ABOUT THE FILM
Main Idea/Topic:
The main idea of the film is to show the most inner struggle of man between doing what is right and wrong as against, in this occasion, the whole immoral subworld that surround them. This is a film about a man that is trying to become a better man. Also this relation or the fact that everything that happens to us is already established is just that we don’t know. Or which is the same, Paulo Coelho’s definition of Maktub in The Alquemist.
Main Characters:
Cayetano (Tano)
Richi
Patricia
Santacana (Tano’s Big Brother)
Jose Maria
PERSONAL RESPONSES
Initial Responses:
At first, I thought it was another movie about street life and redemption of man, another movie about how the new generations crash with the preceding ones, another movie about drugs, sex and marginality, and the crude real life of the poor.
Later Responses:
Then I saw behind the facades, or at least I think so, and figured out that is a movie about Carpe Diem, living your live to the maximum, pushing life to its limits, also it was a movie that talked about the aspirations of man in live and the way people deep inside always struggles with society’s pressures to stop being deviants and go back to line, which at last is what they tend to do, because recognize it as a better way. Also is a movie about the little time love really lasts and finally, about how man tries to make his reality better by trying to ignore their problems.
Who is the writer on the film? /
Has the screenplay been adapted from another work?
Alberto Rodríguez
Rafael Cobos López
The film screenplay is has not been adapted from another work.
Background on the director:
Alberto Rodríguez was born in Seville, Spain. His shorts and his first full-length feature, The Pilgrim Factor, were co-directed and co-written with Santi Amodeo, another young Sevillian director. His first solo feature, The Suit, won wide recognition from critics and audiences alike in San Sebastián, Berlin, Guadalajara, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels and other festivals. 7 Virgins is his second feature feature.
(http://www.miamifilmfestival.com)
When was the film made? / What is/was the social and political climate like at the time in that country and the world?
Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the Cortes Generales or National Assembly. Spain is, at present, what is called a State of Autonomies, formally unitary but, in fact, functioning as a Federation of Autonomous Communities, each one with different powers (for instance, some have their own educational and health systems, others do not) and laws. There are some differences within this system, since power has been devolved from the centre to the periphery asymmetrically, with some autonomous governments (especially those dominated by nationalist parties) seeking a more federalist—or even confederate—kind of relationship with Spain, now the Central Government is dealing with autonomous governments for the transfer of more autonomy. This novel system of asymmetrical devolution has been described as a coconstitutionalism and has similarities to the devolution process adopted by the United Kingdom since 1997. The terrorist group, ETA (Basque Homeland and Freedom), is attempting to achieve Basque independence through violent means, including bombings and killings of politicians, police and militaries. They consider themselves a guerrilla organization. Although the Basque Autonomous government does not condone any kind of violence, their different approaches to the separatist movement are a source of tension between the federal and Basque governments. The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, recognizes historic entities ("nationalities," a carefully chosen word in order to avoid "nations") and regions, inside the unity of the Spanish nation. But Spain's identity is sometimes, in fact, an overlap of different regional identities, some of them even conflicting. Castile is considered by many to be the "core" of Spain. However, this may just be a reflection of the fact that the Castilian national identity was the first one to be quashed by the Spanish Empire in the revolt of the Communards (comuneros) in 1518-1520. The opposite is the case of a large part of Catalans, Basques and, in some measure, Galicians, who quite frequently identify primarily with Galicia, Catalonia and the Basque Country first, with Spain only second, or even third, after Europe. The situation is even more confusing, since there are regions with ambiguous identities, like Navarre, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, etc. There has been a lot of internal migration (rural exodus) from regions like Galicia, Andalusia and Extremadura to Madrid, Catalonia, Basque Country and the islands. (www.wikipedia.com)
What does the title mean in relation with the film as a whole?
Try to establish a connection –sometimes clear, sometimes metaphorical.
