The Odd-Job Men

The Odd-Job Men (Catalan: Sis dies corrents; lit. 'Six Normal Days') is a 2021 Spanish-French comedy-drama film directed by Neus Ballús which stars Mohamed Mellali, Valero Escolar and Pep Sarrà.

The Odd-Job Men
Theatrical release poster
CatalanSis dies corrents
Directed byNeus Ballús
Written by
  • Neus Ballús
  • Margarita Melgar
Produced byMiriam Porté
Starring
  • Mohamed Mellali
  • Valero Escolar
  • Pep Sarrà
CinematographyAnna Molins
Edited by
  • Neus Ballús
  • Ariadna Ribas
Music byRené-Marc Bini
Production
companies
  • Distinto Films
  • El Kinògraf
  • Slot Machine
Distributed byFilmax
Release dates
  • 7 August 2021 (2021-08-07) (LFF)
  • 3 December 2021 (2021-12-03) (Spain)
Countries
  • Spain
  • France
Languages

Plot

A dramedy blurring the limits between a fiction film and a documentary,[1][2] the film exposes racist prejudices in the Catalan society.[1][2] It tracks the day-to-day life of three plumbers/electricians (performed by semi-professional actors) in the outskirts of Barcelona.[1] It features dialogue in Spanish, Catalan and Amazigh.[3]

Cast
  • Mohamed Mellali as Moha.[3]
  • Valero Escolar as Valero.[3]
  • Pep Sarrà as Pep.[3]
  • Hamid Minoucha[3]
  • Youssef Ouhadi[3]

Production

The screenplay was penned by the director Neus Ballús alongside 'Margarita Melgar' (a collective pseudonym for Montse Ganges and Ana Sanz-Magallón).[4]

The film was produced by Distinto Films and El Kinògraf alongside Slot Machine, with the participación of RTVE, TVC, Movistar+ and support from ICAA and ICEC.[1]

Release
Lead actor Valero Escolar at the ending gala of the 13th CiBRA Festival in Toledo on 21 November 2021.

The film had its world premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival (LFF) in August 2021.[5] It also screened at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (September 2021), the 26th Busan International Film Festival (online, October 2021), the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival (October 2021) and the 13th CiBRA Festival in Toledo (November 2021). Distributed by Filmax,[1] it was theatrically released in Spain on 3 December 2021.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating, based on 14 reviews with an average rating of 7.40/10.[6]

Beatriz Martínez of El Periódico de Catalunya gave the film 5 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be a "film made out of commitment and vindication that is so full of nobility and that is capable, through its humour and humanity, of connecting in such a sincere way with the audience".[7]

Àlex Montoya of Fotogramas gave it 4 out of 5 stars highlighting the light tone and the charisma displayed by the three leads.[8]

Sergi Sánchez of La Razón gave it 3 out of 5 stars, praising the performances by the semi-professional actors, while negatively considering that the underlying thesis behind the film is laid out "with excessive naivety".[9]

Jessica Kiang of Variety considered it as a "charming, slight yet sharp Spanish odd-couple comedy".[3]

Awards and nominations
Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
202174th Locarno Film FestivalLeopard for Best ActorMohamed Mellali & Valero EscolarWon[10]
Europa Cinemas LabelWon
66th Valladolid International Film FestivalSilver SpikeWon[11]
People's Choice AwardWon
13th Festival CiBRAPeople's Choice AwardWon[12]
20229th Feroz AwardsBest Comedy FilmNominated[13]
14th Gaudí AwardsBest FilmWon[14][15]
Best DirectionNeus BallúsWon
Best ScreenplayNeus Ballús, Margarita MelgarNominated
Best ActorMohamed MellaliWon
Best Production SupervisionBernat Rifé, Goretti PagèsNominated
Best EditingNeus Ballús, Ariadna RibasWon
Best Supporting ActorValero EscolarWon
Best Costume DesignAlba CostaNominated
Best SoundAmanda Villavieja, Elena Coderch, Albert ManeraNominated
Public's Choice Special Award for Best FilmNominated

See also

References
  1. "'Seis días corrientes' – estreno en cines 3 de diciembre". Audiovisual451. 2 December 2021.
  2. Arantzazu Ruiz, Paula (7 August 2021). "'Seis días corrientes': Neus Ballús expone el racismo nuestro de cada día". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  3. Kiang, Jessica (15 October 2021). "'The Odd-Job Men' Review: A Charming, Slight Yet Sharp Spanish Odd-Couple Comedy". Variety.
  4. Rivera, Alfonso (6 August 2021). "Crítica: Seis días corrientes". Cineuropa.
  5. ""Sis dies corrents", amb participació de TV3, guanya l'Espiga de Plata i el Premi del Públic a la 66a edició de la Seminci de Valladolid". Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 2 November 2021.
  6. "The Odd-Job Men". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. Martínez, Beatriz (2 December 2021). "Crítica de 'Sis dies corrents': el milagro de aunar ligereza y compromiso". El Periódico de Catalunya.
  8. Montoya, Àlex (1 December 2021). "Crítica de 'Seis días corrientes'". Fotogramas.
  9. "Crítica de "Seis días corrientes": la semana del currante ★★★". La Razón. 3 December 2021.
  10. Kiang, Jessica (14 August 2021). "Golden Leopard Winner 'Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash' Heads Impressive Slate Of Locarno Awards". Variety.
  11. "Palmarés Completo del Festival de Valladolid Seminci 2021". Fotogramas. 30 October 2021.
  12. "'Maixabel', la gran ganadora del 13 Festival del Cine y la Palabra CiBRA". eldiario.es. 22 November 2021.
  13. "Palmarés completo de los Premios Feroz Zaragoza 2022". Cinemanía. 30 January 2022 – via 20minutos.es.
  14. ""Las leyes de la frontera", la més nominada en uns Premis Gaudí molt disputats". 3/24. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 25 January 2022.
  15. Serra, Xavi (7 March 2022). "Neus Ballús i Clara Roquet triomfen als Gaudí de les directores". Ara.
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