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And so we come to Tony Manero, the first movie I’ve seen at any Sarasota Film Festival that came with a disclaimer. Programmer Holly Herrick — in the middle of the normal thank-the-sponsors-turn-off-your-goddamn-cell-phone intro — actually commended the relatively small audience for being brave enough to see this film, which she called the darkest the festival has ever screened, before yes, giving us permission to laugh during the film’s few humorous moments.

Yikes.

The movie tells the story of a dirt-poor cabaret performer who lives to emulate the character of Tony Manero (aka John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever) while living in Chile during the brutal reign of the U.S.-armed dictator Augusto Pinochet. To say that this main character is fucked up is a total understatement: He is probably one of the least sympathetic characters I’ve ever seen as a protagonist in a film. His Fever fever leads him to despicable and inexplicable acts of violence and degradation.

To judge this film as either good or bad is almost beside the point. Whatever your response (and the response of most in the audience was general disgust — two people walked out, and the after-film chatter was about how horrible it was), you will not be able to get Tony Manero out of your brain. Did I enjoy this film? Not really. But is it a memorable, transformative film-going experience? You betcha.

Next screening: 8:30 p.m. tonight, Tues., March 31, $9.

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