The title of the film refers to the game of the 7 Virgins in which after a ritualistic procedure a mirror is supposed to tell you your future. This game is played by Richi in the movie that sees his dark upcoming. As a whole, as I said latter, the title makes reference to the fact that everything that we are to live is already settled.
Describe how the opening credits are presented? / How do they relate to meaning?
The credits are presented in black letters that are a little astonished, the background while the credits are presented is a traveling shot which moves really fast at some trees tops; is a sweep over the trees. In other words, is like if you were in a car moving at a really fast speed and you stared at the top of the trees on the road, you would not see anything clear, just a fraction of reality to say it in some way, its more like Plato’s Cavern Myth. They relate to the meaning of the film as a hole in the fact that these teenager look at life in this way, because they push it to its limits.
What three or four sequences are most important in the film? / Why?
The scene in which Tano is explaining to Richi how it is inside the reformatory, he says that you should do as they want you to or at least pretend that you are, he says that they can try to mold you as much as they want; but what they can not do is to shape your mind and thoughts or to prohibit that you think. This scene is important because it shows how man can break the system by pretending to be, and even more important is the fact that is said that Tano has beaten false consciousness, and now is an insightful person.
When Tano is with Patri in a white bedroom having sex during the whole night, and talking; this is Tano’s space of relaxation and peace, the safe space in his tormented life, is a space that he shares with Patri, which represents his hopes for life. In this scene Patri tries to tell Cayetano that things are going to end in a very subtle way, but Cayetano does not want to see it and replies with optimism. Until in the morning asks Patricia if she doesn’t love him, and she evades the question saying that is not that. Then, in the street they say bye and is known that their relationship is over; Patricia goes away and Tano too, but through a dark hall which is more like a tunnel. This scene is important because the hopes and safety spaces that Tano had, all the finer things of his life are abruptly taken away from him, leaving him unarmed, and he goes thru a dark tunnel, prophesizing his uncertain and probably bad future.
The final scene in which Santacana is taking Tano back to the reformatory and Tano says to his brother to stop the car because he is not coming back to that place, the car stop in a red light but Tano does get down, then the light changes to green and Santacana does not move the car and people start honking at him, Tano gets down and the two brothers look at each other knowing that they probably would never see each other again, this look says more than a thousand words, then Cayetano starts walking away and then running as fast as he can, he looks back and the shot is freezed. This scene is really important because Tano has acquired his freedom and he runs so that none would take it from him, but when he looks back while running; he shows that he is not running just because of the latter reason, but because he is running away from his reality, from his problems; from a life that makes him feel sick deep inside.
What were your expectations from your knowledge of that country’s cinema or director’s work? / Where they confirmed or disappointed? Explain.
I expected a whole different thing from this movie, I had the notion that is was going to be another movie about the same cliché and overtly used themes of sex and drugs, but the director impressed me and brought up with a movie that goes beyond and doesn’t talk about the same of the same per se, but about the deepest things that happen to us when we are exposed to this things.
In your opinion, what was the aim/purpose of this film? Be specific.
The aim of the film is to show that teenager that have been locked out, or not or just some of them that are a in the street robbing, abusing drugs and having sex, sometimes are good inside and try to resist this unethical behavior, but many times just to fit in within their subworld they just keep sinking deeper and deeper. In other words, how being related to the wrong people that are a really bad influence can bring you down.
Give at least five examples from the film (besides the language) which signal it’s being labeled a film from______________________ (country).
Direct contact with the vicissitudes and redefinitions of Spanish society
Imprisoning mechanisms of social control
Mechanism of dialogue and perspectivism
Complexities of a masculine role
Human relations between the sexes
Theme of desire
Reflexions on identity
How does the film try to make its case? (e.g. by emotional appeal, alienation, manipulation of point of view, documentary authority, symbolism, etc.) Give examples. / Is it persuasive?
The movie makes its case via emotional appeal, because as presenting Tano as a victim of circumstances and as a noble teenager that struggles against what is wrong; we identify with him and get on his side understanding his psychology of being a better man.
