THE LEGACY OF THE BONES/ LEGADO DE LOS HUESOS

Spain, 2019, 121 minutes, Colour.
Marta Etura, Nene, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Francesc Orella, Imanol Arias, Benn Northover.
Directed by Fernando Gonzalez Molina.

The Legacy of the Bones is the second in a trilogy of mysteries, police work and detection. They are all set in Basque country – with a background of some Spanish superstitions as well as Spanish Catholicism – there is also the story of the detective herself, her growing up, her dominant mother and madness, her relationship with her sisters, her leaving the town, going to work with the FBI, her contact with an agent in the US who gives her advice.

She is also in relationship with an artist and in this film is pregnant and gives birth. However, there are demands on her because of her work, pressures on her partner, but her wanting to be a devoted mother.

There is a madness associated with the series of murders but they are to be seen in the context of a prologue from the 16th century when newly born daughters were offered in sacrifice.

There is also the Catholic dimension, this time with a psychologist who works in the local hospital and is an eminent member of Opus Dei. However, the focus again is on the detective’s mother, her madness, and her involvement with the series of women’s deaths.

It builds up to a dramatic climax between mother and daughter – the mother escaping, presumably to be involved in the third film in the trilogy.

1. Spanish detective story? Police procedure? Serial killer? Religious background?

2. The film was a sequel, the second in a trilogy? The focus on Amaia, her personal life, her career, the police, detection, solving mysteries?

3. The Basque setting, the town, homes and streets, the flooding, the river and the weir? The church? Homes and interiors? The countryside, huts, caves? The musical score?

4. Audience familiarity with Amaia? The original film, the background of her unhappy life in the town, leaving, the dominance of her mother, her relationship with her sisters, going to the United States, working with the FBI, the continued contact with the agent and his advice? Her relationship with James? The solution of the first case? Her working with the authorities, Jonan as her assistant?

5. Her personal life in the sequel, pregnant, giving birth? The relationship with James? Her returning to duty? The new case? The demands on her time, presence and absence, attending of the baby, the pressures on James? On her aunt? Her relationship with her sister? The older sister and her bakery, her book? Coming at the end? The significance of her dominant mother?

6. The opening, the 16th century, the birth of the child, the sacrifice of the daughter, the role of the authorities? The continuing tradition?

7. The range of deaths, the mutilations, the bodies, the caves? The background stories? The husbands? Internment?

8. The men in prison, the interrogations, the mysterious name and its continued presence in each case, Tartilla?

9. The psychological background? The therapists? The doctors? The treatment of the prisoners? The revelation of the doctor, young, his expertise, working with the mother? The linking of Tartilla with the mother? Memories of the previous case, her diet influence, the moral judgements?

10. The role of the church, Opus Dei? The priest? His manner, the link with Rome? With the Bishop? His work in the hospital? Severe manner, his Catholic atmosphere? Audience suspicions? Amaia and her challenging him, working with him? The truth about him? The suspicions with the younger doctor, his background, his father the gardener and separation?

11. The aunt, having brought up Amaia, her constant care, looking after the baby? The flood? Her being attacked? The baby taken? The sister and her husband coming to rescue her?

12. The portrait of the mother, her madness? Escaping from the hospital? With the doctor? Amaia going in pursuit? The cave, the ritual? The discovery that the child was a boy? Breaking the tradition? Amaia confronting the doctor, the gun, her mother? Her mother’s escape?

13. The resolution of the mystery? Further details of Amaia’s life? And the anticipation of the third film in the trilogy?