Happy Sad (film)

Happy Sad
Theatrical release poster
SpanishAlegría tristeza
Directed byIbon Cormenzana
Written by
  • Ibon Cormenzana
  • Jordi Vallejo
Produced by
  • Ibon Cormenzana
  • Ignasi Estapé
  • Jérôme Vidal
Starring
CinematographyAlbert Pascual
Edited byDavid Gallart
Music byLucas Vidal
Production
companies
  • Arcadia Motion Pictures
  • Samarcanda Films
  • Noodles Production
Distributed byAlfa Pictures
Release dates
  • 11 November 2018 (2018-11-11) (Seville)
  • 16 November 2018 (2018-11-16) (Spain)
Countries
  • Spain
  • France
LanguageSpanish

Happy Sad (Spanish: Alegría tristeza, lit. 'Happiness sadness') is a 2018 psychological drama film directed by Ibon Cormenzana [eu]. Its cast features Roberto Álamo, Claudia Placer, and Manuela Vellés.

Plot

After the tragic death of his wife Sandra, emotionally blocked firefighter Marcos becomes unable to identify emotions in others, starting a treatment with help from his daughter Lola and the psychologist Luna.[1][2]

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures and Samarcanda Films alongside Noodles Production, and it had the participation of TV3 and Movistar+.[4] It was lensed by Albert Pascual, who used an ARRI Alexa Mini with Cooke S2/S3 lenses.[5] Shooting locations included Madrid and Pamplona.[3][6]

Release

The film was presented at the Seville European Film Festival on 11 November 2018.[7] Distributed by Alfa Pictures, it was released theatrically in Spain on 16 November 2018.[8]

Reception

Alfonso Rivera of Cineuropa wrote that the film "could have flown so much higher and gone so much further in its commitment to defend living life to the fullest".[9]

Roger Salvans Borràs of Fotogramas rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, positively citing its "stupendous" cast, while negatively mentioning some overly forced plot twists.[10]

Javier Ocaña of El País assessed that the "constant drifts in the film's personality end up eroding a good initial idea" that "falls apart to a great extent in [the film's] penultimate stretch".[11]

Sergio F. Pinilla of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars underscoring that "Cormenzana unveils his emotional cards with a stellar cast" in the verdict.[8]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2019
 28th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actor in a Minor Role Carlos Bardem Nominated [12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (14 November 2018). "Los estrenos del 16 de noviembre. 'Alegría, tristeza'. Heridas abiertas". Aisge.
  2. ^ Silvestre, Juan (8 October 2018). "'Alegría tristeza': cartel, en primicia, de la historia de superación de Maggie Civantos y Roberto Álamo". Fotogramas.
  3. ^ a b "Cormenzana dirige a Roberto Álamo y Carlos Bardem en 'Alegría, tristeza, miedo, rabia', filme de "amor con mayúsculas"". Europa Press. 25 July 2017.
  4. ^ ""Alegría, tristeza", d'Ibon Cormenzana, arriba als cinemes". TV3. 13 November 2018 – via Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals.
  5. ^ "Se rueda 'Alegría, tristeza, miedo, rabia' de Ibon Cormenzana". Camera and Light Mag. 19 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Rodaje de 'Alegría, tristeza, miedo, rabia', ayer en Antoniutti". Noticias de Navarra. 26 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Álamo lleva al cine papel "difícil pero satisfactorio" en 'Alegría Tristeza'". La Vanguardia.
  8. ^ a b Pinilla, Sergio F. (16 November 2018). "Alegría tristeza". Cinemanía.
  9. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (13 November 2018). "Review: Happy Sad". Cineuropa.
  10. ^ Salvans Borràs, Roger (15 November 2018). "Alegría Tristeza". Fotogramas.
  11. ^ Ocaña, Javier (16 November 2018). "Ecos psicológicos del 11-M". El País.
  12. ^ "Los Premios Unión de Actores y Actrices anuncian sus nominados". Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. 12 February 2019.
  13. ^ Silvestre, Juan (12 March 2019). "'Arde Madrid' arrasa en los Premios de la Unión de Actores". Fotogramas.