
Bob Pop speaks Catalan
After almost 20 years of living in Catalonia, the charismatic writer, comedian, and television critic Bob Pop finally decides to learn and speak Catalan. He talks with LGBTIQ+ language partners such as Anna Polo, Pol Guasch, Ada Colau, Judith Juanhuix, Laura Vila Kremer, and Clara Peya. He will have the help of his dog, Pancho, and Babeth Ripoll, his language coach.
Bob in Translation has six 25-minute chapters, one for each initial of the collective's initials. Each episode will address significant issues for the collective, always with the humor and sarcasm that characterizes Bob Pop. This series is a production by 3Cat in collaboration with Indiana Films. Directed by Laia Ventayol and written by Bob Pop, Anna Polo, Tatiana Lòpez, and Àngela Molina.
Capítol 1. L
To address the L of lesbians, Bob Pop meets the journalist and comedian Anna Polo. He talks with her about lesbian invisibility and inclusive language. Meanwhile, he begins his Catalan classes with Babeth Ripoll.
The chapter begins with a night image of the Hotel Arts. Then we see Bob Pop in a room in the hotel. He is emulating Bill Murray in Lost in Translation.
Later, we see several panoramic views of the city. We see an image with the Tibidabo in the background and the Collserola Tower, another with the Colón Building and the Hotel Arts, and the Mapfre Tower in the background. We also see the Sagrada Familia and another image of the Somorrostro beach with the Olympic Fish in the background.
Bob Pop is outside the Born Cultural Centre (Comercial Square, 12). He has decided to learn Catalan. Then we see an image of the Antònia Serra i Mas house on Pere IV Street. Bob Pop lives there. Later, we see Babeth crossing the street and ringing the doorbell. They have a Catalan class.
Then we see an image of the Three Chimneys on the Paral·lel and the cable car in the background. We also see a panoramic view of the Barceló Raval Hotel. We can see the Sagrada Familia in the background and the Agbar Tower. We see Bob Pop in his wheelchair on the Rambla at the level of the Miró mosaic. He passes the mural Libres, feministas y rebeldes on Carrer Bòria.
Anna Polo walks along the Paseo del Born. She meets Bob Pop on the terrace of Mescladís del Pou on Carders Street, 35.
Later, we see another image of the Three Chimneys, some rooftops, and the cable car in the background. We see the buildings in Catalunya Square from a distance. We also see the clock and the Generali sign. Then, we see cars circulating on the Diagonal. And again Casa Antònia Serra i Mas. Bob and Babeth have a class.
Bob Pop goes to the mural Kiss by Joan Fontcuberta in Isidre Nonell Square with his dog Pancho. Then we see him on the Paseo del Born, Las Ramblas, and finally, Bob talks to Anna Polo again. This time, they are at the headquarters of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans, located in the old Hospital de la Santa Creu on Carme Street, 47, in Ciutat Vella. We see him enter through the door, and then both talk inside.
The chapter ends with Bob Pop having therapy in the hydrotherapy pool at the Guttmann Institute (Garcilaso Street, 57).
Capítol 2. G.
Bob Pop lives in a different Sant Jordi. He meets the writer Pol Guasch, with whom he talks about love, and tries to answer the most uncomfortable question: Is there a gay privilege?
This episode begins with Bob Pop on a set. Then we see an image of the Casa Antònia Serra i Mas at night. Bob Pop is watching TV at home. The next day, we see him in the Julio Muñoz Ramonet Foundation Garden, also known as the Can Fabra Garden. It is located at 282 Muntaner Street. There, he meets Pol Guasch.
Later, Bob Pop walks with his dog Pancho in front of Keith Haring's mural 'Together we can stop AIDS' in Joan Corominas Square next to the MACBA. We then see an image of the façade of the museum in the Àngels Square and, later, a panoramic view of the city with Tibidabo in the background. We are again in the Antònia Serra i Mas house. We see Babeth going up the stairs to Bob's house. They have Catalan lessons again.
Later, we see several images of the city and the façade of the Antoni Tàpies Foundation Museum at 255 Aragón Street. Bob Pop passes by the door. At the Montaner i Simon publishing house in the Foundation, he meets Pol Guasch again.
Later, we see Bob Pop on Princesa Street at number 20, waiting for his taxi. He goes to Passeig de Gracia on Sant Jordi's day. We see the promenade full of people and book stalls, images of Casa Batlló and his interventions at the Cadena Ser and Rac 1 stops. Bob is also signing books.
Capítol 3. B.
Bob announces his Catalan adventure on the radio and takes the opportunity to talk with the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, about bisexuality and all the prejudices that exist in this sexual orientation.
The chapter begins with a night image of the Hotel Arts. We see the rounds and the cars passing by. Bob Pop is at the hotel's bar. It is already daylight, and we see several panoramic images of the city where we can see the port or the statue of Columbus. We are in the +Bernat bookstore café (Buenos Aires Street, 6). Babeth and Bob Pop are giving Catalan classes there.
Then, we see the Tibidabo with the park and the expiatory temple of the Sacred Heart in the background. Also, we see some buildings of the modernist complex of Sant Pau. Bob Pop meets Ada Colau in a hairdresser's. They are at the Ribera6 hairdresser's, on Ribera Street, 6.
