The pre credit sequence
In the opening credits to The devil's back bone the foetus is in a golden/yellow liquid making it looks creepy. Before we see the opening credits we get a little insight to the movie, it starts off with a plane dropping an old looking bomb which shows us this was set back sometime ago when there was the Spanish civil war taking place. After that it switches to a scene where near a pool of water a boy is laying on the floor in his own blood that is coming from his forehead, as another boy is holding him and crying for him, there is a brick near by that indicates what might of just happened. From this it shows that there is mystery and murder in this movie.
Credits sequence
The credits start slow and dramatic as the background changes from a black screen to a orange golden cloud where you see unclear shapes but slowly make out that that the shapes form a baby that has a weird looking spine that sticks out. It looks as if it is inside a womb. The colour makes you think of gold as if that is going to have some sort of part in the movie.
mise-en-scene
It starts with the desert that looks abandoned and in the middle of no where showing thats its some sort of wasteland that has no use or has had no use in a long time. It looks isolated as it has nothing around such as houses, animals or any type of life apart form a tree. Then there is a old fashion car that looks like it is from the 1930's. This is taken in Spain.
Carlos Hero /protagonist
There is a man that hides a gun in his car but carlos doesn't look as if he knows that the man takes it out and covers it with his jacket like he can't let anyone see what he is carrying. Carlos looks old fashioned and smart but innocent and vulnerable as he doesn't know what is going on. He is also a curious boy as he goes and knoked on the bomb and doesn't seemed to be alarmed at all if it blew up. Yet he is obedient as he listens to the his mentor that brought him there.
He looks around and stares at the framed door and starts to walk towards the door but he sees a strange figure, but as he gets closer he sees there is no one there as the figure disappears. As he walks away you could see the reflection of the ghost through the dirty window and then it fades away. Jamie and Carlos form such a strong friendship that Jamie finally tells him that he knows about Santi, Jamie reveals that Santi is dead and Jacinto killed him and he saw it all happen, And after he throws the body in the well which shows he is heartless. |
alma
She directs the children on where they have to go and doesn't have much appearance so far in the movie.
Alma finds Carlos in the closet as she is carrying the clothes, she is helping the children which shows that she cares about them. But is also unaware about everything that is happening, such as to why Carlos was in the cupboard. She also shows that she is a good person as she hands out the letters for the children that is sent by their parents and kindly saying there names and smiling. Where as Jacinto stabs the apple with the knife showing that he is aggressive one and nothing like Alma. This links to the stereotype of how men are violent and the women are kind and gentle. This is called a patriachy society where the men are more powerful than the women. She helps the boys to start packing so they can leave showing that she helps others before she helps herself. Conchita says that she will walk all night to recieve help because of the explosion from Jacinto. This shows teamwork between the women Alma dies as the fuel is set on fire and blows up as she was trying to take it out to save the children. |
DR. Casares
Doctor lies about not knowing Carlos's tutor that was going to be executed. By lying that he doesn't know him, this shows that he is scared. But the women are not as scared as they want to fight the other on the governments side.
Doc goes to Carmen the next day , scared, and explains her that they have to go by telling her what he knows, he starts to panic as he is trying to protect her because loves her. By showing that he is affectionate over her he holds her face and looks at her straight in the eyes. Doc reads a poem which is discribing carmens pain before she dies. She dies as she is getting help from doctor C while is like how Furiosa gets helps from max when she was really hurt and on the edge of death. |
conchita
She looks more scared and innocent as she serves her boyfriend and her boyfriends friends.
Looks more stereotypical as she is serving he men and cooking and doing the cleaning. She very gentle as she strokes her boyfriend's head but he looks away, he also replies to his mates that "he doesn't need anyone' hinting out he doesn't need his girlfriend. She gets upset over that. When the boyfriend shows his friends out, she is in the background of the scene and blurry showing that she is left aside and neglected. Also she dont understand that her boyfriend don't love her. |
She obedient as she listens to Jacinto. So when Jacinto tells her to go fetch the wine she goes and does it with out replaying to him. He also hold her hand and moves her with him showing that he is dominating, that she is his property. He moves her away to go find out what the noise was. He cares more about wealth than love, so she isn't important to him.
