Welcome Mr Marshall!

Singer Carmen, agent Manolo and deaf mayor Don Pablo

How should the world respond to the fact of America? Welcome Mr Marshall! (aka Bienvenido Mister Marshall!) is often rated as one of the best Spanish films ever made and retains its relevance – even though it was made in 1953 – because the fundamentals remain unaltered. America is still a mighty power, Spain relatively subordinate. So how should one small village respond when it hears that a delegation is arriving from the USA, to distribute money from the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe after the destruction of the Second World War? Open arms or more guardedly? Treating them as liberators or invaders? A good thing or a bad thing? Stir into the … Read more