Set in 18th Century Spain and purportedly based on true facts, this rather interesting film might be classified as drama, or thriller, or romance. However, there is another peculiar reading: you can clearly see how late medieval craftsmen set about making polychromed altar-pieces and so on for the interiors of churches, for example. So added on to the story line - which in itself is simple enough - this film brings out a few glimpses back some 250 years.

A few craftsmen are contracted to building an altar-piece, with the luck that the specialist drawer is a very beautiful Angie Cepeda, in a remote village's church, which, as legend has it, covers the entrance to a secret cave. The fact that the leading lady goes by the same name as the church's saint - Cecilia - may or may not have anything to do with the tale. But it does not matter: as the film progresses you get to see some beautiful countryside in the province of Soria, just the other side of the mountains, less than two hours by car in most cases from where I am now, one of the most depopulated areas of the Iberian peninsular. You see real pieces of medieval history in the stone houses of villages up in the sierras. From the delightful stone-streeted Yanguas to the heavily-wooded areas of Covaleda and Navaleno, to the historical city of Almazán, as well as other parts of the River Duero, the excellent photography helps the story along.

As the mishaps and misfortunes succeed each other, and the local priest becomes more and more infuriated, the young couple fall pleasantly in love, which you knew they would anyway, and find the secret cave, which you also knew they would. So no surprises, apart from the attractive art-form of telling the story, the interesting historical background, good photography, and - in my case - being filmed in places which I know so well.

Worth the hundred or so minutes of your time if you like out-of-the ordinary story telling.

FOOTNOTE: The Spanish spoken is easy neutral language in the most part, seldom difficult to understand, and thus is a good exercise for students learning Spanish. And some of the dialogues are really quite good, such that I recommend this film especially to people learning this language.

Spanish-language cinema across Spain and Latin America is united by its engagement with history, cultural identity, and social transformation. In Spain, films often balance artistic experimentation with popular genres while reflecting on memory, politics, and family. In Latin America, cinema has been deeply tied to questions of colonial legacy, resistance, and community resilience, ranging from intimate dramas to bold political allegories.

Ana Torrent in The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Leyenda de fuego

Photos

Top Cast9

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed