El Bola: A Cinematic Allegory of Spain

This paper examines the 2000 Spanish film, El bola, directed by Achero Mañas. The movie recounts a blossoming friendship between Pablo and Alfredo, two adolescent boys from differing backgrounds.  Pablo's family, and particularly his father, represent traditional Spain and the values imposed during Franco's dictatorship.  On the other hand, Alfredo's family portrays the new wave of modern, progressive ideals that flourished once the dictatorship ended.  In my analysis of El Bola, I examine specific camera shots and scenes, interpreting the film as a political allegory of Spain in the late 1990s and early 2000s, during which time Francoist ideals still lingered.