Jokes and Cigarettes (HSBC Spanish Film Festival) - Film Review

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Tue 11 Jun 2024 - Thu 11 Jul 2024

Jokes & Cigarettes was directed and written by award-winner David Trueba and is 117 minutes long. Starring David Verdaguer, Carolina Yuste, Pedro Casablanc, Candela Serrat and Ramon Fontser e8, it's a dramatic biopic of famous Catalan humourist Eugenio, a chain-smoking comedian known for his deadpan delivery, smoked glasses and trademark total black attire. It follows his early days in Barcelona, mid 1960s. This film is a winner x 7 2013 2024 Gaudi Awards 2013 incl. Best Actor and Best Actress; Winner - 2024 Feroz Awards - Best Actor; nominee x 11 - 2024 Spanish Academy Awards (Goyas) 2013 incl Best Film.

One of many gems at the at the Spanish Film Festival this year, be sure to explore the program for others. See here for the 2024 PDF Program.


Young jeweller Eugenio meets Conchita on a bus, and it is love at first sight. He learns to play guitar to accompany her in her musical career, and despite stage fright, they start to play together as 'Els dos'. When Conchita leaves Barcelona for two weeks, she convinces Eugenio to perform solo and he becomes a phenomenon in the city's underground stand-up comedy scene. With her help, he creates his alter ego 2014the dark glasses, the black shirt, the barstool, the cigarettes and the highball glass 2014the character that would soon become an unexpected success in a depressed nation desperate to laugh.

When Eugenio sees folk singer Conchita saunter off the bus, something tells him straight away this is the woman for him. As a singing duo, their act achieves minor success and they secure a residency at a local club. Conchita is called away to tend to her mother and Eugenio is left to perform solo for the time she's away. The club owner doesn't have much faith in him and offers him only half a wage while Conchita is away. Whether it is due to stage fright or wanting to mask his insecurities, Eugenio develops a deadpan appearance, constantly puffing on a cigarette, vodka and orange by his side, and smoky glasses to face the many eyes looking at him, and starts telling jokes. His on-stage 'man in black' persona translates well for the audience and he quickly becomes famous enough to pack the club every single night he performs. By the time Conchita gets back, she's amazed there are lines out the door waiting to get into the second session.


This bittersweet portrait is based on a book by the couple's son Gerard, and captures the hidden life of a beloved artist who brought joy to so many in a depressed Spain, and made a whole country laugh, even though he himself was quite joyless. He was completely at odds with humour, an unlikely candidate. He was serious, he hid behind tinted glasses, no gestures, and makes the audience wait before he decides to begin, sitting on his stool. Still, the wait made them laugh even more.

At a bit of a disadvantage not having known the real Eugenio, this onscreen persona may well have been exactly like him. However, as an audience member, the character does not exude much of a personality, other than the jokes he spouts, which are not bad at all. There's no real light and shade to his personality, and the heaviness of his deadpan performance doesn't really let up. There is no real connection to him as a person, and as such, an emotional scene doesn't have the impact intended and becomes more of an observation than heartfelt. The one that shone was Carolina Yuste as Conchita. Not the focus of attention, she still manages to reach out beyond the screen to hold you with her great performance as the long-suffering wife who loves her husband beyond all else and puts him in the forefront at all times. You can't help but fall for her and all the sacrifices she makes to ensure everything goes well for her husband. She's the shiny tinsel that adds substance and story to what may otherwise flatline. Of note, the young actor who plays the eldest son hits the mark displaying deep emotion with a look, a gesture, when trying to prove his truth - which was heartfelt and touching.


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