Yesterday an announcement was made about the recommendations proposed by a special committee of “experts” (whose credibility is a cause for much discussion), set up to look into the Valle de los Caidos (the Valley of the Fallen), the massive, sinister mausoleum…
Fear and repression in Franco’s Spain
Last week I saw two new films about Spain under Franco’s dictatorship. Both were dominated, predictably, by the recurrent themes of injustice, incarceration, abuse and human suffering. Both had a strong Andalucian connection: one was set and filmed here; the…
35 years of freedom
If you’ve been following the recent struggles of women in Saudi Arabia – one woman was caught driving and was sentenced to 10 lashes for the offence, a barbaric and medieval punishment which she only escaped after the king pardoned…