Portrait of migration through Spanish films (1930- 2024): from rural exodus to globalization

Abstract

Social phenomena are often depicted in films. Since its beginnings, cinema has witnessed socially relevant events such as political changes, social upheavals, or population movements. Spanish cinema has depicted migration phenomena since the early 1930s, although the development of the 21st century and globalization have changed this cinematic approach. The representation of migratory movements has changed from an internal perspective (both rural exodus and international emigration) to an external perspective that gives voice to those who come to Spain. This study analyzes 107 Spanish films from 1930 to 2024 with the aim of illustrating the evolution of the representation of migration phenomena. It also establishes a social approach to the socio-political history of Spain during these 100 years and clarifies how real migratory movements have changed the cinematic discourse. In this regard, the films attempt to provide a necessary understanding of the human dimension of migratory movements. The research concludes that one can also see how society has evolved from the 1930s to the 2020s through the development of the films. Finally, it was found that films have grasped the ethical and human implications of migration movements and have attempted to overcome the ethnocentric portrait of this phenomenon, although it can still be seen in many films.