A film inspired by Frank: “Sinatra” (1988)
By Mahnuel Muñoz
Antonio, alias “Sinatra” sings imitating the Voice in a nightclub in Barcelona, where his wife also works. The marriage is over, the wife is unfaithful and Antonio decides to leave his home and work. He moves to a humble boarding house and his days go by burning in loneliness, alcohol and cigarettes that he can barely buy.
After a month the owner of the accommodation demands payment for the room and, unable to pay, Antonio agrees to work as the place’s night porter. He tries to fill his void by seeking pen pals and as a result he meets several people who have in common with him a desperate need to find understanding and affection.
The film, released in 1988, is based on the novel of the same name by Raul Nuñez, released in 1984. The book was translated into several languages. The English version was titled “The Lonely Hearts Club“. The film was directed by Francesc Bertriu and starred the Spanish actor Alfredo Landa, in one of his most unknown and brilliant roles.
The world in which the story takes place is the same one that inspires Frank Sinatra’s shocking “saloon albums“; a place with a neon firmament and a census of lonely souls that dissolve in the liquid gold of their glasses. In fact, although the film’s soundtrack was composed by the Spanish singer-songwriter Joaquín Sabina, – with excellent songs such as “Quién me ha robado el mes de abril?” which will become a classic in his repertoire – any of the Frank’s “saloon songs” fit perfectly into the scenes that show Antonio wandering through bars and brothels seeking relief from his incurable grief.
I myself have tried lowering the volume and accompanying the frames with “Where Are You?“, “I’m A Fool To Want You” or “Maybe You’ll Be There” and the effect is shocking.
Both the book and the feature film are extraordinary gems of Spanish artistic production. I recommend that you enjoy both.
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