The Road

Based on Miguel Delibes’ book by the same title, El camino tells the story of a boy who has to leave his small town to go and study in a city. In the hours preceding his departure he reminisces about his small town and its people. Influenced by Italian Neorealism, Ana Mariscal, who was also a popular actress and a writer, poignantly portrays the daily life in a small town in the province of Avila. Although the town appears bucolic, Mariscal delves into the oppressive atmosphere of the regime, religion, self-righteous neighbours, and the lack of opportunities in post-war Spain. The film faced censorship and was sadly forgotten for many years. Nevertheless, it was part of the Cannes Classics programme in 2021 in its restored version.