Bohemian Lights, or Luces de Bohemia in the original Spanish, is a play written by Ramón del Valle-Inclán, published in 1924. The central character is Max Estrella, a struggling poet afflicted by blindness due to developing syphilis. The play is a degenerated tragedy (esperpento) focusing on the troubles of the literary and artistic world in Spain under the Restoration. Through Max's poverty, ill fortune and eventual death, Valle-Inclán portrays how society neglects the creative. Tells the story of the last night of Max Strella (Francisco Rabal) an old blind poet, who barely manages to keep his wife and daughter, and Don Latino (Agustín González) , Max's best friend. But Don Latino de Hispanis is accused by his daughter (Azucena de la Fuenta) and Max's widow (Berta Riaza) of the death of his father. We can also see the poet Ruben Dario (Manuel Cano) and many other characters and prominent names of the history of Spain. In the empty house of his family, Ramon, a poet, remembers the last day of the life of his master: the last time he went out with his friend don Latino de Hispalis, his talk with a minister (Fernando Fernán Gómez) and his dinner with Ruben Dario. Describing the last day of Max Estrella's life, he walks towards his own personal calvary, abandoned and betrayed by everyone, in an absurd, dark, and hungry Madrid.
This is one of the most famous adaptations of the works of the notorious writer Ramón María del Valle Inclán, which in its time was massacred by critics and the public, having a great commercial failure, however, today it is better regarded than in the past. The play tells the tragic story of the blind poet Max Estrella as he wanders the streets of early twentieth-century Bohemian Madrid on the last night of his life. Esperpentos depict the world as tragicomedy and the actors as puppets helpless to their fates. The audience is asked to consider what is authentic and what is spectacle. Bohemian Lights is equal parts Realism and Expressionism. Bohemian Lights was initially serialized and published in a magazine, like many of Valle-Inclán's works. Due to censorship by the Spanish government, Bohemian Lights was not produced in Valle-Inclán's lifetime. It was first published in its entirety in 1920.
Based on the playwright's experiences in Old Madrid, Bohemian Lights is described as an esperpento within an esperpento and is written in episodic format. In the introduction to the Edinburgh Bilingual Library edition of Luces de Bohemia, Anthony N. Zahareas describes the action as "...a modern, nocturnal odyssey about the frustration, death, and burial of a blind poet, Max Estrella that follows the Classic sense of tragedy of the human condition. Max's struggles highlight the general disregard for artists and the social typology in Spain during that time period. Valle-Inclán portrays both the Romani (Bohemians) and the members of the Establishment from a historical standpoint, neither praising nor condemning either group. Valle-Inclán juxtaposes the fictional life of Max Estrella and his family with historic events, such as the violent strikes of 1917 and the political arrests of 1919. Through this, Valle-Inclán makes a political statement about many of the controversial issues, both Spanish and international, of his time period: anarchy, revolution, law-of escape (ley de fugas), Lenin, Russia, the war, strikes, syndicates, and the press.
Extraordinary interpretations from main and support cast. Francisco Rabal gives a very good performance as Max Estrella, a poet collapsed by blindness and hunger. While Agustin Gonzalez is quite good as Don Latino de Hispalis, his companion in hardships, who guides him through the dark and sinister streets of Madrid. Mario Pardo is the young Ramón, Max's friend who recreates in his imagination the last day of Max Extrella's life. One of the main distractions of the film is finding which prestigious Spanish supporting actor of the time appears in the next frame, among them are the following: Mario Pardo, Ángel de Andrés López, Vicky Lagos, Berta Riaza, Guillermo Montesinos, Manuel Zarzo, Imanol Arias, Paula Molina, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Alfredo Mayo, José Vivó, Miguel Rellán, Joaquín Hinojosa, Miguel Arribas, Manuel Galiana, Cesareo Estebanez, José Yepes, María Elena Flores , Antonio Gamero, among others.
In Luces de bohemia(1985) atands out the notable costume design and set design by notorious Félix Murcia. As well as the evocative and cloudy cinematography by Miguel Ángel Trujillo. And of course, the atmospheric and somewhat sad musical score by Alberto Iglesias, prior to his successful soundtracks for Pedro Almodovar's films. The film was professionally directed by filmmaker Miguel Angel Díaz. Luces de bohemia(1985) won some awards and nominations such as: 1986 Nominee Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actor Fernando Fernán Gómez, and 1986 Nominee Fotogramas de Plata Best Movie Actor Guillermo Montesinos. This craftsman has alternated his work as a director with others as assistant director. In fact, this is, so far, his last film as the person in charge. Miguel Angel Díaz has a short film career and has directed a few films such: De fresa, limón y menta (1978) and Pecado Mortal (19979 . Due to his lack of success in Spanish cinemas, Diaz took refuge in television production where he made some episodes of popular series such as: Dime que me quieres, Puerta con puerta, Los ladrones van a la oficina, and La casa de los líos.
