Not Such an Easy Life
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Not Such an Easy Life poster.jpg
| caption = Promotional film poster
| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Una vida no tan simple|nolink=yes}}
| director = Félix Viscarret
| screenplay = Félix Viscarret
| starring = {{Plain list|
- Miki Esparbé
- Álex García
- Ana Polvorosa
- Olaya Caldera
}}
| cinematography = Óscar Durán
| editing = Victoria Lammers
| music = Mikel Salas
| studio = {{ubl|Lamia Producciones|A Contracorriente Films|Klingsor Films AIE}}
| distributor = A Contracorriente Films
| country = Spain
| language = Spanish
| released = {{Film date|2023|03|13|Málaga|2023|06|23|Spain|df=yes}}
}}
Not Such an Easy Life{{Cite web|website=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/felix-viscarret-not-such-an-easy-life-1235550215/|title=‘Patria’ Director Félix Viscarret Turns to More Personal Story of Parenting in ‘Not Such an Easy Life’|date=13 March 2023|first=Ed|last=Meza}} ({{langx|es|Una vida no tan simple|links=no}}) is a 2023 Spanish comedy-drama film directed by Félix Viscarret starring Miki Esparbé alongside Álex García, Ana Polvorosa, and Olaya Caldera.
Plot
Exploring issues of parenting and mid-life crisis, the plot follows the plight of architect Isaías, struggling with the work–life interface, as he vies to raise his children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/cultura-ocio/cultura/2023/02/11/cuatro-peliculas-navarras-cruzan-peninsula-busca-goya-557712-1034.html|website=Diario de Navarra|date=11 February 2023|first=Ion|last=Stegmeier|title=Cuatro películas navarras cruzan esta noche la península en busca de un Goya}}
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Miki Esparbé as Isaías{{Cite web|url=https://www.diariosur.es/festival-malaga/felix-viscarret-una-vida-no-tan-simple-20230313142259-nt.html|website=Diario Sur|publisher=Grupo Vocento|date=13 March 2023|first=Regina|last=Sotorrío|title=Félix Viscarret cura su crisis de los 40 en 'Una vida no tan simple': ni padres ni profesionales perfectos}}
- Álex García as Nico{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a43859050/una-vida-no-tan-simple-trailer-pelicula-miki-esparbe-felix-viscarret/|website=Fotogramas|date=11 May 2023|title='Una vida no tan simple': asi es el primer tráiler de la nueva película de Miki Esparbé, Ana Polvorosa y Álex García|first=Manuel|last=D'Ocon}}
- Ana Polvorosa as Sonia
- Olaya Caldera as Ainhoa
- Julián Villagrán{{Cite web|url=https://festivaldemalaga.com/edicion/ver-pelicula/?id=2785|website=Festival de Málaga|access-date=29 May 2023|title=Una vida no tan simple}}
- Ramón Barea
}}
Production
The film was produced by Lamia Producciones, A Contracorriente Films, and Klingsor Films AIE.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a43245511/una-vida-no-tan-simple-cartel-clip-exclusiva/|website=Fotogramas|first=María|last=Aller|title='Una vida no tan simple': cartel y clip en exclusiva de la película protagonizada por Miki Esparbé}} It had the participation of EiTB, Movistar+, and R Telecable and backing from ICAA, the Basque Government, and the Government of Navarre. Shooting locations included Bilbao and Getxo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcorreo.com/pantallas/cine/padres-carrera-bilbao-20211214190954-ntrc.html|website=El Correo|publisher=Grupo Vocento|date=14 December 2021|first=Oskar|last=Belategui|title=Padres a la carrera en un Bilbao invernal}}
Release
The film was presented at the 26th Málaga Film Festival on 13 March 2023.{{Cite web|website=Europa Press|title='Una vida no tan simple' refleja en el Festival de Málaga una tragicómica crisis de la paternidad y de los 40 años|url=https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/malaga-00356/noticia-vida-no-tan-simple-refleja-festival-malaga-tragicomica-crisis-paternidad-40-anos-20230313115357.html}} Distributed by A Contracorriente Films, 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/cultura/cine/2023/06/23/64944efde4d4d8c4338b45dd.html|first=Luis|last=Martínez|website=El Mundo|date=23 June 2023|title=Una vida no tan simple: retrato de un 'viejoven' con angustia al fondo (***)}}
Pere Vall of Fotogramas 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a44264321/una-vida-no-tan-simple-critica-pelicula/|website=Fotogramas|first=Pere|last=Vall|date=23 June 2023|title=Crítica de ‘Una vida no tan simple’, la nueva película de Félix Viscarret entre triunfos y fracasos}}
= Top ten lists =
The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:
Accolades
{{Awards table|5}}
|-
| rowspan = "3" | {{center|2024}}
| 79th CEC Medals || Best Actor || Mike Esparbé || {{nom}} || {{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2023-12-29/cerrar-ojos-victor-erice-mas-nominada-edicion-numero-79-medallas-cec|website=Kinótico|title=‘Cerrar los ojos’, de Víctor Erice, la más nominada en la edición número 79 de las Medallas CEC|date=29 December 2023}}
|-
| 38th Goya Awards || Best Original Screenplay || Félix Viscarret || {{nom}} || {{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/premios-goya-2024-palmares-completo-todos-los-ganadores-gran-noche-la-sociedad-de-la-nieve-bayona-5216907/|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|title=Premios Goya 2024 {{!}} Palmarés completo: todos los ganadores de la gran noche de 'La sociedad de la nieve'|date=11 February 2024}}
|-
| 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actor in a Minor Role || Álex García || {{nom}} || {{center|{{Cite web|url=https://www.escribiendocine.com/noticias/2024/02/05/17023-todos-los-nominados-de-la-32-edicion-de-los-premios-union-de-actores-y-actrices-de-espana|website=Escribiendo Cine|title=Todos los nominados de la 32 edición de los Premios Unión de Actores y Actrices de España|date=4 February 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/cultura/cine-00128/noticia-malena-alterio-maribel-verdu-lola-duenas-quim-gutierrez-protagonistas-32-premios-ua-20240312042138.html|website=Europa Press|title=Malena Alterio, Maribel Verdú, Lola Dueñas y Quim Gutiérrez, entre los protagonistas de los 32 Premios UA|date=12 March 2024}}}}
|}