'El 47' becomes most watched Catalan film in 40 years

'El 47' has become the most watched film in the Catalan language of the last 40 years in cinemas across Spain.  

The movie, based on a true story that took palce in Barcelona in 1978, has been viewed by more 457,000 people; more than 260,000 of those in Catalan cinemas. 

After premiering on September 6, the film, which centers on the story of bus driver Manolo Vital, has surpassed the success of Agustí Villaronga's 'Pa negre', Carla Simón's 'Alcarràs', and Dani de la Orden's 'Casa en Flames'. 

With 382,447 spectators, 'Casa en Flames' continues to be the most-watched Catalan film of the decade in Catalan cinemas.  

‘El 47’ made it to the top position in the box-office twelve days after premiering, becoming the only Catalan film to get to the first position in the Spanish box-office in the last 15 years. 

The last Catalan film to have similar levels of success came all the way back in 1982, when the film adaptation of 'The Time of the Doves' by Francesc Betriu attracted 503,835 spectators, according to data published on the Cinema Yearbook of the Spanish culture ministry. 

What is 'El 47' about? 

'El 47' tells the story of Manolo Vital, played by the actor Eduard Fernández, a bus driver who hijacked a bus and drove it to Torre Baró, the neighborhood where he lived, where there was no public transport. 

Torre Baró is located in the hills of the Collserola park and is one of the most remote areas of the Catalan capital. The city council at the time told the residents of Torre Baró that the streets of the neighborhood were too tight, and it was not possible for buses to get there.   

In response to his, Vital hijacked the number 47 bus to prove it was feasible to offer public transport to the neglected neighborhood. 

Podcast 

In an episode of Filling the Sink podcast we talk about the process of creating the movie 'El 47' with director Marcel Barrena and the actor Eduard Fernández. We also interview the residents in the Torre Baró neighborhood to learn about their current problems and what hardships the area is facing now, forty years after the movie took place.