then worked as an English teacher in several schools and academies for several years. Last year was my first at university level. In addition, I work as a private tutor, teaching English and Spanish as a foreign language to students and adults. In my free time, I’m an avid reader and writer, editing and collaborating in several literary blogs. I have published my first poetry book recently. And last but not least, I love photography!