Main Idea/Topic:
The main idea of the film is to show the most inner struggle of man between doing what is right and wrong as against, in this occasion, the whole immoral subworld that surround them. This is a film about a man that is trying to become a better man. Also this relation or the fact that everything that happens to us is already established is just that we don’t know. Or which is the same, Paulo Coelho’s definition of Maktub in The Alquemist.
Main Characters:
Cayetano (Tano)
Richi
Patricia
Santacana (Tano’s Big Brother)
Jose Maria
PERSONAL RESPONSES
Initial Responses:
At first, I thought it was another movie about street life and redemption of man, another movie about how the new generations crash with the preceding ones, another movie about drugs, sex and marginality, and the crude real life of the poor.
Later Responses:
Then I saw behind the facades, or at least I think so, and figured out that is a movie about Carpe Diem, living your live to the maximum, pushing life to its limits, also it was a movie that talked about the aspirations of man in live and the way people deep inside always struggles with society’s pressures to stop being deviants and go back to line, which at last is what they tend to do, because recognize it as a better way. Also is a movie about the little time love really lasts and finally, about how man tries to make his reality better by trying to ignore their problems.
Who is the writer on the film? /
Has the screenplay been adapted from another work?
Alberto Rodríguez
Rafael Cobos López
The film screenplay is has not been adapted from another work.
Background on the director:
Alberto Rodríguez was born in Seville, Spain. His shorts and his first full-length feature, The Pilgrim Factor, were co-directed and co-written with Santi Amodeo, another young Sevillian director. His first solo feature, The Suit, won wide recognition from critics and audiences alike in San Sebastián, Berlin, Guadalajara, Rio de Janeiro, Brussels and other festivals. 7 Virgins is his second feature feature.
(http://www.miamifilmfestival.com)
When was the film made? / What is/was the social and political climate like at the time in that country and the world?
Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the Cortes Generales or National Assembly. Spain is, at present, what is called a State of Autonomies, formally unitary but, in fact, functioning as a Federation of Autonomous Communities, each one with different powers (for instance, some have their own educational and health systems, others do not) and laws. There are some differences within this system, since power has been devolved from the centre to the periphery asymmetrically, with some autonomous governments (especially those dominated by nationalist parties) seeking a more federalist—or even confederate—kind of relationship with Spain, now the Central Government is dealing with autonomous governments for the transfer of more autonomy. This novel system of asymmetrical devolution has been described as a coconstitutionalism and has similarities to the devolution process adopted by the United Kingdom since 1997. The terrorist group, ETA (Basque Homeland and Freedom), is attempting to achieve Basque independence through violent means, including bombings and killings of politicians, police and militaries. They consider themselves a guerrilla organization. Although the Basque Autonomous government does not condone any kind of violence, their different approaches to the separatist movement are a source of tension between the federal and Basque governments. The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, recognizes historic entities ("nationalities," a carefully chosen word in order to avoid "nations") and regions, inside the unity of the Spanish nation. But Spain's identity is sometimes, in fact, an overlap of different regional identities, some of them even conflicting. Castile is considered by many to be the "core" of Spain. However, this may just be a reflection of the fact that the Castilian national identity was the first one to be quashed by the Spanish Empire in the revolt of the Communards (comuneros) in 1518-1520. The opposite is the case of a large part of Catalans, Basques and, in some measure, Galicians, who quite frequently identify primarily with Galicia, Catalonia and the Basque Country first, with Spain only second, or even third, after Europe. The situation is even more confusing, since there are regions with ambiguous identities, like Navarre, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, etc. There has been a lot of internal migration (rural exodus) from regions like Galicia, Andalusia and Extremadura to Madrid, Catalonia, Basque Country and the islands. (www.wikipedia.com)
What does the title mean in relation with the film as a whole?
Try to establish a connection –sometimes clear, sometimes metaphorical.
