Stories from the Kronen

Stories from the Kronen is a 1995 drama film directed by Montxo Armendáriz based on the novel by José Ángel Mañas which stars Juan Diego Botto and Jordi Mollà. It was entered into the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Plot Carlos, Roberto, Pedro and Manolo form a group of friends in their early twenties with a lot of time on their hands during their summer vacation. The point of encounter for the group of friends is a bar called the Kronen, where Manolo, the least affluent among them, works as a bar tender and is the singer of a rock band. Carlos is the leader of the pack. He is handsome, selfish, amoral and hedonistic. He is in into a restless pursuing of pleasure: drinking, using heavy drugs, partying and having sex. Nothing seems to stop him. At Kronen Carlos rekindles a relationship with Amalia, an ex-girlfriend whose current boyfriend is coincidentally out of town. Amalia joins the group attracted by Carlos' good looks and charm. Roberto is Carlos' best friend and sidekick. He plays the drums in the band where Manolo sings. More serious and more scrupulous than Carlos, Roberto has repressed homosexual feelings towards his best friend. When they go to see Roberto's favorite film, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Roberto is aroused when he sees Carlos sexually playing in the dark with his girlfriend. Pedro is the weakest member of the group. He has serious health issues, he lost a kidney and is a diabetic, being the most vulnerable, Carlos takes advantage of him and bullies him constantly, making fun of his delicacy.