She gives the boys food and blesses it showing that she caring over them and wants goodness. This also shows that she is selfless.
She gives the boys food and blesses it showing that she caring over them and wants goodness. This also shows that she is selfless.
As she is very kind the little boy Jamie has a crush on her so when he goes up to her he gives her the little gold wrapper if the cigarette she gets happy and thanks him and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Jacinto watches over Conchita, shows that he is protective over her and cares if she does something with someone else as she is his property. But as she smiles at the small thing Jamie had given her shows that she don't get much often.
When Dr. Casares goes to town to go sell the drink which helps provide for the orphanage. The same way mad Max went to go fight off the men and comes back with more weapons and the stuff the needed to fix the tank. But Conchita gets into the truck quietly away from what Dr Casares is intrigued by something is happening. Which mad max also did as he told the women and nux to stay behind while he went to do something. Which is stereotypical for the girls to stay away from the bad and danger.
Conchetia looks at Jacntio and he gives her this look for her to follow him showing that he is still treating her like as if she was a dog following the owner, but Conchita looks away showing a sign of independance and holds on to the boys showing that she has turned her back on him and realised how selfish he is.
As she helps out by getting things for the way she also holds the gun for protection even if she don't know how to use it but still shows courage when she points it at Jacnito when she questions him for why he is spilling the oil. She is showing that she is standing up to him and taking control as she has the gun thinking she has the advantage but trys to show courage by staying calm and rashinal even through she is scared underneath. She runs to save the childrens saftey so they can be saved.
Also with her hurt she trys to make the children feel better as the are hurt and upset. She also helps as she is willing to walk all day and all night to the following day to go and get help from the town,which is far. This shows that she is selfless comapred to Jacnito that is selfish. She clenches her fist showing her strengh, Jamie comes running to her and gives her a blessed nut saying "for strengh" showing teamwork and how they are together in this situation.
When Dr. Casares goes to town to go sell the drink which helps provide for the orphanage. The same way mad Max went to go fight off the men and comes back with more weapons and the stuff the needed to fix the tank. But Conchita gets into the truck quietly away from what Dr Casares is intrigued by something is happening. Which mad max also did as he told the women and nux to stay behind while he went to do something. Which is stereotypical for the girls to stay away from the bad and danger.
Conchetia looks at Jacntio and he gives her this look for her to follow him showing that he is still treating her like as if she was a dog following the owner, but Conchita looks away showing a sign of independance and holds on to the boys showing that she has turned her back on him and realised how selfish he is.
As she helps out by getting things for the way she also holds the gun for protection even if she don't know how to use it but still shows courage when she points it at Jacnito when she questions him for why he is spilling the oil. She is showing that she is standing up to him and taking control as she has the gun thinking she has the advantage but trys to show courage by staying calm and rashinal even through she is scared underneath. She runs to save the childrens saftey so they can be saved.
Also with her hurt she trys to make the children feel better as the are hurt and upset. She also helps as she is willing to walk all day and all night to the following day to go and get help from the town,which is far. This shows that she is selfless comapred to Jacnito that is selfish. She clenches her fist showing her strengh, Jamie comes running to her and gives her a blessed nut saying "for strengh" showing teamwork and how they are together in this situation.
Carmen
Is women in charge of the orphanage that Carlos has been taken to. She goes on that she 'can't accept another boy' showing that she has a lot going on for her. From the looks of the orphanage doesn't look so good meaning that they might have not enough food to go around.
Carmen looks like a stressed and tired for an old lady showing that she is going through a lot. From the colours that she wears indicates that she is a widow that shows another thing that she may be stressed about. In the end she accepts the boy even through she said she wouldn't , showing she has some kindness in her even though she looks powerful and scary . But deep down she doesn't want the boy to get killed. As the 'tutor' tells her that he can either get killed or starve a bit to stay alive. Carmen has a prosthetic leg showing that she has some sort of dark backstory that have may given her that, This links to mad max fury road , Furiosa as they both are doing things for others and have some sort of loss and both have a wound of some sort furious's arm and Carmen's leg and also gives another sort of burden that she has to carry along with the orphanage, that no one know about, the war and her own life. She gives away the gold apparently she wants to get of as it is useless and no value to her. Has some sort of experience in children as she wants to help them out and look after them as their are orphans or have parents that are fighting in the war. She goes on how she is the brave one and not her husband as he has left her stress and burden. Has some sort of relationship with the doctor. Find Carlos a well behaved child , which she is surprised at. |
As she drops Carlos into his bed chambers she looks at her keys, she has a load of keys in one key rack chain and starts to worry as if something is wrong. This makes us suspicious on what she is hiding as she looks around as if she dropped them and seen a ghost.