The title of the film refers to the game of the 7 Virgins in which after a ritualistic procedure a mirror is supposed to tell you your future. This game is played by Richi in the movie that sees his dark upcoming. As a whole, as I said latter, the title makes reference to the fact that everything that we are to live is already settled.
Describe how the opening credits are presented? / How do they relate to meaning?
The credits are presented in black letters that are a little astonished, the background while the credits are presented is a traveling shot which moves really fast at some trees tops; is a sweep over the trees. In other words, is like if you were in a car moving at a really fast speed and you stared at the top of the trees on the road, you would not see anything clear, just a fraction of reality to say it in some way, its more like Plato’s Cavern Myth. They relate to the meaning of the film as a hole in the fact that these teenager look at life in this way, because they push it to its limits.
What three or four sequences are most important in the film? / Why?
The scene in which Tano is explaining to Richi how it is inside the reformatory, he says that you should do as they want you to or at least pretend that you are, he says that they can try to mold you as much as they want; but what they can not do is to shape your mind and thoughts or to prohibit that you think. This scene is important because it shows how man can break the system by pretending to be, and even more important is the fact that is said that Tano has beaten false consciousness, and now is an insightful person.
When Tano is with Patri in a white bedroom having sex during the whole night, and talking; this is Tano’s space of relaxation and peace, the safe space in his tormented life, is a space that he shares with Patri, which represents his hopes for life. In this scene Patri tries to tell Cayetano that things are going to end in a very subtle way, but Cayetano does not want to see it and replies with optimism. Until in the morning asks Patricia if she doesn’t love him, and she evades the question saying that is not that. Then, in the street they say bye and is known that their relationship is over; Patricia goes away and Tano too, but through a dark hall which is more like a tunnel. This scene is important because the hopes and safety spaces that Tano had, all the finer things of his life are abruptly taken away from him, leaving him unarmed, and he goes thru a dark tunnel, prophesizing his uncertain and probably bad future.
The final scene in which Santacana is taking Tano back to the reformatory and Tano says to his brother to stop the car because he is not coming back to that place, the car stop in a red light but Tano does get down, then the light changes to green and Santacana does not move the car and people start honking at him, Tano gets down and the two brothers look at each other knowing that they probably would never see each other again, this look says more than a thousand words, then Cayetano starts walking away and then running as fast as he can, he looks back and the shot is freezed. This scene is really important because Tano has acquired his freedom and he runs so that none would take it from him, but when he looks back while running; he shows that he is not running just because of the latter reason, but because he is running away from his reality, from his problems; from a life that makes him feel sick deep inside.
What were your expectations from your knowledge of that country’s cinema or director’s work? / Where they confirmed or disappointed? Explain.
I expected a whole different thing from this movie, I had the notion that is was going to be another movie about the same cliché and overtly used themes of sex and drugs, but the director impressed me and brought up with a movie that goes beyond and doesn’t talk about the same of the same per se, but about the deepest things that happen to us when we are exposed to this things.
In your opinion, what was the aim/purpose of this film? Be specific.
The aim of the film is to show that teenager that have been locked out, or not or just some of them that are a in the street robbing, abusing drugs and having sex, sometimes are good inside and try to resist this unethical behavior, but many times just to fit in within their subworld they just keep sinking deeper and deeper. In other words, how being related to the wrong people that are a really bad influence can bring you down.
Give at least five examples from the film (besides the language) which signal it’s being labeled a film from______________________ (country).
Direct contact with the vicissitudes and redefinitions of Spanish society
Imprisoning mechanisms of social control
Mechanism of dialogue and perspectivism
Complexities of a masculine role
Human relations between the sexes
Theme of desire
Reflexions on identity
How does the film try to make its case? (e.g. by emotional appeal, alienation, manipulation of point of view, documentary authority, symbolism, etc.) Give examples. / Is it persuasive?
The movie makes its case via emotional appeal, because as presenting Tano as a victim of circumstances and as a noble teenager that struggles against what is wrong; we identify with him and get on his side understanding his psychology of being a better man.
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