A Dead Man Cannot Live

A Dead Man Cannot Live
Theatrical release poster
SpanishHombre muerto no sabe vivir
Directed byEzekiel Montes
Written byEzekiel Montes
Starring
CinematographyEzekiel Montes
Production
companies
  • 73140323 PC
  • CineAND Distribución
Distributed byFilmax
Release dates
  • 8 June 2021 (2021-06-08) (Málaga)
  • 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

A Dead Man Cannot Live (Spanish: Hombre muerto no sabe vivir) is a 2021 Spanish action thriller film directed and written by Ezekiel Montes. The cast, led by Antonio Dechent, also features Rubén Ochandiano, Elena Martínez, Jesús Castro, Paco Tous, Nancho Novo and Manuel de Blas.

Plot

[edit]

The film is set in the Costa del Sol,[1] featuring real-estate corruption as a backdrop. The plot follows Tano, the henchman of Manuel, a real-estate businessman who has got too old.[2][3] The ways of Ángel, Manuel's son and heir-apparent, complicate things.[3]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

A Dead Man Cannot Live is Ezekiel Montes' debut feature film. He took over direction, cinematography, production and script development duties.[5] Filming began in Málaga on 11 November 2019.[6] Other shooting locations also included Marbella and Cádiz.[7] The film was produced by 73140323 PC alongside CineAND Distribución.[6]

Release

[edit]

The film premiered at the 24th Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FCME) on 8 June 2021.[8][9] Distributed by Filmax, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 2 July 2021.[10]

Reception

[edit]

Alberto Luchini of Metrópoli gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, considering that despite a number of positive points, such as Dechent's great performance, those of Elena Martínez and Nancho Novo, the well-done atmosphere, the notable cinematography and the staging, the screenplay was "sheer nonsense".[11]

Sergio F. Pinilla of Cinemanía gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be a hyperviolent action thriller with a "colossal cast", and a "somewhat confusing narrative".[12]

Federico Marín Bellón of ABC gave the film, which features "uncomfortable violence", 2 out of 5 stars. He considered that, top-rate cast notwithstanding, a "disjointed choreography of gunpowder" is eventually unleashed in the film, "upon which narrative and editing failures are accentuated".[13]

Carmen L. Lobo of La Razón gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing that it is "a wild film with some stereotypes and script weaknesses thrown in but it keeps you gripped throughout".[14]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2021 34th ASECAN Awards Best Actor Antonio Dechent Won [15]
2022 1st Carmen Awards Best Actor Antonio Dechent Won [16][17]
Best Original Song Chelo Soto Nominated
Best New Director Ezekiel Montes Nominated
Best Special Effects Eduardo Pérez, Juan Ventura, Víctor Alcalá Won
Best New Actress Elena Martínez Nominated
Best Editing José. M. G. Moyano Nominated
Best Cinematography Ezekiel Montes Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Paco Tous Nominated

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ De Pablos, Emiliano (5 March 2021). "Filmax Nabs International Sales Rights to Costa del Sol Action Thriller 'A Dead Man Cannot Live' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Los Encuentros con el Cine Español de Jaén programan la cinta andaluza "Hombre muerto no sabe vivir"". Fundación Audiovisual Pública Andaluza. 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Meseguer, Astrid (2 July 2021). "'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir': corrupción y violencia extrema en la Costa del Sol". La Vanguardia.
  4. ^ a b c d "'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir' – estreno el 2 de julio en cines". Audiovisual451. 29 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Ezekiel Montes sobre 'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir': "He construido una historia donde priman los valores de lealtad, amistad y honor, que ahora se están muriendo"". Audiovisual451. 1 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Se rueda 'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir', opera prima de Ezekiel Montes". Audiovisual451. 12 November 2019.
  7. ^ López, José Juan (25 May 2021). "'Operación Camarón' en el Festival de Málaga, inundado de cine 'gaditano'". La Voz de Cádiz.
  8. ^ Sotorrío, Regina (2 July 2021). "La película malagueña 'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir' llega a las salas". Diario Sur.
  9. ^ "'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir' apuesta por el cine negro en el Festival de Málaga". Europa Press.
  10. ^ "La industria española regresa a Cannes en 2021". Audiovisual451. 5 July 2021.
  11. ^ Luchini, Alberto (30 June 2021). "Hombre muerto no sabe vivir: Cualquier tiempo pasado fue mejor". Metrópoli – via El Mundo.
  12. ^ Pinilla, Sergio F. (28 June 2021). "Hombre muerto no sabe vivir". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  13. ^ Martín Bellón, Federico (2 July 2021). "Crítica de 'Hombre muerto no sabe vivir': Violencia incómoda y soberbio reparto". abcplay. ABC.
  14. ^ Lobo, Carmen L. (2 July 2021). "Crítica de «Hombre muerto no sabe vivir»: Ni el apuntador debe salvarse ★★★☆☆". La Razón.
  15. ^ "'La hija', mejor película andaluza del año en los Premios ASECAN 2021". Cine con Ñ. 18 December 2021.
  16. ^ "'Alegría y 'Sevillanas de Brooklyn', las más nominadas a los primeros Premios Carmen del Cine Andaluz". Audiovisual451. 14 December 2021.
  17. ^ "'La hija' de Manuel Martín Cuenca, coronada en la primera edición de los Premios Carmen del cine andaluz". Audiovisual451. 31 January 2022.
[edit]