El Espinazo del Diablo: The Devil's Backbone (directed by Guillermo del Toro)

Title: El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)
Released: 2001

Another great film produced by Guillermo del Toro, The Devil's Backbone is a film about superstition, fear and courage. The story takes place during the Spanish Civil War, which offers more of a backdrop than a focus to the film, conveying the sense of horror and darkness present at the time.

An unexploded bomb lands right outside of the Santa Lucia School, an orphanage for young boys who lost their parents during the war. The bomb provides the symbolic reminder of the growing pressure and mounting fear caused by the war: its presence is undeniable, yet nobody knows when it will finally explode.

The main story is about young Carlos, the most recent arrival to the Santa Lucia School, who discovers hidden secrets and is forced to deal with adult issues overnight.

In the tradition of other films about kids growing up during the Spanish Civil War such as Pan's Labyrinth and Butterfly, The Devil's Backbone proves that courage has no age.

Spanish language learning notes

Good for listening to the Spanish accent and hearing idioms and expressions, but can be a little tricky to understand because of the slang and form of speaking true to the time.