ELISA Y MARCELLA

Spain, 2019, 113 minutes, Black and white.
Natalia De Molina, Greta Fernandez.
Directed by Isabel Coixet.

This film, strikingly photographed in black and white, takes us back to Spain at the end of the 19th century and into the beginning of the 20th century. However, its topic is very much one for the 21st century. The focus is on same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. And its director has moved comfortable in her career with films in Spanish and in English.

This film is based on a true story – with photographs backing it up.

The film opens with a girls’ school, housed in a convent. Elisa is one of the principal students, at home at school, but highly critical of the nuns. A new arrival, Marcella, is a bit awkward at first but Elisa helps her and they become friends.

The early part of the film establishes their friendship and the basis for their future relationship.

The action then moves on to their lives and career after school, their going to a town, teaching, setting up house together, realising their love for each other, a domestic partnership. They are quiet, discrete, but are caught up in some of the life of the town, especially a social and a dance – although they are seen dancing together quietly out and away from the hall. Given Spanish society at the time, given same-sex relationships at the time, there is a great deal of gossip and criticism.

One of the key elements of the film is the fact that Elisa assumes the identity of her cousin, a young man. She takes on male dress, a false moustache, comes to visit. She also approaches the parish priest to explain the situation and the proposal that the cousin and Marcella should marry. There is a celebratory ceremony.

However, the film also shows the tension that this makes for the couple, especially since Marcella has become pregnant. It doesn’t take very long for Elisa to be exposed, the threat of examination from another priest, the intervention of the local authorities.

With such a scandal, and with the birth of the child, decisions have to be made and separations seems to be the answer, including migration to Argentina. Which takes us back to the opening of the film in Argentina where Elisa arrives at Marcella’s house, some recriminations about what has happened, but a reconciliation.

As with social and moral issues, well there can be discussion at a cerebral level, it is stories which dramatise the issues and are important for nuances in decision-making.

1. A piece of history? 19th and early 20th century? Spain? Hispanic society? Issues of sexuality and relationships?

2. The director, the woman’s perspective? On same-sex relationships, marriage?

3. Black-and-white photography, the countryside, homes, schools, the convent, towns, socials? The musical score?

4. The convent school, Marcella arriving, her background? Elisa, the nuns, star student? The encounter, help, friendship? The bonds? The critique of the nuns in the school?

5. Later, their own careers? At the school? The home backgrounds? The living in the house, their lives, the relationship, the cover?

6. The situations in the town, the bond between the two women, their personalities, quality of the relationship? Socials in the town, the man wanting to dance, his approach? The two dancing in the countryside at night? Their being found out?

7. The neighbours, inquisitive, the censorious reactions?

8. The decision, the discussion with the priest, posing as her cousin? The priest believing her? The preparation, the marriage, the celebration? The later interrogation, the priest examining Elisa, her being exposed?

9. Elisa as the cousin, her disguise, man and wife, the photo? The arrangements?

10. Life in the town, the reactions, the authorities stepping in, the priest and his examination?

11. Marcella pregnant, the issue of the father, the pregnancy over the months?

12. The government, his sympathy, his wife, the Portuguese against the Spaniards?

13. The preparation for their leaving, the issue of the adoption, the taking of the baby? On the boat, the effect?

14. Later in Argentina, Elisa’s return, Marcella and her lifestyle, the reconciliation?
15. Contemporary issues of same-sex marriage? The resonance of the story of the past with the present?