5. The Anarchist Utopia (1936)

Antonio Sau: Aurora de esperanza (Hope Sunrise, 1936).

“Aurora” (Sunrise) is the same word used by the Falangists. Images, rethoric, anticapitalism ideas, rejection of the modern world, is always the same in anarchism and falangism.

Anarchism uses a Catholic iconography, very familiar images for every single Spanish individual in this time: maniquees are saints and we can see a child maniquee, so a modern represantation of Jesus Christ a a child. The “hombre nuevo” (“a new man” is the same in Comunism and in St-Paul) in going into the modern temple of commerce, like Jesus- in this painting by El Greco: The Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple (City like a new Temple; mode shops as new temples of corruption; shops like churches, and he says “merchachifles”, so “merchants”)

Anarchists and Falangist have the same approach to Modern World and against Capitalism. Modernity is the place of corruption: cities, modes, machines… Both movements are looking for going back to the country utopia.

Comunism are defending Modernity: “socialism plus electrification”. Russian tanks v. Spiritual Spain, like in Agustín de Foxá.

This film remember me Murnau film in USA: Sunrise (Amanecer) 1928 – A young farmer falls in love with a tempting woman from the city, who persuades him to try and kill his wife, so they can be together. What will happen when the man has a vision of what the city is really like..? Winner of the 1929 ‘Best Picture’ Oscar for ‘Unique and Artistic’ Production, and ‘Best Actress’ for Janet Gaynor.