Magíster: un cine al servicio de Dios y de la patria

Abstract

Educational religious cinema of the second half of the forties decade in Spain is strictly framed within the activity that the cinematic production house Magíster Incorporated developed between 1945 and 1947. Its body of work constitute the first filmic products exposing religious education with pedagogical aims to be found in the country. Its short films constitute a direct translation of the catechism into a visual discourse. They form an archive of popular filmic religious lessons to be used in educational institutions and work spaces. Their visual imaginary exposes the viewer to compulsory social rules and habits, which compliance was essential and unquestionable to the new State. This article analyses the cinematic discourse in the films by Magíster Incorporated between 1945-1947, its relationship with the State and the professional careers of certain key members in the production house.

Keywords

• cinema
• propaganda
• Franco regime
• catholicism
• educational cinema
• religious documentary