''The Good Life'' ( es, La buena vida, links=no) is a 1996 comedy-drama film written and directed by

David Trueba David Rodríguez Trueba (born 10 September 1969) is a Spanish filmmaker and author. Biography David Rodríguez Trueba was born on 10 September 1969 in Madrid, the youngest of 8 siblings. His elder brother Fernando is also a filmmaker. In 198 ...

, starring

Fernando Ramallo Fernando Ramallo (born 3 April 1980 in Madrid) is a Spanish actor. Roles Films *'' Donne-moi la main'' (Give Me Your Hand) (2008) *''Ejecutores'' (2008) *'' El corazón de la tierra'' (2007) *''WC'' (2005) *''Mola ser malo'' (2005) *''Donde n ...

and

Lucía Jiménez Lucía Jiménez Arranz (born 21 November 1978) is a Spanish actress. She started with a David Trueba movie, ''La Buena Vida'', and she became very popular thanks to the TV series ''Al salir de clase ''Al salir de clase'' is a Spanish teen d ...

Cast

Production

The film is a Spanish-French-Italian co-production by Fernando Trueba PC, Kaplan, and Olmo Films alongside L. Films and Academy Pictures.

Release

Distributed by

United International Pictures United International Pictures (UIP) is a joint venture of Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures that distributes their films outside the United States and Canada. UIP also had international distribution rights to certain Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer an ...

(UIP), the film was released theatrically in Spain on 13 December 1996. It screened in the

Directors' Fortnight The Directors' Fortnight (french: Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) is an independent selection of the Cannes Film Festival. It was started in 1969 by the French Directors Guild after the events of May 1968 resulted in cancellation of the Cannes festiv ...

at the

1997 Cannes Film Festival The 50th Cannes Film Festival was held from 7 to 18 May 1997 in film, 1997. The Palme d'Or was jointly awarded to ''Taste of Cherry, Ta'm e guilass'' by Abbas Kiarostami and ''The Eel (film), Unagi'' by Shohei Imamura. Jeanne Moreau was the mistre ...

. It also screened at the 32nd

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival ( cs, Mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary) is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become ...

in July 1997, winning the Special Jury Prize.

Reception

Jonathan Holland of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' deemed the film to be "a charming, carefully crafted and low-key tragicomedy".

Sequel

Trueba wrote and directed a 2018 sequel, ''

Almost 40 In set theory, when dealing with sets of infinite size, the term almost or nearly is used to refer to all but a negligible amount of elements in the set. The notion of "negligible" depends on the context, and may mean "of measure zero" (in a me ...

'', with Ramallo and Jiménez returning to their roles over two decades after.

Accolades

, - , align = "center" rowspan = "4" , 1997 , , rowspan = "4" ,

11th Goya Awards The 11th Goya Awards were presented in Palacio Municipal de Congresos de Madrid on 25 January 1997. ''Thesis'' won the award for Best Film. Winners and nominees Major award nominees Other award nominees Honorary Goya * Miguel Picazo ...

, ,

Best Original Screenplay The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award 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 Story. Beginning with the ...

, , David Trueba , , , , rowspan = "4" , , - ,

Best New Director ''Best New Director'' was an award given by the New York Film Critics Circle from its first inception in 1989 until discontinuing in 1996. There was no award in 1993. 1980s 1989 *Kenneth Branagh – ''Henry V (1989 film), Henry V'' **Runners-up: St ...

, , David Trueba , , , - , Best Supporting Actor , , Luis Cuenca , , , - , Best New Actress , , Lucía Jiménez , ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Good Life 1996 comedy-drama films 1996 films Spanish comedy-drama films French comedy-drama films Italian comedy-drama films 1990s Spanish-language films 1990s Spanish films 1990s French films 1990s Italian films Spanish-language comedy-drama films Films directed by David Trueba