
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
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
There's Still Tomorrow
A critical and box office sensation in Italy, Paola Cortellesi's triumphant directorial debut is the tale of a Roman housewife in 1946, who stands up against the routine sexist abuse she suffers. Funny, heartbreaking and inspiring.
Housewife of the Year
This gently mind-blowing doc revisits the glory days of the long-running Irish TV show Housewife of the Year, where women proudly showed off their capacity to keep multiple kiddies fed and clothed, usually with minimal help from their hubbies.
The Way, My Way
All manner of pilgrims flock to France and Spain to walk the 800 km Camino de Santiago. One such is Bill, a stroppy sexagenarian Australian filmmaker who's determined to do the Camino with minimal prep, a dickey leg, and no firm idea why.
The Stand
This rousing doc explores a 1985 dispute over logging in the Haida Gwaii. Taking us from canny retrospective commentary to the thick of the action, director Chris Auchter employs animation and a wealth of archival footage to riveting effect.
Sugarcane
"Deeply impactful", Sugarcane is an important contribution to the ongoing process of Truth & Reconciliation in this country, a compassionate, sensitive account of the investigation into residential school abuse at Williams Lake, BC.