Patricia Font’s Spanish/Catalan-language film The Teacher Who Promised the Sea is based on fact, and shines a light on the horrors of the murderous Franco regime. The film uses a highly personal 2010 search to tell its story.
Ariadna (Laia Costa) is a single mother whose grandfather is dying man. She begins desperately looking for her granddad’s father – her great-grandfather. The hunt will see her travel to a site where mass graves have been uncovered. There she meets and subsequently liaises with an elderly man who knew her grandfather.
The film juxtaposes the revelations of 2010 with events occurring between 1935 and 1939. The main focus is on Antoni Benaiges (Enric Auquer), a gentle and caring teacher who dared to defy the establishment. He is hired to teach in an isolated village in Burgos, Spain. He establishes a delightful, intense and honourable relationship with his students, boys and girls aged from six to 12. As an atheist, Benaiges’ first order of business is to remove the cross from the wall of the schoolroom. That immediately puts him offside with the surly local parish priest. Parents too are suspicious of his unorthodox teaching methods, which he has brought with him from France.
Benaiges creates “magic” with his students through the use of a small printing press, enabling them to craft books. To the children’s wonderment and excitement, Benaiges promises to take them on an end of year trip to “see the sea” for the first time in their lives. With the best will in the world though, expectation will turn to tragedy.
Winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Gaudi Awards, celebrated annually in Barcelona, The Teacher Who Promised the Sea is an emotionally-wrought drama. While an archeological dig where bones are uncovered starts proceedings, the flesh and bones manifestation took me aback much later in the film. Its impact is immense.
The political undertones of the film are apparent, but the arrival of Franco’s forces in the sleepy village reveals the depth of fear and hatred. My mind wandered back to the extraordinary Academy Award winning film Life is Beautiful (1997). So much promise taken away with utter brutality.
Enric Auquer does a fine job as the idealistic teacher that offers so much. He brings a sympathetic edge to his portrayal. A pall hangs over Laia Costa’s role as the granddaughter, as she uncovers clues to her family’s story.
Director Font brings into sharp focus the shocking history of a nation that lost so many in appalling circumstances, one still dealing with its traumatic past.
Alex First
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- Summer 1993 – movie review
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Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.