She also watchs people showing she may know a lot about the place and its secrets.
She also watchs people showing she may know a lot about the place and its secrets.
We find out that Carmen is having a affaire with Jacinto meaning he is cheating with Conchita. She is only having sex with him for her pleasures as it takes the pain away for everything that she is struggling with. She also says she is ashamed, so she tells him that this would be the last time. But Jacinto is doing as he can gets the keys from her and he feels he can gain more power as he is having sex with the leader of the orphanage. She goes telling him how she needs the leg and has to stand on two feet but is the same way she need him for sex so she is passionate. Jacinto feels more power as his having sex with the most important person that is kinda like the leader to the whole orphanage.
This makes it out that Jacinto is the bad person as he is selfish and alone but Carmen is good as she works as a team and does things for the right thing not out of greed.
Carmen teaches the boys how to work as a team, in a history on how men had to work together to kill a mammoth, this could be linked to the movie on what is going to happen next.
Jacinto is the bad side like Morton Joe in mad max fury road who works alone ,where as Carmen is the good side that works as a team just like Furisoa.
Carmen goes back to looking over and making sure everything is normal and thats shows she doesn't want anything bad happening and causing a problem for her or making the rest panic. But later she has a conversation with Doctor C that makes her question that if Carlos' tutor may have told on them. By her being confused she tells Alma and Conchita to help the boys to start packing the stuff they really need, this shows teamwork between the women. But Jacinto is selfish as he runs to start finding the gold and gets angry over how she is going to leave and he can't get what he wants.
Carmen goes to get the gold as if might help on where she is taking the children, she is saving them by putting them first, but Jacinto comes and stops her. She fights back my hitting him in the face with the mental part of the walking stick showing that she can defend for herself and don't need saving( just like Furiosa in mad max) . Supported by Doctor C, Conchita and the boys showing another symbol of teamwork.
Carmen and alma have a conversation about her leg as it is getting heavier for her to walk and that and Alma asks if she is okay. This means they pass the bechdel test as they are having a conversation about Carmen and not about he men or the problem that is currently going on.
Carmen dies. Showing that women are more vanruable yet more braver as she and Alma was trying to stop the fire .
This makes it out that Jacinto is the bad person as he is selfish and alone but Carmen is good as she works as a team and does things for the right thing not out of greed.
Carmen teaches the boys how to work as a team, in a history on how men had to work together to kill a mammoth, this could be linked to the movie on what is going to happen next.
Jacinto is the bad side like Morton Joe in mad max fury road who works alone ,where as Carmen is the good side that works as a team just like Furisoa.
Carmen goes back to looking over and making sure everything is normal and thats shows she doesn't want anything bad happening and causing a problem for her or making the rest panic. But later she has a conversation with Doctor C that makes her question that if Carlos' tutor may have told on them. By her being confused she tells Alma and Conchita to help the boys to start packing the stuff they really need, this shows teamwork between the women. But Jacinto is selfish as he runs to start finding the gold and gets angry over how she is going to leave and he can't get what he wants.
Carmen goes to get the gold as if might help on where she is taking the children, she is saving them by putting them first, but Jacinto comes and stops her. She fights back my hitting him in the face with the mental part of the walking stick showing that she can defend for herself and don't need saving( just like Furiosa in mad max) . Supported by Doctor C, Conchita and the boys showing another symbol of teamwork.
Carmen and alma have a conversation about her leg as it is getting heavier for her to walk and that and Alma asks if she is okay. This means they pass the bechdel test as they are having a conversation about Carmen and not about he men or the problem that is currently going on.
Carmen dies. Showing that women are more vanruable yet more braver as she and Alma was trying to stop the fire .