''Not Such an Easy Life'' () is a 2023 Spanish comedy-drama film directed by Félix Viscarret starring

Miki Esparbé Miki Esparbé (born 9 October 1983) is a Spanish actor. He is known for his performances in ''Off Course (film), Off Course'', ''Barcelona, nit d'estiu'', and ''Cuerpo de élite''. Biography Born in Manresa, Catalonia, on 9 October 1983, Espar ...

alongside Álex García, Ana Polvorosa, and Olaya Caldera.

Plot

Exploring issues of

parenting Parenting or child rearing promotes and supports the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and educational development from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the intricacies of raising a child and not exclusively for a biologica ...

and

mid-life crisis A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 45 to 65 years old. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's grow ...

, the plot follows the plight of

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

Isaías, struggling with the work–life interface, as he vies to raise his children.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Lamia Producciones, A Contracorriente Films, and Klingsor Films AIE. It had the participation of

EiTB Euskal Irrati Telebista (; ; acronym EITB, branded eitb) is the Basque Autonomous Community's public broadcast service, which broadcasts throughout the Basque Country. Its main brand is Euskal Telebista (ETB, Basque Television). EITB is the l ...

Movistar+ Movistar Plus+ (formerly Movistar+) is the trade name of the subscription platform for digital television owned by , which operates in Spain. The service is distributed via optical fiber and ADSL as well as with satellites such as Astra. The pl ...

, and R Telecable and backing from ICAA, the

Basque Government The Basque Government (, ; ) is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of the Basque government is known as the '' Lehendakari''. The Lehendakari is appointed by the Basque Parliament every four years, after a re ...

, and the

Government of Navarre file:Palacio de Navarra.JPG, Palacio de Navarra. The Government of Navarre (''Basque language, Basque: Nafarroako Gobernua;'' Spanish language, Spanish: ''Gobierno de Navarra'') is the regional institution that exercises the executive power of t ...

. Shooting locations included

Bilbao Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...

and

Getxo Getxo () (Spanish: ''Guecho'') is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, in Spain. It is part of Greater Bilbao, and has 75,430 inhabitants (2023). Getxo ...

Release

The film was presented at the

26th Málaga Film Festival The 26th Málaga Film Festival took place from 10 to 19 March 2023 in Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. '' 20,000 Species of Bees '' and '' Sister & Sister'' won the Golden Biznaga for, respectively, Best Spanish Film and Best Ibero-American Film. The ...

on 13 March 2023. Distributed by

A Contracorriente Films A Contracorriente Films is a Spanish film distribution and production company. It is based in Barcelona. History The company was founded in 2009 in Barcelona by Adolfo Blanco along with other people, including Amalia Blanco Lucas, Eduardo Esc ...

, it was released theatrically in Spain on 23 June 2023.

Reception

Luis Martínez of '' El Mundo'' rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "delicate fable both sharp and clear-sighted without renouncing to be somewhat bitter and even subtly amusing". Pere Vall of ''

Fotogramas ''Fotogramas'' is a Spanish digital and print film magazine which has been in circulation since 1946. It is one of the early film magazines in Spain. History Founded in Barcelona, it was first published on 15 November 1946 by Antonio Nadal-Rodó ...

'' rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting "its smart and sensitive narration" and a "dazzling" Olaya Caldera as the best things about the film.

Top ten lists

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023: * 8th — ''

Mondosonoro ''Mondo Sonoro'', sometimes shortened to ''la Mondo'', is a Spanish magazine established in 1994 which focuses on current alternative, popular and indie music, as well as national emerging bands. Co-founded by Sergio Marqués and Jose Macarro in B ...

'' (consensus)

Accolades

, - , rowspan = "3" , , 79th CEC Medals , , Best Actor , , Mike Esparbé , , , , , - ,

38th Goya Awards The 38th Goya Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, took place at the premises in Valladolid, Castile and León on 10 February 2024. The ceremony was broadcast on La 1 (Spanish TV channel), La 1 ...

, ,

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for the best screenplay not based upon previously published material. It was created in 1940 as a separate writing award from the Academy Award for Best ...

, , Félix Viscarret , , , , , - ,

32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards The 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards ceremony was held on 11 March 2024 at the Circo Price in Madrid. It was hosted by , , and . In addition to the competitive awards, "the actresses who changed the language of cinema in Spain" were recogni ...

, , Best Film Actor in a Minor Role , , Álex García , , , ,

References

{{authority control Films shot in Bilbao Films shot in the Basque Country (autonomous community) 2023 comedy-drama films 2020s Spanish films 2020s Spanish-language films Films about parenting Midlife crisis films Spanish comedy-drama films