Iair Said, a filmmaker, is set to premiere his first fiction feature, Most People Die on Sundays, at this year’s Acid section at Cannes. Though unfamiliar with the platform until recently, Said expressed his excitement about being selected, emphasizing that he creates films to express himself rather than being deeply involved in industry matters.
While this marks Said’s first experience with the Acid sidebar, he is not new to Cannes. His second short film, Presente Imperfecto, was part of the festival’s main short film competition in 2015.
Inspired by Said’s own life experiences surrounding his father’s death, Most People Die on Sundays follows the story of David, a gay Jewish man from Buenos Aires in his 30s. Struggling with issues of procrastination and arrested development, David’s journey toward maturity is triggered by his father’s impending mortality.
Said not only wrote and directed the film but also stars as David. The cast includes Rita Cortese, Juliana Gattas, and Antonia Zegers. The film is a production of Argentina’s Campo Cine, with co-production from Patatgonik Film Group, Dispàrte, and Nephilim. Heretic is responsible for international sales.
In discussing the film’s origins, Said clarified that while not a true story, it draws from real emotions and experiences. He found filmmaking to be a medium for expressing emotions that he struggled to articulate verbally, particularly regarding his father’s death and the practicalities that followed.
Despite David’s initially unsympathetic portrayal in the film’s opening scene, Said aims to evoke empathy for his character as the story progresses. He intentionally crafted discomfort in the audience’s perception of David from the outset, believing it essential for the narrative’s development.
Acid Player 'Most People Die on Sundays' Ruminates on the Unexpected Costs Loved Ones Pay After a Death in the Family https://t.co/Iy6t0WP68B
— Variety (@Variety) May 17, 2024
One of Said’s favorite scenes, the Passover dinner, holds personal significance, reflecting joyful memories from his own life. He also addressed the portrayal of LGBTQ themes in the film, emphasizing the importance of depicting diverse body types and experiences within the community, while also avoiding stereotypical narratives centered solely on sexuality.
Overall, Most People Die on Sundays serves as a poignant exploration of grief, family dynamics, and personal growth, drawing from Said’s own emotional journey to create a compelling cinematic experience. Source
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