North American Premiere
Still reeling from a fresh breakup, thirtysomething David (Iair Said), a chubby gay Jewish man living in a state of arrested development, returns to his native Buenos Aires for his uncle’s funeral. There he has to confront not only his Jewish heritage, but also the impending death of his comatose father, kept alive by a ventilator that his mother Dora (Rita Cortese) has decided to unplug. Faced with these harsh realities, David copes in the only way he seems to know: by getting into agonizing, cringe-worthy situations prompted by his desire for sex and attention.
Directed by Said himself, Most People Die on Sundays reinvigorates a familiar cringe comedy template with a detailed look at the little-seen Argentinean Jewish milieu in which the film unfolds. Featuring memorable, layered performances from both Said and Cortese, this is a darkly comic exploration of the lengths people will go to escape their origins, and the moments of grace they find along the way.
Community Partner
Iair Said, Rita Cortese, Antonia Zegers, Juliana Gattas
Argentina/Italy/Spain
2024
In Spanish with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Producer
Nicolás Avruj, Diego Lerman
Screenwriter
Iair Said
Cinematography
Giovanni Cimarosti
Editor
Flor Efrón
Production Design
Coca Oderigo, Cristina Nigro
Original Music
Ascari
Iair Said
Born in Argentina, in 1988, Iair is an actor, director, and casting director. His directorial debut 9 Vaccines (2012) won the Black Pearl Award for Best Narrative Short Film at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the Best Short Film Award at the BAFICI Film Festival. His latest short film Present Imperfect (2015) was selected in the official competition for the 68th Cannes Film Festival. Most People Die on Sundays is Iair’s first feature film.
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Emergence: Women in the Storm
Stories of resistance and recovery, courage, creativity and community in the face of the climate emergency gleaned from women first responders and those impacted in Western Canada, particularly Lytton and the Fraser Valley.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
In Eliza Hittman's powerful slice of social realism, 17-year-old Autum is unable to get an abortion without parental consent in Pennsylvania. She persuades her bff Skylar (Talia Ryder) to come with her to New York where she hopes it will be easier...
Muzizi
From the director of the award-winning film Union Street, Jamila Pomeroy, Muzizi embarks on a great culinary adventure through Vancouver’s African diasporic culinary scene. Muzizi explores powerful stories of immigration, resilience, and joy.
2026 Oscar® Shorts (Documentary)
Don't come to the program of Oscar®-nominated documentary shorts for escapism. But let's talk about the Canadian contender, Perfectly a Strangeness, featuring an abandoned observatory and three donkeys. More of this, please.
The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes
A beautiful portrait of E.J. Hughes, who quietly helped reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia in the 20th century. This extraordinary documentary explores Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist, but as a devoted, humble human being.