Most People Die on Sundays

Most People Die on Sundays (Spanish: Los domingos mueren más personas) is a 2024 comedy-drama film directed by Iair Said.[1] It stars Said, Rita Cortese and Antonia Zegers.

Most People Die on Sundays
SpanishLos domingos mueren más personas
Directed byIair Said
Written byIair Said
Produced byNicolás Avruj
StarringIair Said
Rita Cortese
Antonia Zegers
CinematographyGiovanni Cimarosti
Edited byIair Said
Music byFranz Ascari
Production
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Release date
  • 20 May 2024 (2024-05-20) (Cannes)
Running time
73 minutes
Countries
  • Argentina
  • Italy
  • Spain
LanguageSpanish

The film is based in part on Said's own experiences after the death of his father. The cast also includes Juliana Gattas as David's sister.

Plot

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The plot follows David, a 30-year-old gay man from Argentina who has spent several years attending school in Italy; returning home to attend the funeral of his uncle, he is plunged into an existential crisis when his mother Dora announces that she has also decided to unplug the life support that has been keeping David's comatose father, with whom David had a strained and distant relationship, alive.[2]

Cast

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Production

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The film is an Argentine-Italian-Spanish co-production by Campo Cine alongside Patagonik Film Group, Disparte, and Nephilim.[4]

Release

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The film premiered on May 17, 2024, in the ACID program at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival,[5] where it was a nominee for the Queer Palm.[6] It also made it to the 'Latin Horizons' slate of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.[7]

Critical response

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Ankit Jhunjhunwala of Screen Anarchy called the film affecting but marred by a slow pace, writing that "there is a lugubriousness in the bones of Most People Die On Sundays, even at 75 minutes. Not enough happens and the film feels like it was padded out from a short designed to be 35-40 minutes. Lethargic filmmaking in debut features is not at all uncommon and usually dissipates in subsequent films. Said’s emotional acuity, though, and unique vantage point make him a valuable new voice in cinema."[2]

Nicholas Bell of Ioncinema wrote that "while the mechanics of Said’s narrative are arguably familiar, it’s an interesting dissection of identities involving a gay, overweight, Jewish Argentinean of a particular age whose experiences growing up in a certain time and place have paralyzed him in a repetitive rhythm of arrested development. Exhibiting questionable behaviors, often which are self-sabotaging and prohibitive to his well being, Said brings this somewhat mournful portrait to a quietly moving grace note suggesting the silver lining of loss is a motivational reminder to the living."[5]

References

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  1. ^ Jamie Lang, "Acid Player ‘Most People Die on Sundays’ Ruminates on the Unexpected Costs Loved Ones Pay After a Death in the Family". Variety, May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Ankit Jhunjhunwala, "Cannes 2024 Review: MOST PEOPLE DIE ON SUNDAYS, Affecting Funeral Drama Marred By Slow Pace". Screen Anarchy, May 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Lépine, Cédric. "ACID Cannes 2024 : « Most People Die on Sundays » de Iar Said". Mediapart.
  4. ^ "'Los domingos mueren más personas', seleccionada en ACID del Festival de Cannes 2024". Audiovisual451. 24 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b Nicholas Bell, "A Month of Sundays: Said Squeezes Magic Out of Melancholy". Ioncinema, May 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Tim Dams, "Queer Palm reveals eligible titles from 2024 Cannes lineup". Screen Daily, 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ González, David (12 July 2024). "Albert Serra, Iciar Bollain, Pilar Palomero and Pedro Martín-Calero set to duke it out for the Golden Shell at San Sebastián". Cineuropa.
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