PALM TREES IN THE SNOW/ PALMARES EN LA NIEVE

Spain, 2015, 162 minutes, Colour.
Mario Casas, Adriana Ugaarte, Macarena Garcia, Berta Vazquez, Djedji Apali, Luis Callejo, Alain Hernandez, Serge Happi.
Directed by Fernando Gonzalez Molina.

This long film is based on a popular novel – the style of film, historical epic and romance, popular in the 1950s and 60s. However, in more recent times it might have been adapted as a television miniseries. There are two time frames. There is quite a gallery of characters. Quite a deal of interaction between past and present.

In the past, the film moves from 1954 to the late 1960s. The setting is Equatorial Africa, the Spanish colony, the presence of the Spaniards and Latin culture, an imposition on the locals many of whom adapt, but the majority with their traditional beliefs and practices having to work in the fields and in industry. There is some unrest during the 1950s, leading to independence movements and the declaration of a republic in the mid-1960s. It is in this context that the story focuses on a Spanish family, the patriarch living in Africa and dying there, his two sons coming to work the plantations. The older son, Jacobo (Alain Hernandez) is a reckless man, an exploitative colonial. The younger son, Killian (Mario Casas) is more open, amenable, is forced into colonial attitudes which he regrets.

In the present, early 21st-century, the two older men are dying and their daughters are present, Jacobo’s daughter is intrigued by the photos, diaries, so she takes a trip to Africa to discover the truth. Equatorial Africa is quite hostile still to the presence of Spaniards visiting. She encounters some locals, initially hostile, then helpful, which leads her to information about her father, her uncle in the past, especially by discovering the nurse with whom Killian was in love, was raped by a group of drunken men, including Jacobo, who was prepared to come to Spain with Killian but was prevented by the government at the time. Killian continued to aid her financially over the decades.

At the end, the two sons come to visit the family in Spain.

Depending on perspectives, the romance (with some vivid sex scenes) and its complications will be the attraction. For other audiences it will be the perspective on Spanish colonialism, the revolt against it, the independence movements in Africa of the 1950s and 60s and their consequences.

1. A Spanish saga? Spanish history? The impact for world audiences?

2. The lavish production, Spain, the 20th century, 21st-century, the countryside, the mountains and the snow, homes? The musical score?

3. Lavish production, Equatorial Guinea (using the Canary Islands and Colombia)? The mid-1950s to the mid-1960s? The 21st-century? Tropics, towns, settlements, fields and crops, homes, clubs, the hospital? The countryside, the jungle, the sea and the islands, the beaches? The final song?

4. The two time periods, the intercutting, the changes in attitudes, especially in Africa from colonial times to independence and later?

5. The background, colonial attitudes, the Spanish in Africa, ruling, dominating, authoritarian, violent in their superiority, the work with the crops, the trade? Bars, music and bands, prostitutes? Spanish behaviour, punishing locals, physical and violent and sexual assault, racism?

6. The Equatorial Guineans, traditions, subjugated by the Spanish, working slavery, abused, leading to uprisings and revolt? The violence, antipathy towards the Spaniards, expelling them? Independence in the 21st-century?

7. The focus on Killian, his family background, born in Guinea, back in Spain, going out to Africa, meeting his father, his father widening his horizons? His attitudes, experiencing suspicion, whipping the local man, self-conscious, change of attitude? His brother taking him to the club, the prostitutes, the sexual encounters? The contrast with Bisila? At her wedding, friendship with her father? Her son? The later encounters, her work in the hospital, his brother and his violence, the shooting in the hospital, Bisila’s husband, the year in mourning? His discovering the rape, confronting his brother, the hanging of the other two men? His visits to Spain, his sister and her dying? Having given him the diary to write in? Staying behind, working with the locals like one of them? The marriage to Bisila? Their planning to leave, at the wharf, Bisila prevented? His return to Spain?

8. The father, his role in the colony, his work, affection for the people, with Ose, driver, friend? At his daughter’s wedding? Taking his son on a tour and widening his horizons? His death? His grave?

9. Jacobo, the older son, working for the firm, colonial attitudes, Julia and her love for him, his going to the clubs, the ruse about getting away from the social and the party, the women in the club? His drinking, involvement in the rape of Bisila? Syphilis? The others hanged? Bisila’s husband coming to the hospital for revenge? His being shot? The fight with Killian? His being sent back to Spain? The final approach to Julia and her rejecting him?

10. Gregorio, overseer, cruel and violent, sexual encounters with the prostitutes? His later berserk behaviour with the gun in the club?

11. Manuel, as doctor, interest in botany, his devotion to his work, the attraction to Julia? Marrying her, children? Killian consulting him?

12. The drama at the wharf, hostile locals, Killian with the family, being prevented from getting on, those escaping on the boats, the ship in the harbour, shots and killing?

13. Julia, her parents and their presence in the colony, her father’s racist attitude? Her infatuation with Jacobo? The social and the home, his ruse to get out of it? The encounter with Manuel, his devotion to her, her marrying him, the children? Her friendship with Bisila? Jacobo and his leaving, the kiss, her rejection? Her trying to help Killian and the others to leave the colony? In 2003, helping Clarence with her research?

14. The presence of the priest, Spanish Catholics, his presence at the meal, his comment about good behaviour, his later trying to help the wounded man, at the wharf, his leaving the colony, his explanation that he had done the wedding?

15. Bisila, her relationship with her father, her father’s friendship with Anton and with Killian? Her work as a nurse? The marriage, her son? Her husband’s death? The rape and its effect on her? Getting Simon to keep the secret? Her love for Killian, the relationship? Her not being able to live the colony, Clarence visiting her, her telling the story? Her final walking into the sea?

16. 2003, the aged brothers, the death, Killian and his dementia? Clarence, alienated from her father? The research, the photos, the diary? The decision to go to Africa? The hostile reception and anti-Spanish attitudes in the colony? Her brash superiority, the camera, the dangers? Meeting Iniko, his hostility towards her, his younger brother from University, the differences? Going to the club? Iniko driving her, saving her from the attacks, driving through the jungle, to the beach, the turtles? The sexual encounter? The photo, realising that it was his mother and the photo? Taking Clarence to meet her, the explanations? Her finding Simon and his explanations?

17. Clarence, returning to Spain, with her uncle, Bisila’s hat, singing the song?

18. The two brothers arriving in Spain, Clarence receiving them? What future?