Jokes & Cigarettes

Jokes & Cigarettes (Saben aquell) is a 2023 Spanish biographical drama film directed by David Trueba from a screenplay by Trueba and Albert Espinosa which stars David Verdaguer as comedian Eugenio alongside Carolina Yuste. It features Catalan- and Spanish-language dialogue.

Plot
Set from 1967 to 1980, the plot follows the onstage beginnings of Eugenio Jofra, a jeweller from Barcelona, as well as his relationship with love interest Conchita, whom he begins to perform in a musical duo, 'Els Dos'. Eugenio ends up improvising solo stand-up comedy shows upon Conchita's sudden absence.

Cast
Cameo roles include Lara Dibildos as her mother Laura Valenzuela, Paco Plaza as Chicho Ibáñez Serrador, and Pedro Ruiz as himself.

Production
The screenplay was penned by Albert Espinosa based on the books Eugenio and Saben aquell que diu by Gerard Jofra, Eugenio's son. The film is an Ikiru Films, Atresmedia Cine and La Terraza Films production, and it had the participation of Atresmedia, Movistar+, and HBO Max and backing from ICEC and TVC. Trueba advised Verdaguer not to obsess about impersonating Eugenio, telling Verdaguer that he was not [popular impersonator] Carlos Latre, but primarily about getting the hang of [Eugenio's] energy. Verdaguer used nonetheless a prosthetic nose and a prosthetic ass. Carolina Yuste worked for three months with a diction coach to improve her Catalan-language skills. Shooting locations included Barcelona. The film was lensed by Sergi Vilanova and featured the music of Andrea Motis.

Release
The film was released theatrically in Spain by Warner Bros. Pictures on 1 November 2023.

Reception
According to the American review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Jokes & Cigarettes has a 100% approval rating based on 5 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.3/10.

Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas rated the film with 85 points ('very good'), highlighting the screenplay, the setting, and a "masterful" Carolina Yuste.

J. Picatoste Verdejo of Mondo Sonoro rated the film with 7 out of 10 points, describing it as "a film far from sensationalism, warm and romantic".

Blai Morell of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the Verdaguer/Yuste duo as the best thing about the film.

Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, predicting Verdaguer as the foregone Goya Award winner for his performance in his verdict.

Top ten lists
The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:
 * 3rd — El Español (Series & Más consensus)
 * 4th — Mondosonoro (consensus)
 * 9th — El Periódico de Catalunya (critics)

Accolades

 * 2023 || 29th Forqué Awards || Best Actor in a Film || David Verdaguer || Won ||
 * rowspan = "38" | 2024 || rowspan = "3" | 11th Feroz Awards || Best Actor in a Film || David Verdaguer || Won || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Actress in a Film || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * Best Trailer || Miguel Ángel Sanantonio || Nominated
 * rowspan = "13" | 16th Gaudí Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "13" |
 * Best Director || David Trueba || Nominated
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || David Trueba, Albert Espinosa || Nominated
 * Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Won
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Won
 * Best Supporting Actor || Pedro Casablanc || Nominated
 * Best Original Score || Andrea Motis || Nominated
 * Best Art Direction || Marc Pou || Won
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallés || Won
 * Best Costume Design || Lala Huete || Won
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Caitlin Acheson, Nacho Días, Benjamín Pérez || Won
 * Best Visual Effects || Wesley Barnard, Míriam Piquer || Nominated
 * Best Sound || Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas || Won
 * rowspan = "7" | 79th CEC Medals || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "7" |
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || Albert Espinosa, David Trueba || Nominated
 * Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Won
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * Best Supporting Actor || Pedro Casablanc || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Sergi Vilanova Claudín || Nominated
 * Best Editing || Marta Velasco || Nominated
 * rowspan = "11" | 38th Goya Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "11" |
 * Best Director || David Trueba || Nominated
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || David Trueba, Albert Espinosa || Nominated
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Won
 * Best Original Score || Andrea Motis || Nominated
 * Best Sound || Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas || Nominated
 * Best Art Direction || Marc Pou || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallès || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Lala Huete || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Caitlin Acheson, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || David Verdaguer || Won || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Leading Role || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 11th Platino Awards || Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * Best Supporting Actor || Pedro Casablanc || Nominated
 * Best Cinematography || Sergi Vilanova Claudín || Nominated
 * Best Editing || Marta Velasco || Nominated
 * rowspan = "11" | 38th Goya Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "11" |
 * Best Director || David Trueba || Nominated
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || David Trueba, Albert Espinosa || Nominated
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Won
 * Best Original Score || Andrea Motis || Nominated
 * Best Sound || Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas || Nominated
 * Best Art Direction || Marc Pou || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallès || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Lala Huete || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Caitlin Acheson, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || David Verdaguer || Won || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Leading Role || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 11th Platino Awards || Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Sound || Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas || Nominated
 * Best Art Direction || Marc Pou || Nominated
 * Best Production Supervision || Eduard Vallès || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Lala Huete || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Caitlin Acheson, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || David Verdaguer || Won || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Leading Role || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 11th Platino Awards || Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * }
 * rowspan = "2" | 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || David Verdaguer || Won || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Leading Role || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * rowspan = "2" | 11th Platino Awards || Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * }
 * rowspan = "2" | 11th Platino Awards || Best Actor || David Verdaguer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Actress || Carolina Yuste || Nominated
 * }
 * }