Later, we see images of the city again, some buildings, and the MNAC in the background. We see the bicycle lane on the Diagonal. Bop Pop is entering the Catalunya Ràdio building (Avenida Diagonal, 614) to go to an interview on the program La tarde en Catalunya Ràdio. Journalist Elisenda Carod interviews him.
Further ahead, we see the clock tower in Vila de Gràcia Square. We see Bob Pop and Ada Colau crossing Diamant Square. There, they sit down and talk together again.
It is nighttime. We see the Casa Antònia Serra i Mas building. Bob Pop is getting ready. He goes to dance with Ada Colau at the Pride in Catalunya Square.
Capítol 4. T.
The scientist and trans activist Judith Juanhuix reflects on trans diversity and freedom. Meanwhile, Bob progresses in his Catalan classes with Babeth.
The chapter begins at night. We see the Ronda Litoral, the cars circulating, and the Arts Hotel in the background. Anna Polo and Bob Pop emulate a scene from Lost in Translation at the karaoke bar.
It is already daylight. We see the Barcelona customs building. And the Joan Brossa Gardens. There, Bob Pop meets Judith Juanhuix. Then we return to Bob Pop's house. He has a class with Babeth. Later, we see images of the Diagonal Mar Park. Bob Pop is there with his dog Pancho. Later, he enters the Joan Miró Foundation building. He meets Judith Juanhuix again.
We see new images of the city seen from the Miró Foundation. They are in the north courtyard of the foundation, in front of the sculpture Lluna, Sol y Estrella. Then he returns to his class at home with Babeth.
Bob Pop meets Març Llinàs, a comedian and scriptwriter. They are in Ciutadella Park. We see Març walking through the park. Later, he sits on a bench while they talk. They are in front of the Castell de los Tres Dragons building, which is part of the Museum of Natural Sciences. Finally, he returns home, where he does therapy with his physiotherapist.
Capítol 5. I.
Bob Pop discovers Catalan sign language and talks to actress Laura Vila Kremer about intersexuality and the binary imposition of bodies.
Anna Polo and Bob Pop talk about their language partners. They are lying in bed. We see a new image of the building where our protagonist lives. He does a Zoom class with Babeth.
Later, we see an image of the Picornell swimming pools. People walk along Paseo de Gracia. We see the Triangle. There, people cross the traffic light and walk along Las Ramblas. Finally, we see the Blue Museum of Natural Sciences at the Fòrum park. Laura Vila Kremer walks outside. There, she talks to Bob Pop in Leonardo da Vinci Square.
Then we see the door of the Espai Texas on Bailén Street, 205. We are at the interior of one of its theatre rooms where Bob rehearses for his new show 'Hablar no sirve. De nada' with Daniel Bayona. We see a street in Barceloneta. In the background stands a sculpture on the Barceloneta promenade, The Wounded Shooting Star by Rebecca Horn.
We see the Sonia Rescalvo Zafra Square in Ciutadella Park with the gazebo of the transexual Sònia and the ornamental fountain in the background. There, in 1991, she was murdered by a fascist group, and this space pays tribute to her. We see the boats in the park and Pancho walking through the park with Bob Pop.
We see the Barcelona promenade and the Nike Training Outdoor Project, a remodeling of a training area located on the Espigón del Gas on the Barceloneta promenade. Bob Pop goes down to the Barceloneta beach to meet Laura Vila Kremer again. They are sitting in front of the sea, and we see the Hotel Vela in the background. Then we can also see the seafront, with the sculpture of the Olympic Fish by Frank Gehry and also images of the Hospital de Mar and the Barceloneta beach.
The chapter ends with images of the play that Bob Pop stars in and that he wrote himself at the Espai Texas.
Capítol 6. Q.
In the final chapter, Bob Pop recounts his time on the program and talks with the pianist Clara Peya about the origins and future of the queer movement.
The chapter begins with Anna Polo walking along the Paseo de Lluís Companys and the Arc de Triomf in the background. There, she meets Bob Pop.
Later, he meets Clara Peya in a room where she plays the piano. They are at Utopía 46 on Sant Pere Més Alt Street, 46. Afterward, Bob Pop is at his house again.
The next day, Bob Pop goes to the Santa Caterina Market. We see him doing his shopping at various stops inside the market. He talks to Mercè Poveda and Noelia Garcia, market stallholders. Later, we see an image of the Columbus statue and the port, the cable car passing by, and the façade of the Axel Hotel on Aribau Street, 33. We also see various streets in the Eixample and images of the Pride celebration.
Bob Pop meets with representatives of LGBTIQ+ entities. Katy Pallàs, former president of LGBTI families; Anna Valenzuela, president of Veus Trans and Quim Roqueta, president of Gais Positius. They are at Utopía 46 again.
Babeth walks down the street towards Bob Pop's house through several streets of Poble Nou until she arrives and knocks on the door.
Once again, Bob Pop talks to Clara Peya in Utopia 46. The chapter ends with a reminder of the different interviews he has done.