There Be Dragons (2011) Plot Summary Explained

The two friends, Josemaría Escrivá and his companion, took different paths because of their differing convictions during the Spanish Civil War. Escrivá chose a life centered on faith and spirituality, dedicating himself to establishing what would become Opus Dei. His friend, however, was swept into the brutal realities of war and joined the fighting. Their divergent choices, faith versus violence, placed them on opposing sides of the devastating conflict, ultimately testing their friendship and forcing them to confront the complexities of a nation at war.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish their close childhood bond, making their later divergence more poignant.

• childhood friends
• spanish civil war
• opposite sides
• faith vs violence

The young journalist is the son of a man who was childhood friends with Josemaría Escrivá during the Spanish Civil War. He embarks on an investigative journey to uncover his estranged father's past and discovers the hidden connections between his family and Escrivá. As he digs deeper, he uncovers family secrets that reveal the true nature of his father's relationship with Escrivá and the role each played during the war.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with the journalist's decision to investigate his father's past, establishing this connection early.

• journalist
• father
• estrangement
• investigation
• family secrets

Through his investigation, the journalist discovers that his father had a profound connection to Escrivá during the Spanish Civil War, specifically that they were childhood friends who took opposite paths when war erupted. The journalist uncovers the hidden truths about his father's choices during the conflict, revealing how personal convictions and circumstances led to their separation. These revelations reshape his understanding of his father's life and the reasons for their estrangement.

Foreshadowing: Early in the investigation, hints suggest the father had a past connection to Escrivá that he never discussed.

• family secrets
• father
• past
• hidden truth
• estrangement

Forgiveness becomes paramount as characters confront the betrayals and losses caused by the Spanish Civil War. The film explores how characters must come to terms with treachery, paternal loss, and the harsh realities of their circumstances. Each character faces personal challenges that require them to either hold onto resentment or embrace forgiveness as a means of coping with loss and finding redemption.

Foreshadowing: Early moments of betrayal plant the seeds for later forgiveness arcs.

• forgiveness
• redemption
• betrayal
• loss
• healing

Escrivá's friend who joined the fighting was consumed by the brutal realities of the Spanish Civil War. His decision to fight placed him directly in the conflict, leading to a path of violence that contrasted sharply with Escrivá's spiritual journey. The friend's descent into war represents the tragic cost of choosing violence over faith, ultimately testing both his friendship with Escrivá and his own moral compass.

Foreshadowing: The divergence in their paths is shown early, with Escrivá's commitment to faith set against the friend's growing involvement in combat.

• war friend
• fighting
• tragedy
• opposing sides

During the Spanish Civil War, Escrivá dedicated himself to a path centered on faith and spirituality rather than violence. His commitment to spiritual principles led him to establish what would become Opus Dei, focusing on prayer and religious work amid the chaos. This choice represented a deliberate rejection of the violence surrounding him, highlighting his conviction that faith could provide meaning and purpose even during times of extreme adversity.

Foreshadowing: Escrivá's early dedication to spirituality is shown before the war fully erupts, establishing his commitment to faith.

• faith
• spirituality
• opus dei
• spanish civil war
• choice

The title 'There Be Dragons' references the old cartographic notation 'Here be dragons,' used on ancient maps to denote unknown and dangerous territories. In the context of the film, it symbolizes the unexplored, dangerous moral and spiritual territory that characters must navigate during the Spanish Civil War, representing the unknown consequences of their choices and the psychological landscape of betrayal, faith, and redemption they must traverse.

Foreshadowing: The title card and opening imagery evoke ancient maps, suggesting a journey into uncharted territory.

• title meaning
• dragons
• metaphor
• unknown territory
• cartography

The journalist begins his journey estranged from his father, harboring resentment and confusion about their broken relationship. As he investigates his father's past connection to Escrivá during the Spanish Civil War, he uncovers the complexities that drove them apart, including his father's choices during the war and their ideological differences. This discovery allows him to understand his father's decisions, ultimately leading to reconciliation and a fuller understanding of his family's history.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening establishes the estrangement, which deepens as investigation reveals the father's full story.

• father-son relationship
• reconciliation
• understanding
• estrangement
• discovery

A woman's journey in search of love and purpose unfolds amidst the chaos of the Spanish Civil War, offering a counterpoint to the male characters' focus on faith and conflict. Her character embodies the universal search for meaning during turbulent times, representing another perspective on how individuals cope with the adversity of war. Through her quest, the film explores themes of love, loss, and the human need for purpose beyond survival.

Foreshadowing: Her introduction early in the narrative establishes her as a parallel character navigating the same tumultuous period.

• woman
• love
• purpose
• search
• parallel story

Yes, There Be Dragons is inspired by the life of St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the real founder of Opus Dei. The film ventures to present a more favorable view of the Catholic organization, actively countering prevailing sentiments established by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. While the film incorporates fictional characters and dramatized elements, it bases its narrative on the historical context of the Spanish Civil War and Escrivá's role in establishing Opus Dei during that period.

Foreshadowing: The film's framing establishes its intent to explore Escrivá's historical legacy from a particular perspective.

• based on true story
• opus dei
• real history
• josemaría escrivá
• biopic