Spanish Journey Part Two
9. Bullfighting

Narrator
Spain's fiesta nacional, la corrida [the bullfight] is a celebration of death. The tradition and roots are so deep in the soil of Andalusia that if a lad from Seville were to die in the ring, many people would remember and commemorate him with the highest honours. 

[music] 

The last young man to rise to stardom in the bullfighting ring was Luis Mariscal.

Robert Elms
Hello, how are you? 

Luis Mariscal
Here we are.

Robert Elms
What‘s happening here with the kids?

Luis Mariscal
They are here to learn, learning the profession, which is being a bullfighter.

Robert Elms
Is that normal - do kids really want to become bullfighters?

Luis Mariscal
Yes, of course; in Spain they see it a lot. And they say it’s beautiful and they start very young.

Robert Elms
Are there any future stars here?

Luis Mariscal
Yes, there are surely always one or two that stand out, that are going to become well-known in bullfighting. On top of that, [there are] the ones who come here, who have the touch, have the art. I started like they did, very young.

Robert Elms
Do you have any bullfighters in your family?

Luis Mariscal
Yes, my father is a banderillero [bullfighter’s assistant who puts the spikes or banderilleros into the bull], my uncle is a banderillero, my cousin is a novillero [novice bullfighter who fights younger, tamer bulls, novillos] and so is my brother. 

Robert Elms
You've got it in the blood.

Luis Mariscal
Yes, it was in my blood.

Robert Elms
Do you think bulls are part of Spanish culture?

Luis Mariscal
Well, yes, it is an art form, and as such enters into the culture, doesn't it? There it is that… in fact, now, we do it, what we do… the ballet we do and at the same time risking our lives… [sic].

Robert Elms
But it's an art form involving an animal and it's an art form of death, isn't it?

Luis Mariscal
Oh, but you don't have to look at the tragic part of it. You don't look at the death aspect: but you look at what happens before that, at the bullfighting, where you slow the bull down, you break the bull and once you have done that you can try and show your artistry in front of the bull. It’s always been said that a bullfighter cannot know fear, only respect. Let's say that someone who is fearless - if you are not afraid of something it is because you don't know just how dangerous it is, and that makes it.... you are not afraid, it is a crazy thing, isn't it?

Narrator
Brutality and beauty are the two most important components of the complex ritual of the corrida. Despite all the pressure from animal cruelty groups, it would be hard to find a Sevillian who would not rank this celebration as having a very important position in their culture.

[music]

Narrator
It is not a sport, but rather a spectacle where death intervenes at the end, and which gathers a wide spectrum of society on the tiers [of seats] in the ring. This has been a great day for Luis Mariscal, although it hasn't ended quite how he would have wished.

[music]