The Basque language in the early years of sound cinema (1930-1936)

debates, dreams and practices

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between Basque and cinema in the early years of talking cinema. Firstly, the debates that emerged in the 1930s around linguistic diversity in cinema and the presence of other languages of the Spanish state on screen are presented. From there, the focus is placed on the discourses that were mobilized in favor of cinema in Basque, and after verifying the impossibility of creating Basque cinema, the first three films in which the Basque language could be heard are analyzed.