El Bar Reflection.docx

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HUMALIT A52 El Bar From the beginning of the movie I didn’t expect it to be as hysteric or thrilling as it

sought out to be. The movie opens with a light mood by featuring a busy café in downtown Madrid with strangers simply enjoying their breakfast, but what seemed to be a usual day was made different by strangers getting shot down by an unknown assailant. I sense that the film wanted to highlight a sense of claustrophobia when the eight different personalities got stuck in the bar. The film was actually very triggering because there were a lot on events or instances that could easily be relatable to events that take place in our society today. For example, the masking by the government of the event by simply stating that it was just a fire that spread throughout in downtown Madrid when the truth was the government lost control of the widespread of the virus Ebola. Similar to that event, media masks or hoods our eyes from the real events that take place, events that are appalling to anyone; extrajudicial killings, the widespread of fake news and lastly graph and corruption. Another thing that’s very similar is the abuse of power, specifically the owner of the bar (old woman) and the two aged man who forced the other five to go down because of the assumption that they were “infected.” This example is very prevalent in the society especially with the extra judicial killings. The movie made me feel extremely sad when I was reflecting on it because it was mostly accurate, in today’s society when people feel a bit paranoid about something not going their own way it turns violent not only physically, but verbally and emotionally as well. The scene where all the personalities were suspicious towards each other highlights the mistrust that we have for each other. The scene where Israel, the crazy man was stuck in the sewer hole with the males forcing him to go down and when not successful pulled him forcefully without the consideration whether or not he was in extreme pain or not. I think that that scene shows how we are as individuals; we try and force things to go our way. Furthermore, I think that Israel symbolizes religion, not only because he spoke of verses from the bible, but because he was ignored by many and thought to be as someone that’s a lunatic. Safe to say that the movie El Bar can be interpreted in numerous ways, the movie was not only thrilling but meaningful if looked at and examined in different perspectives. It makes you process and take things into account differently whether you associate it with society or you associate it with your daily life. The film was extremely creative, despite the hysteria and the destructiveness there were scenes wherein you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing. Ironically, the film’s aim of being a thriller fell short because it invoked more of a melancholic feeling.