THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE

A remote orphanage at the end of the Spanish Civil War: Here live the sons of fallen Republican soldiers. From the perspective of ten-year-old newcomer Carlos, a tapestry slowly unfolds, weaving together childhood routines, underlying threats, and a whispering ghost that seems to lurk in the endless, winding corridors—along with many other secrets. As later in Pan's Labyrinth, del Toro explores children's perspectives within the context of political violence, thus transcending conventional horror tropes. The contrasts of cold night green and dusty daylight reflect a painful narrative, where shivers and tears flow simultaneously—produced by Pedro Almodóvar! (Florian Widegger)