Cineclub
CERN CineClub - The Executioner (El Verdugo)
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Europe/Zurich
503/1-001 - Council Chamber (CERN)
Description
El Verdugo / The Executioner
Directed by Luis Garcia Berlanga (Spain, 1963) 90 minutes
At the time "The Executioner" was shot, 1963, Spain was going through one of its most obscure historical periods: Franco's dictatorship. The film addresses the always polemic subject of death penalty from an unusual perspective: that of the executioner, who never expected to actually have to do his job and is clearly not prepared to carry the burden. Just like death penalty constituted a fundamental tool of the dictatorial regime back then, so did censorship, literally obliterating every artistic manifestation suggesting the smallest trace of criticism to the regime. Surprisingly, "The Executioner" made it through fairly well, with only a few cuts and script changes. Some say it was due to the incompetence of censors; others suggest the key was the outstanding job of both Berlanga and Azcona with their brilliant script -one of the many they produced together- and the charming storyline, completed with a set of lively characters. Perhaps a combination of both. This excellent black comedy quickly raised interest in Europe, receiving several awards, and was widely acclaimed as a cry against a regime that had to get soon to an end.
Original version Spanish; English subtitles
Directed by Luis Garcia Berlanga (Spain, 1963) 90 minutes
At the time "The Executioner" was shot, 1963, Spain was going through one of its most obscure historical periods: Franco's dictatorship. The film addresses the always polemic subject of death penalty from an unusual perspective: that of the executioner, who never expected to actually have to do his job and is clearly not prepared to carry the burden. Just like death penalty constituted a fundamental tool of the dictatorial regime back then, so did censorship, literally obliterating every artistic manifestation suggesting the smallest trace of criticism to the regime. Surprisingly, "The Executioner" made it through fairly well, with only a few cuts and script changes. Some say it was due to the incompetence of censors; others suggest the key was the outstanding job of both Berlanga and Azcona with their brilliant script -one of the many they produced together- and the charming storyline, completed with a set of lively characters. Perhaps a combination of both. This excellent black comedy quickly raised interest in Europe, receiving several awards, and was widely acclaimed as a cry against a regime that had to get soon to an end.
Original version Spanish; English subtitles