Jokes & Cigarettes brings to audiences the story of Catalan humourist Eugenio Jofra, a chain-smoking comedian known for his deadpan delivery, smoked glasses and trademark total black attire.
Jofra falls into standup comedy by default. Originally a jeweller, his career trajectory changes when he meets musician Conchita on a bus, and it is love at first sight. He follows her to the bar where she performs and strikes up a conversation. He learns to play guitar to accompany her in her musical career, and despite his stage fright, Jofra and Conchinta play together as ‘Els dos’.
When Conchita leaves Barcelona for two weeks to be with her ailing mother, she convinces Eugenio to perform solo. He quickly establishes himself in the city’s underground stand-up comedy scene and soon the media and fans want more.
To counteract his stage fright, Conchinta urges Eugenio’s black alter ego look alongside a highball glass of vodka and orange. The character would soon become an unexpected success in a depressed nation desperate to laugh.
Jokes & Cigarettes is a gentle film, easy to follow and lose yourself in. It’s a relatively light touch – a biographical note of Jofra that stretches only as far back as young adulthood.
Jokes & Cigarettes makes its Australian premiere at this year’s Spanish Film Festival at participating Palace Cinemas. Check your local guides for screening times.
About Jokes & Cigarettes
Length: 117 min
Language: Spanish and Catalan with English subtitles
Directed by David Trueba
Stars David Verdaguer, Carolina Yuste, Pedro Casablanc
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