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The Dead Man and Being Happy

Original title: El muerto y ser feliz
  • 2012
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
601
YOUR RATING
The Dead Man and Being Happy (2012)
ComedyDramaMystery

El Muerto is the story of a Spanish man in Argentina who one day becomes aware on the upper floor of a hospital in Buenos Aires of his approaching death. He decides to escape, to flee toward... Read allEl Muerto is the story of a Spanish man in Argentina who one day becomes aware on the upper floor of a hospital in Buenos Aires of his approaching death. He decides to escape, to flee towards the north and across Argentina. This last cross has no specific destination. Only matter... Read allEl Muerto is the story of a Spanish man in Argentina who one day becomes aware on the upper floor of a hospital in Buenos Aires of his approaching death. He decides to escape, to flee towards the north and across Argentina. This last cross has no specific destination. Only matters movement and sensation of extreme freedom, but above all, the feeling to leave behind on... Read all

  • Director
    • Javier Rebollo
  • Writers
    • Lola Mayo
    • Javier Rebollo
    • Salvador Roselli
  • Stars
    • José Sacristán
    • Roxana Blanco
    • Valeria Alonso
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    601
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Javier Rebollo
    • Writers
      • Lola Mayo
      • Javier Rebollo
      • Salvador Roselli
    • Stars
      • José Sacristán
      • Roxana Blanco
      • Valeria Alonso
    • 2User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Tráiler [OV]
    Trailer 2:49
    Tráiler [OV]

    Photos5

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    Top cast28

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    José Sacristán
    José Sacristán
    • Santos
    Roxana Blanco
    • Érika
    Valeria Alonso
    Valeria Alonso
    • Enfermera joven y bonita
    Jorge Jellinek
    • Hombre grande
    Lisa Caligaris
    • Alejandra
    • (as Maria Elisa Caligaris)
    Horacio Vay
    • Doctor
    Pascual Condito
    • Enfermo
    • (as Giona Pascual Condito)
    Carlos Zumbo
    • Enfermo
    Manuel García
    • Enfermo
    Juan Nemirovsky
    Juan Nemirovsky
    • Mozo
    Omar Tiberty
    • Rubén
    Itatí Eva Aranda
    • Mucama Colombiana
    José Pierini
    • Hombre de mediana edad
    Horacio Maldonado
    • Hombre elegante en calzoncillos
    Paula Viel
    • Chica
    Cristian José Jiménez
    • Policía viejo y curtido
    Marcelo Raúl Fernández
    • El otro policía
    Ricardo Bertone
    • Recepcionista
    • Director
      • Javier Rebollo
    • Writers
      • Lola Mayo
      • Javier Rebollo
      • Salvador Roselli
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      When director Javier Rebollo saw the first cut, he realized that José Sacristán had made the character of Santos, a hit man, much more lovable that Rebollo and her co-writer Lola Mayo originally intended. That's the main reason why Rebollo and Mayo recorded a constant voice over trough the whole movie, to try to neutralize Santos's charm.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Vivo en Argentina: Episode dated 20 November 2012 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Noches árticas
      Performed by Nacho Vegas

    User reviews2

    Featured review
    6/10

    Spanish/Argentina co-production about a murderer with a woman traveling through Argentina and meet strangers and colorful outdoors

    El Muerto is the story of a Spanish murderous called Santos (Jose Sacristan) in Argentina who one day becomes aware on the upper floor of a hospital in Buenos Aires of his approaching death , as he is suffering three Cancers . He decides to escape, to flee towards the north and across Argentina. This last cross has no specific destination. Only matters movement and sensation of extreme freedom, but above all, the feeling to leave behind only the last moment of life. The protagonist picks up a rare and mature woman called Erika (Roxana Blanco) and together travel throughout the lands of Argentina, she will be his rider. That's why he serenely moves forward her , he meets a companion . In this paradoxical movement of avoiding death while rushing towards her, he meets an agreeable companion .

    Strange film dealing with an interminable road movie starred by a hit-man , an ill killer who is continuously injecting morphine for his tumors of brain and pancreas . This movie is the story of a hit-man who does not murder , a story of guns that don't do fire, dogs and roads . His long wondering, being similar by many aspects to a modern novel of cavalry , as he is a killer of his condition, he is intimate with death . Rare flick , its has a few gaps and is slow moving , but anyway, it is compensated with the great performances from Jose Sacristan and Roxana Blanco . The film is narrated by a continuous and annoying voice in off , as when director Javier Rebollo saw the first cut, he realized that José Sacristán had made the character of Santos, a hit-man, much more lovable that Rebollo and her co-writer Lola Mayo originally intended . That's the main reason why Rebollo and Mayo recorded a constant voice over trough the whole movie, to try to neutralize Santos's charm. The motion picture was deliberately directed by Javier Rebollo who previously realized shorts and two films titled Lo Que Se De Lola and La Mujer Sin Piano .

    ¨The Dead Man and Being Happy¨ results to be a hot homage to a great actor , Jose Sacristan , a Spanish player with a long career , about forty years , in which he has been playing all kind roles . As José Sacristán was born in 1937 , Chinchón, Madrid . He is an magnificent actor and occasionally director, especially known for Un Lugar en Mundo (1992), Éste Es Mi barrio (1996) and El Viaje a Ninguna Parte (1986). He is married to also actress Leonor Benedetto. Other important films he performed are the followings : Un Hombre Llamado Flor de Otoño , Niñas.. al Salón , Reina Zanahoria , Acto Posesión , Asignatura Pendiente , Hasta Matrimonio Nos Separe and Parranda . Furthermore , Sacristan directed three acceptable films : 1977 Yo Bajo en la Próxima, ¿y Usted? , 1987 Cara Acelga and 1983 Soldados De Plomo .
    • ma-cortes
    • Apr 4, 2014
    • Permalink

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 11, 2013 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • France
      • Argentina
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • El muerto y ser feliz
    • Filming locations
      • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Icónica
      • Lolita Films
      • Eddie Saeta S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $33,578
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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