La Cabina AKA "The Telephone Box" is a totally original Emmy award-winning 1972 surreal Spanish psychological horror short film directed by Spanish director Antonio Mercero and written by him and José Luis Garci. The film starred the late Spanish actor José Luis López Vázquez. In the 35-minute film a man becomes trapped in a telephone booth while passersby seem unable to help him. La Cabina is a film constructed on simplicity and brilliance. The story about a man trapped inside a public phone-booth starts off as a comedy and then gradually spirals into a surreal nightmare from which there seems no escape. This short film is rich in symbols and metaphors about loneliness and alienation in the urban landscape. How ironic that we have our main protagonist trapped like a fly inside a glass jar he wants to communicate his terror but the telephone is out-of-order and we bear witness to his growing unease and dread. Human dialogue is kept to a bare minimum and it feels like a silent film with a dream-like quality which becomes claustrophobic.This stark film has an atmosphere that sears the mind and emotions of viewers and the residue it leaves behind remains long after the film has finished. The haunting and creepy cinematography is suffused with suspense and unseen menace. Terror prowls about as we watch with dried mouths. A complete masterpiece of the genre that would have Hitchcock turning livid with envy. Sadly there is no DVD Laser-Disc or VHS tape available of this magnificent example of the art of the short film. Though the film is legendary in Spain amongst the UK population of a certain age this film is fondly remembered for its broadcasts on various UK terrestrial channels in 1979 1982 and 1985 (if anyone knows any other broadcast dates please let me know). If you have 35 minutes spare I cannot recommend this short film highly enough. I have updated the English subtitles but if any Spanish speaking person thinks they can improve the translation please get in touch.
