Introduction

It seemed that after the Second World War the youth of every western nation found its voice. For the Americans, it happened swiftly with the advent of 1950s rock and films like Rebel Without a Cause. The seminal moment for the British was Post-Punk New Wave. In Spain, a cultural movement hit the big cities in the decade after Franco’s death in 1975. It was like a reawakening of the spirit of youth. It was called La Movida Madrileña or the Madrid Movement. It was a time of youthful hedonism and artistic expression. In Madrid, it became a way of life. The slang of the time, cheli, contained the expression ‘¿dónde está la movida?’ — ‘where’s the action’ would be the Australian equivalent. Bands and artists sprung up during this time, one of whom was the famous film director Pedro Almodóvar. A movement with such sheer enthusiasm for being young, Spanish and proud seemed the perfect title for the very first tapas bar I put my name to.