"Frank" is a smart and surreal black comedy that will definitely tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has been in an underground band. The characters are simplified caricatures, and all facts are taken to grotesque extremes, but there was so much I could relate to my experience in bands.

Jon is a mediocre person with delusions about being a gifted songwriter but has no talent whatsoever. By a series of coincidences, he ends up becoming the keyboardist of the Soronprfbs, an obvious parody of cult underground bands. The Soronprfbs seem to have no following, but spend all their money on touring unattended clubs and having their mandatory spiritual retreat/recording sessions in the woods. The band is lead by Frank, an eccentric singer-songwriter who wears a huge mashed paper mask over his head all the time due to what he calls "a medical condition". He seems to possess some kind of rare sensibility and charisma, but only his band members seem to understand him. While all other members seem to enjoy being part of an obscure, underground artsy project that makes them look intellectual, Frank is actually fighting for mass recognition. However, he does not know how to market himself, and his insecurities and naivety do not allow him to reach the outside world. Jon claims to feel Frank's potential and wants him to succeed, but probably never understood him. Frank and the band are just a way for him to fulfill his dream of being an artist. He even tries to steal the show once he gets a chance. His contributions never seem to fit, and all he can do is spending all his savings on recording and sharing videos of his band life on social media.

[spoiler]One year later, Jon's videos on Twitter manage to get some notoriety. A few thousands of views give Frank the illusion of being finally understood, without realizing that 4-digit figures are nothing in the current industry. The Soronprfbs eventually become famous, but only as one more thing to laugh about on social media. Jon tries to lead the band towards a more promising musical direction, but he ends up piling up creative differences and making things even worse. Completely lost, Frank ends up relying on Jon's lack of talent. He starts making "likable" music, but he is not able to. Everyone except Jon quits, and Frank has a nervous breakdown. The Soronprfbs are doomed to be misunderstood and unsuccessful, but cannot help being anything else than what they are. They exist for each other, and that's all that matters.[/spoiler]

I liked that instead of making something about "noble" genres like jazz or classical music, the focus is all on "weird" music made by untalented outcast musicians. The film doesn't idealize nor makes judgments about the "art" of Soronprfbs. It's up to the viewer to sympathize, feel pity, or just laugh about them. Frank is a true artist only in the eyes of Jon, but is probably just as delusional.

The only thing that bothered me is how simplified things are at points. The supporting roles are a bit too underdeveloped for a film based on psychological analysis. Frank and Jon are depicted in all their nuances, but the other members are simply labeled as doing crazy stuff all the time and having some kind of mental problems. Things are obviously more complicated, but the film never tries to dig much deeper than that, taking the easy way out more than once.

The soundtrack is made to appeal to less than 5% of the population, but I enjoyed most of it even though there were a few times the sound did not match what was on screen (invisible guitars, silent instruments, etc.). Comedy is mostly bittersweet with some dramatic moments that kick in in a rather surreal way, which I mostly appreciated.

Overall a solid and heartfelt film that I could naturally empathize with, that works well as both a reflection and a parody, but that could have been a bit subtler and more polished. Absolutely recommended for indie musicians who can read in between the lines.