The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films Available to Purchase

In their introduction, the editors point out how the dictatorship established by Francisco Franco following his victory in the Civil War in 1939 led to a cinema industry whose films were often of poor quality, promoted the regime’s agenda, or were heavily censored. However, true as this certainly was, the need for an industry which supported the regime whilst entertaining the populace, ensured that after Franco’s death in 1975 Spain was well-placed to develop a cinema industry equal to its more powerful European neighbours such as France, Germany and Italy. In fact, there had been covert attempts, even whilst Franco...