The Dead Man and Being Happy

2012
The Dead Man and Being Happy
Film poster
SpanishEl muerto y ser feliz
Directed byJavier Rebollo
Written by
  • Lola Mayo
  • Javier Rebollo
  • Salvador Roselli
Produced by
  • José Nolla
  • Lola Mayo
  • Damián París
  • Luis Miñarro
Starring
CinematographySantiago Racaj
Edited byÁngel Hdez. Zoido
Production
companies
  • Eddie Saeta
  • Icónica
  • Lolita Films
  • Noodles Productions
  • Utópica
Distributed bySplendor Films (es)
Release dates
  • 23 September 2012 (2012-09-23) (Zinemaldia)
  • 11 January 2013 (2013-01-11) (Spain)
  • 13 November 2014 (2014-11-13) (Argentina)
Countries
  • Spain
  • France
  • Argentina
LanguageSpanish

The Dead Man and Being Happy (Spanish: El muerto y ser feliz) is a 2012 road movie directed by Javier Rebollo [es] and written by Lola Mayo [ca], Rebollo, and Salvador Roselli which stars José Sacristán and Roxana Blanco. It is a Spanish-French-Argentine co-production.

Plot

The plot follows Santos, a terminally-ill Spanish hitman living in Argentina who starts a travel to the north of the country for a last job.[1]

Cast

  • José Sacristán as Santos[2]
  • Roxana Blanco as Érika[2]
  • Valeria Alonso[2]
  • Jorge Jellinek[2]
  • Carlos Lecuona[2]
  • Lisa Caligaris as Alejandra[2]
  • Vicky Peña[2]
  • Fermí Reixach [es] as Santiago[2]

Production

The film is a Spanish-Argentine-French co-production by Eddie Saeta, Icónica, Lolita Films, Noodles Productions and Utópica and it had the participation of TVC and backing from ICEC, INCAA, and SOFICA.[3][4]

Release

The film was presented at the 60th San Sebastián International Film Festival on 23 September 2012.[5] Distributed by Catalan outfit Splendor Films,[6] it was released theatrically in Spain on 11 January 2013.[2]

Reception

Neil Young of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Rebollo "just about manages to keep the right side of the line dividing the engagingly offbeat from the self-regardingly clever-clever".[7]

Fionnula of Halligan ScreenDaily undercored that "rarely laugh-out-loud, The Dead Man And Being Happy is nonetheless a warmly funny film".[8]

Matthew Connolly of Slant Magazine wrote that the film "feels like a connect-the-dots film with a few lines artfully blurred".[9]

Sergio F. Pinilla of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "one of the most exciting and radical adventures of recent Spanish cinema".[6]

Javier Porta Fouz of La Nación gave the film a 'good' rating, pointing out that even its intrigue becomes progressively diluted, by the time the denouement comes viewers confirm that "the characters have been guided with a strange sense of humor and responsibility, with a welcome affection".[10]

Gaspar Zimerman of Clarín gave the film a 'good' rating, writing that Sacristán "manages to give shape to a credible and lovable creature".[11]

Carlos Boyero [es] of El País only recognized one virtue in the film, being "that it only lasts 90 minutes".[12]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2012
 60th San Sebastián International Film Festival Silver Shell for Best Actor José Sacristán Won
[13]
Toulouse Spanish Film Festival Golden Violet for Best Film Won
[3]
2013
 27th Goya Awards Best Actor José Sacristán Won
[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Arteaga Villar, Juan (24 September 2012). "El muerto y ser feliz: una road movie irónica y terminal". Cineuropa.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Caviaro, Juan Luis (11 January 2013). "Estrenos de cine | 11 de enero | Jack Reacher y el amor según Haneke". Espinof.
  3. ^ a b ""El muerto y ser feliz", ganadora del Festival de Cine de Toulouse, Francia". rtve.es. 6 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Quatre produccions amb participació de TV3, al Festival de Sant Sebastià". TV3. 27 July 2012 – via Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals.
  5. ^ Cuenca, Anna (23 September 2012). "José Sacristán recorre Argentina en la última película de Javier Rebollo". AFP – via Yahoo.com.
  6. ^ a b Pinilla, Sergio F. (11 January 2013). "El muerto y ser feliz". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  7. ^ Young, Neil (22 September 2012). "The Dead Man and Being Happy (El Muerto y ser feliz): San Sebastian Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (24 September 2012). "The Dead Man And Being Happy". ScreenDaily.
  9. ^ Connolly (11 October 2012). "Review: The Dead Man and Being Happy". Slant Magazine.
  10. ^ Porta Fouz, Javier (13 November 2014). "El sardónico viaje final de un asesino a sueldo". La Nación.
  11. ^ Zimerman, Gaspar (14 November 2014). "Sacristán, creíble y querible". Clarín.
  12. ^ Boyero, Carlos (24 September 2012). "Excelente Ozon y una 'road movie' tonta". El País.
  13. ^ "José Sacristán gana su segunda Concha de Plata con "El muerto y ser feliz"". La Razón. 29 September 2012.
  14. ^ "José Sacristán consigue su primer Goya gracias a 'El muerto y ser feliz'". 20minutos.es. 18 February 2013.