Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed (Spanish: Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados) is a 2013 Spanish comedy-drama film written and directed by David Trueba, and starring Javier Cámara, Natalia de Molina, and Francesc Colomer. The film's title comes from a lyric in the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever".
| Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados |
| Directed by | David Trueba |
| Written by | David Trueba |
| Produced by | Cristina Huete |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Daniel Vilar |
| Edited by | Marta Velasco |
| Music by | Pat Metheny |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Spain |
| Languages |
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The film won six Goya Awards, including Film, Director, Original Screenplay, and Actor. It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated.[1][2]
Plot
editIn 1966 John Lennon is in the midst of an existential crisis in which he's considering leaving the Beatles for good. Trying to launch a career in acting, he travels to Almeria in southern Spain to film Richard Lester's anti-war black comedy How I Won the War.
Antonio, a schoolteacher of English and die-hard fan of the Liverpool quartet, decides to go on a road trip from Albacete to Almería in the hope of meeting Lennon. He uses the Beatles' lyrics to teach English and he has an unusual request.
On the way Antonio crosses paths with Belén, who's escaping from forced seclusion by her family and by Spanish society at the time. At 20, she's running from something. The pair come across Juanjo, a 16 year-old teen, who's simply run away from home, rebelling from his conservative, intolerant and inflexible father.
Neither young person has a definitive goal, so happily accompany the schoolteacher on his mission to Almeria. Arriving, Juanjo initially says his goodbyes, wandering down the beach. Antonio convinces Belén to rest a bit in his room, while he sorts out a job for Juanjo at the café.
Returning to the room, Belèn had napped and Antonio point blank asks her how many months she is. Based on his keen observation skills, he deduces her pregnancy. As she sheds some tears, he offers to pay for her room, and he gets himself another.
Later, in the café, Antonio and Belén are having dinner when a big local farmer comes in. He constantly teases and bullies Juanjo over his hair, insisting he looks like a female. The café owner Ramón tells them his story. Originally from Catalonia, he met an Italian woman who followed him to Almeria for the sun. They had Bruno, a son who is handicapped, who he takes care of as she returned to Italy.
Juanjo is shown his room at the back of the cafè and Antonio and Belèn head off to their corresponding rooms. Waking early, they head off to the film location, but the Guardia Civil won't let them on set without an invitation.
The unlikely trio find a way onto set, and Antonio convinces Lennon to start including lyrics with their records. Afterwards, they go to a beach and have sardines while he excitedly tells them how friendly John was with him, sharing with him the yet untitled lyrics to Strawberry Fields Forever and even marijuana cookies.
On the road, they come across the farmer who had beaten up Juanjo, and Antonio unsuccessfully tries to get him to apologise. He encourages the two young people to not let fear stop them or let someone take away their dignity, to follow their dreams and look for their own freedoms.
Upon their return to the café, Juanjo's dad is waiting for them. Juanjo convinces Belén and his father to take her with them to Madrid, as he insists she can live on her own terms there and he can help her get hairdressing work.
As Antonio drives out of town, passing by the unrepentant farmer's tomato plot, he drives through the plants, gleefully singing, 'Help!'.
Cast
edit- Javier Cámara as Antonio
- Natalia de Molina as Belén
- Francesc Colomer as Juanjo[3]
- Jorge Sanz as Juanjo's father
- Ramon Fontserè[4]
- Ariadna Gil[5]
Reception
editLiving Is Easy with Eyes Closed received positive reviews from film critics. It holds a 94% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on sixteen reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10.[6]
Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film "offers a lovely evocation of Spain as well as a touching tribute to an unforgettable moment in time when the Beatles seemed to offer brand new possibilities".[5] Dennis Harvey of Variety deemed the film to be a "leisurely, pleasing seriocomedy" about a middle-aged Beatles fanatic's quest in 1966 Spain.[3] Javier Cortijo of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, underscoring as a veredict that "despite the thick accents, everything sounds crystal clear and the songs talk about us".[4]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1st Feroz Awards | Best Comedy Film | Nominated | [7] | |
| Best Director | David Trueba | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | David Trueba | Won | |||
| Best Main Actor | Javier Cámara | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Natalia de Molina | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Soundtrack | Pat Metheny | Nominated | |||
| 28th Goya Awards | Best Film | Won | [8] | ||
| Best Director | David Trueba | Won | |||
| Best Actor | Javier Cámara | Won | |||
| Best New Actress | Natalia de Molina | Won | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | David Trueba | Won | |||
| Best Original Score | Pat Metheny | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Lala Huete | Nominated | |||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "'Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados' podrá optar a representar a España en los Oscar". Europa Press. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "Oscars: Spain Selects 'Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed' for Foreign-Language Category". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ a b Harvey, Dennis (20 October 2014). "Film Review: 'Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed'". Variety. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b Cortijo, Javier (31 October 2013). "Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados". Cinemanía. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022 – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ a b Farber, Stephen (26 September 2013). "Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed: San Sebastian Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "Ganadores de la primera edición de los Premios Feroz". Sensacine. 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Todos los ganadores de los Goya 2014". Antena 3. 9 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.