The Bullfight: A Dance with Death
When I decided to move to France, bullfights never entered my mind. Who knew the traditionally Spanish events exist in the south of France?
Years ago, I attended a bullfight in Spain. It was the “thing to do” for a 20-something college kid visiting Barcelona. All I remember about it was that I bought a poster; I carried it around for years; and life went on.
This summer I was invited to a bullfight in Nimes. Visions of bulls, matadors and swinging red capes have been swirling in my head ever since.
I had no idea bullfights were such a big deal in France. In Nimes they’re called “corridas” and draw quite a crowd. My first corrida was a full-fledged “Feria” in the ancient Roman arena.
The Feria de Nimes
Feria des Nimes
Downtown Nimes was packed with people of all ages for the Feria de Nimes. There were white-topped tents with food and drink set up around arena as far as you could see. Music poured into the streets and alleys from every bar and café. Vendors selling matador capes and flamenco dresses lined up next to hawkers with tickets, t-shirts and posters. The circus-like atmosphere was exhilarating.
Bands joined the fun around the arena
Close to five o’clock in the afternoon, the raucous crowd around the cafes and drink stands started moving toward the arena.
Feria crowd in NImes
Along with others, I filed into the spectator area of the “plaza de toros” to find my reserved seat. Climbing very cautiously up the rough stone steps into the “bleachers” of the two thousand-year old coliseum, I found my place. Better said, I found my “stone seat with backrest.” Fortunately, it was out of the blazing hot sun.
Once in my place, I noticed the people around me were very quiet. Almost silent. The sounds of piped in music filled the space that I had expected to be boisterous, like a pre-game football stadium.
In no time my mind wandered off. My imagination kicked in. I was transported to another time, same place.
It was Roman days again, in this arena in Nimes, with onlookers gathered to see a gory contest of men against beasts.
When the band started playing and the pomp and ceremony of the paséillo began, it was if the first act of an extravagant ballet had begun to unfold before my eyes.
A dance with death. Put to music. With extravagant scenery. Skillfully orchestrated.
Dance with Death
Feria de Nimes 2014
Act one – The “suerte de varas.”
Corridas have three acts. It’s been that way since early times. Hemingway calls act one the “trail of the lances.”
The opening scene begins with a fighting bull on the stage. There are hundreds of unfamiliar sounds and objects around him. At first he is dazed, then he’s angry. He runs around the arena, butting his head into anything that gets in his path.
Two horses with riders come onto the stage (picadors.)
Picadors
The bull sees only one of the horses. He recognizes it as a target from his days in the wild.
Picador
The bull charges. His impact, on the horse’s underside, picks the horse off the ground momentarily.Until now, the bull hasn’t seen the rider on the horse. The picador, who is carrying a sharp-ended rod, stabs the bull between the shoulder blades. The bull, seemingly undaunted, pulls back and strikes the horse again.
The act is over when the “president” of the bullring — an official appointed by law to supervise the corrida—- signals the bugler to blow his horn.
The bull thinks he’s the winner. Everyone else has left the stage.
Act two
Act two features a troupe of fancy-dressed “banderilleros ” who run the bull nearly breathless around the ring. Hemingway calls act two the “sentencing.” It appears the dastardly banderilleros with flying darts are in the scene only to taunt the injured bull. The fact they play an important role in the drama of man vs. beast is not at first apparent.
Banderillero
Done well, act two is over quickly, without destroying the bravery and strength of the bull.
Banderillero on the run
Act three
Act three, the “execution.” The Spanish call this act the “moment of truth.” It is performed in fifteen minutes. The curtain opens with the matador on center stage. Waving a red caped muleta in his left hand, he waltzes around to show how artfully he dominates the bull. If the animal hooks from one side or another the matador corrects his charge.
He makes the bull lower his head.
To kill the bull quickly, the matador must drive the sword between the bull’s shoulder blades. In doing so, the matador is in line with the bull’s horns. One wrong move can mean death.
With the muleta in the left hand, and a sword in his right hand, the matador urges the bull forward. He strikes from the front, driving the sword in smoothly.
The bull dies.
Bulls often survive the strike of the sword. It takes a perfect hit by the matador to lay the huge creature dead . For a matador to fell a bull with one sword, in the correct position, he is highly praised and rewarded.
Epilogue
The story of the “Dance with Death” is fairly simple. It is the story of a fighting bull and a matador who meet in a crowded arena and fight for glory and honor to the death. Through the story, actors with minor parts parade on stage with much colorful fanfare.
For thirty minutes of the performance, the bull and the matador try to kill each other. The matador gets a lot of help from his friends. The bull, however, is nobody’s fool. He shows his innate ability to spar with each aggressor, to self-protect, and to prove what the Spanish call “his nobility.”
It seems at times the bull might win.
A twist in the story comes when the matador, seeing the bull in his full glory, realizes that he has fallen in love with the bull. But he must kill him.
The matador has fifteen minutes to decide between love and glory.
He brings the bull close to him for their last “dance with death. ” He weighs his options: “kill my beloved ” or “miss the final act of my masterpiece.”
The outcome of the drama is a mystery until the end of the last act.
The bravery of the bull is at the heart of the corrida drama. The honor of the matador determines the outcome. There are no re-runs, no second seasons with the cast. Like other art forms, the truth and beauty is for the beholder.
Writer’s Note
Since the Feria de Nimes I have attended twenty or more corridas in the south of France, I’ve read books by Hemingway and I’ve studied books and articles by experts who love bullfights and by those who hate them. I’ve also done a lot of soul-searching.
I’m an animal-lover. it’s not pleasant to see an animal killed in front of my eyes.
In my research a statement by Orson Welles, great American film maker and writer, helped me understand how I can draw a line between the “animal-lover” part of my brain and the part that really enjoys corridas
.
“Either you respect the integrity of the drama the bullring provides or you don’t…. what you are interested in is the art whereby a man using no tricks reduces a raging bull to his dimensions, and this means that the relationship between the two must always be maintained and even highlighted.”
Categories: Around France, Blog, Chapter 4: Life in France Part Two, Nimes
Will be attending 1st Corrida in Arles next month. When inquiring on line about the event some months ago, many individuals seemed to in disgust say, “Why would you want to see an animal tortured…” Having worked my whole life in hospitals the last thing I would ever want to see is suffering, Ive seen enough to last a lifetime. I don’t even watch violent in films … But to see the tradition/art of this culture fascinates me. It occurs to me that animals are killed for food … Deborah the fact that you are an animal lover and able to come to terms with this tradition and culture was very helpful to me. Again you had another wonder post , your enthusiasm, insight and beautiful writing and pictures are a treasure to people who travel the South of France. Thank You
As you read, John, I looked at the events from more than one side. Thanks for appreciating the effort and thought that went into the post.
Oh! I couldn’t bear to watch!
I felt the same way after my first visit. It was not until I read and understood more about corridas did I really appreciate what’s going on. I’m going to write a couple more blogs to follow about more facts that make me feel the way I do. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for this, Debbie. Very informative -felt as if I were there.
I’ve learned a lot, too. It’s fascinating! Glad you enjoyed it!