Spain: Taking the Bull by the Horns
39 minutes, 2004
Ref: 083tvc

The flames of the never-ending bullfighting controversy were fanned recently when Barcelona Town Hall declared the city against the 'sport'. Spanish intellectuals and artists penned incendiary manifestos in defence of the tradition; signatures were collected at many bullrings all over Spain in protest at the symbolic ban. King Juan Carlos even made a brief statement in defence of the "national tradition". For the anti-bullfighting movement it was a boost which has encouraged them to take the issue to the Catalan Parliament to try and make the motion legally binding, like the ban in the Canary Islands. We interview both defenders and detractors. Serafín Marín, a famous Catalan bullfighter, claims the tradition is as Catalan as it is Spanish. Our cameras follow him as he trains and talks about the difficulties of being a matador in Catalonia. A young promising bullfighter, Elisabet Piñero, explains how the thrill of the sport blinds her to its gory side. But the controversy reached a highpoint at the May First celebrations in Olot where bullfighting had been banned for a few years and has now been legalized once again. Protestors for and against were filmed in simultaneous demonstrations. Everyone has a say in the controversy-businessmen, shepherds, journalists, farmers, fans, rock musicians, animal lovers, even philosophers argue about a tradition which some see as on its way out, while others say is making a splendid comeback.