# Jokes & Cigarettes

Jokes & Cigarettes (Catalan: 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

* David Verdaguer as Eugenio [es]
* Carolina Yuste as Conchita [es]
* Pedro Casablanc as Vicente
* Marina Salas as Mari Carmen
* Ramon Fontserè [es] as Amadeu
* Cristina Hoyos as Conchita's mother
* Boris Ruiz [ca] as Eugenio's father
* Matilde Muñiz as Eugenio's mother
Cameo roles include Lara Dibildos [es] 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 7 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 7.4/10.
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

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