By Emily Pinkney (Lower Sixth)

On Tuesday, the Sixth Form cohort travelled to Southbank, London for an engaging Spanish Study Day in the British Film Institute for a sold-out event.

During the morning, Dr Miguel García and Professor Sarah Wright, held an interactive presentation where we explored the themes, characteristics and the screenplay of Pedro Almóvodar’s main films. It was particularly interesting to discover how he used different camera angles and shots to draw our attention to specific things. We also talked about how he used colour to connote meaning, such as the use of red to convey passion, “Spanishness”, and even blood. Delving deeper, we found out about how the characters in his films were used to mirror and critique society, and how knowing the context behind the film can help to shape the overall meaning of the film.

After stopping for a quick lunch break, we watched Almóvodar’s 2006 film, Volver. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for me!

Sophia Knight (Lower Sixth) said: “I enjoyed the movie a lot, it was great to be immersed in Spanish culture for the day, and learning more about film in Spain.”

Sophia Hosseini and Millie Carroll (Upper Sixth) added: “Upon visiting the British Film Institute, we became fully immersed into the Spanish film culture. A specific focus was placed on Pedro Almóvodar’s Volver, and how it has revolutionised Spanish cinema by emphasising the importance of the female perspective. This experience was highly interactive, enabling us to practise the spoken element of the language whilst broadening our knowledge on the prominent themes that Almóvodar disseminates throughout his films. We had a truly enjoyable time and our understanding of Spanish cinema that we acquired will certainly aid our A Level and IB studies.”