A very different version of Barcelona shines through in 'El 47'

Barcelona is a city with a long history and many tales unknown to most people. From famous figures of the city and battles that changed the history of the Catalan capital, to even how public transport became available everywhere.  

The new film 'El 47', directed by Marcel Barrena, is based on a true story that occurred in Barcelona in 1978. 

It tells the story of Manolo Vital, played by 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.  

The Catalan director Marcel Barrena, known for other films like 'Mediterráneo' and '100 Meters', explained the importance of telling this story through film to Catalan News. "The most shocking part of this creative process for me was to know that we have to be super respectful with our past and not take everything for granted." 

"There are many Barcelonas within Barcelona, and there is a lot of history behind everything we have right now," Barrena said.  

The lead actor, Eduard Fernández, who also stars in another new film shortlisted to represent Spain at the Oscars, speaks with respect and affection for Manolo Vital. "Manolo is someone I love dearly, a character I like a lot, someone who has built Barcelona with their own hands." 

Fernández views Manolo Vital as someone who became hugely important for their neighborhood due to their social activism.  

"He involuntarily became someone revolutionary; he was a leader without wanting to be, in a natural way. What he defended were the dignity of immigrants, personal dignity, the community's dignity, and the dignity of a neighborhood," the actor adds. 

There are other great actors in the movie who portray the neighbors who each struggled in their own way with their life in Torre Baró. 

Zoe Bonafonte, who plays Joana, the daughter of Manolo Vital, admitted not knowing about the story until she had to play her role in the movie. 

"What shocked me the most was learning that this did not happen that long ago, people who lived through this are still alive. I think it is crucial that we remember this story and not take anything for granted," Bonafonte told Catalan News.  

Carlos Cuevas plays a young Pasqual Maragall, who at the time was working in the city council but went on to become mayor of Barcelona and president of Catalonia.   

He thinks that "showing how diverse Barcelona can be is a gift, and this film has allowed us to display a different version of the city that is usually seen on a cinema screen."  

To learn more about 'El 47', have a listen to this episode of our podcast Filling the Sink.