Jokes & Cigarettes

Jokes & Cigarettes (Saben aquell), directed by David Trueba, is a Spanish film based on a real person, jeweler Eugenio Jofra Bafalluy, about a man who learns guitar to accompany his singer wife, and who, when she leaves the act briefly, is pushed into performing solo and unexpectedly becomes a phenomenon on Barcelona's underground comedy scene. The real Eugenio built his fame on jokes told between songs in the musical duo "Els Dos," eventually becoming one of Spain's best known comedians, known for always dressing in black and never smiling. Lead actor David Verdaguer wore a prosthetic nose and hip for the role. The film won Verdaguer Best Actor at the 38th Goya Awards and took home six prizes at the Gaudí Awards. Who it's for: anyone curious about a Goya winning Spanish film based on the true story of a jeweler whose guitar lessons for his wife unexpectedly turned him into one of Spain's most famous comedians. Who it's not for: those wanting a fictional music story, since the film is grounded in a real, well documented person's life.