Fernando Arrabal's films are not for everyone. But, if you enjoy Bunuel and Jodorowsky you must check out his movies. In fact Arrabal was part of the Panic theater movement with Jodorowsky. The events of Franco's rule over Spain during WW II had a great effect on Arrabal's childhood. "The Tree of Guernica" is not nearly as disturbing as "Viva la Muerte and "I will walk like a crazy Horse", but be warned it's still quite graphic. The film takes place during the Spanish Civil War in a small village in Spain, the Villa Romero. Franco's rise to power causes the town to unite and try to fight the fascist army. The horrible events during this era where what inspired Picasso's painting Guernica. The towns land baron has 4 sons, 3 are brutal and help pillage the town. The fourth brother Goya is an artist who is the opposite of his brothers. Goya challenges the church and state and thrives for social justice. Of course, like before Arrabal uses strong surreal imagery to shock the viewer into political awareness. Many might find the scenes of the villagers desecrating religious statues shocking. A large crucifix is blown into pieces, a man urinates on a statue of Jesus, and a midget masturbates on a statue of the virgin Mary. Also the film tells the story of Goya's romance with a lady Vandale, who's a local witch. "Guernica" contains many disturbing and memorable images which stay with you long after the films over. Arrabal's Swiftian like obsession with dwarfs to represent the oppressed and under class tint the film with a dark satirical edge of uneasy laughter. Midgets fight along side the town people with large shotguns. Some of the dwarfs are killed in a bullfight and others are crucified. Another scene that still stays with me is when the bombs drop on the village and stock footage is used. The beautiful Vandale carries a dead child in her arms, in a scene that shows the devastating effect of war. The film contains some very unique experimental sounds and music that create an even more surreal effect. "The Tree of Guernica" is a little seen masterpiece that only a artist like Arrabal could create. Do watch!
3 Reviews
Excellent surrealism
egrady13 December 1999
I got a chance to see a rare copy of this film, and if you can find it, I recommend seeing it. Arrabal condenses the entire Spanish Civil War into the fictional events around and in Villa Rimira. He masterfully illustrates the social relationships between the different classes while creating a fascinating piece. Very visual. Very metaphoric. A must see.
An absurdist retelling of the bombing of Guernica.
Rapeman1324 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Director Fernando Arrabal is most recognized for his surrealistic and often controversial films. Along with Alejandro Jodorowsky he founded The Panic Movement - an avant garde performance-art collective inspired by the ideas of Antonin Artaud's Theatre of Cruelty. The Guernica Tree is Arrabal's bizarre and horrific retelling of the Bombing of Guernica.
On April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War the Republican town of Guernica was bombed by planes of the German Luftwaffe under the command of General Franco, which left hundreds of casualties. A large tree in the middle of the town was left untouched by the bombs and was thereafter referred to as the "freedom tree''. Picasso also painted a famous mural titled Guernica which depicts the suffering and chaos caused by the bombing.
The Guernica Tree is set in the fictional town of Villa Romero which is ruled by the oppressive land baron, Count Cerralbo and his 4 sons, 3 of whom are equally as nasty and money-hungry as their father and the black sheep of the family, Goya, an anarchist who is against his father and brothers treatment of the peasant population. When Goya's brothers join the fascist army to help overthrow the Republican government, he alternately joins the rebels fight against Franco's fascist regime. Leading the rebellion is Vandale, the town eccentric / witch who subsequently meets and falls in love with Goya.
This film is filled with explicit and often shocking imagery, yet in turn it also has many scenes of surreal beauty. Some extremely blasphemous scenes include the villagers blowing up images of Christ, urinating on a porcelain figure of Jesus and a dwarf smearing his cum on the lips of the Virgin Mary. In addition to the defilement of religious iconography there are also images of dwarf crucifixion, numerous executions, acts of torture and sadism (reminiscent of Pasolini's Salo,) authentic footage of WWII & Hitler addressing his troops intercut throughout and a striking scene with a naked child playing innocently in a room full of human skulls.
Although beyond all the violence there are often blackly humorous depictions of political and social satire, as in the scene where two government officials passionately French kiss each other, or the lengthy "bullfight'' where a Matador butchers helpless midgets dressed as bull's for the entertainment of the socially elite.
Overall this is an excellent example of pointed surrealism and satire that examines the horrors of war and uncompromisingly assaults the senses via images of pure chaos and grotesquerie. Highly recommended to people who dig fringe / Art-house cinema and fans of Jodorowsky & Buñuel's work. 7/10
On April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War the Republican town of Guernica was bombed by planes of the German Luftwaffe under the command of General Franco, which left hundreds of casualties. A large tree in the middle of the town was left untouched by the bombs and was thereafter referred to as the "freedom tree''. Picasso also painted a famous mural titled Guernica which depicts the suffering and chaos caused by the bombing.
The Guernica Tree is set in the fictional town of Villa Romero which is ruled by the oppressive land baron, Count Cerralbo and his 4 sons, 3 of whom are equally as nasty and money-hungry as their father and the black sheep of the family, Goya, an anarchist who is against his father and brothers treatment of the peasant population. When Goya's brothers join the fascist army to help overthrow the Republican government, he alternately joins the rebels fight against Franco's fascist regime. Leading the rebellion is Vandale, the town eccentric / witch who subsequently meets and falls in love with Goya.
This film is filled with explicit and often shocking imagery, yet in turn it also has many scenes of surreal beauty. Some extremely blasphemous scenes include the villagers blowing up images of Christ, urinating on a porcelain figure of Jesus and a dwarf smearing his cum on the lips of the Virgin Mary. In addition to the defilement of religious iconography there are also images of dwarf crucifixion, numerous executions, acts of torture and sadism (reminiscent of Pasolini's Salo,) authentic footage of WWII & Hitler addressing his troops intercut throughout and a striking scene with a naked child playing innocently in a room full of human skulls.
Although beyond all the violence there are often blackly humorous depictions of political and social satire, as in the scene where two government officials passionately French kiss each other, or the lengthy "bullfight'' where a Matador butchers helpless midgets dressed as bull's for the entertainment of the socially elite.
Overall this is an excellent example of pointed surrealism and satire that examines the horrors of war and uncompromisingly assaults the senses via images of pure chaos and grotesquerie. Highly recommended to people who dig fringe / Art-house cinema and fans of Jodorowsky & Buñuel's work. 7/10
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