Screening from Friday 10th until Thursday 23rd April 2009 @ Watershed, Bristol

You may recognise the name Tony Manero as John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Fever but after watching Pablo Larraín’s movie, the name becomes associated with a selfish illusion, existing upon the protagonist’s yearnings to become ‘The Tony Manero’.

Despite a slight resemblance to Leonard Cohen, anti-hero Raúl (Alfredo Castro) is one of the most unlikeable leads in the history of art house cinema. His obsession with Saturday Night Fever seems somewhat absurd but when it is framed against the backdrop of Augusto Pinochet’s oppressive regime in 1978 Chile, the harsh reality sucks away any humour as a large gritty art house straw would.

The film’s context elevates Raúl’s character into a metaphor. Not just for the oppressive regime but the destructive nature of an individual’s dream. Raúl is uncompromising and brutally charged in his quest to become the next Tony Manero. He feeds himself with his dream via immoral means: stolen TVs and sneaky cinema tickets. Raúl ignores friendship and denies love, and aware of his age, he does what ever a 52 year old has to do in order to get what he wants, even if it involves shitting all over a youthful competitors white disco dancing suit.

If you feel like escaping the sunny glare of the sneaky summer sun and submerging yourself into the dark abyss, then Tony Manero is perfect. With heavy subtitles and shadowy film work, it successfully portrays an environment you are scared of. You will leave the cinema hoping there is no disco dancing buskers outside, because if there is who knows what might happen…

www.watershed.co.uk

Kayleigh Cassidy