Questions about Belle Epoque (1992 movie)

Cafe Society
1

The movie Belle Epoque is about a young deserter who takes refuge with a man and his four beautiful daughters during the time of the Spanish civil war in the 1930s. I have a couple of questions.

  1. At one point, the family is dining al fresco and the local priest shows up. The priest is offered food and he makes a comment that is something like “Soup is no good without stew.” What does this mean? My understanding is that stew is a type of soup.

  2. The priest seems to be an admirer of a certain poet or philosopher or something (whose name escapes me). Something happens to the poet and the priest hangs himself. Can anyone explain what’s going on here?

2

Ah, the poet in question was Miguel de Unamuno, if that helps.

3

Anyone?