Smoke and mirrors

2016
a film by Alberto Rodríguez

Cartel el hombre de las mil caras

Smoke and Mirrors is the story of the man who tricked an entire country.

Francisco Paesa has been a businessman, a banker in Switzerland, an international arms trafficker, a gigolo, a playboy, a diplomat, an adventurer, a con man and a secret agent: in other words, a spy.

Paesa is betrayed by his country and is forced to flee it. When he returns after a few years, everything has changed: he is broke, he cannot lift any businesses off the ground – due to his fame as a conman – and his relationship with Gloria, his partner for the last fifteen years, is standing on its last leg.

It is in these circumstances that Luis Roldán and his wife, who offer him a million dollars to help them save 15 billion pesetas that were removed from public coffers, visit him. This is an ideal opportunity for Paesa to get revenge and improve his economic situation by betraying his client.

With the help of Jesús Camoes, his inseparable partner, he will orchestrate an intricate, masterful operation where the lines between truth and falsehood blur. A farce worthy of the best spies. A reflection of an era’s twilight.

Cast
Eduard Fernández, Jose Coronado, Marta Etura, Carlos Santos, Enric Benavent, Alba Galocha, Philippe Rebbot, Pedro Casablanc, Israel Elejalde, Tomás del Estal, Jöns Pappila, Luis Callejo, Mireia Portas and Craig Stevenson

Director
Alberto Rodríguez

Producers
Francisco Ramos, Gervasio Iglesias, Mercedes Gamero and Gabriel Arias Salgado

Executive producer
José Antonio Félez

Line producer
Manuela Ocón

Screenplay
Rafael Cobos López y Alberto Rodríguez - Based on the book by Manuel Cerdán Alenda

DoP
Alex Catalán (A.E.C.)

Art director
Pepe Domínguez del Olmo

Music
Julio de la Rosa

Editing
José M. G. Moyano

Sound recording
Daniel de Zayas

Sound editing
César Molina

Sound consultant
Pelayo Gutiérrez

Sound mixer
José Antonio Manovel

Costume designer
Fernando García

Make up and hair
Yolanda Piña

Digital Effects
Juan Ventura

Casting
Eva Leira y Yolanda Serrano

Assistant director
Adán Barajas

Stills
Julio Vergne

GOYA AWARDS (2017)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos

Best Breakthrough Performance
Carlos Santos

CINEMA WRITERS CIRCLE AWARDS (2017)

Best Director
Alberto Rodríguez

Best Actor
Eduard Fernández

Best Breakthrough Performance
Carlos Santos

Best Adapted Screenplay
Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos

SAN SEBASTIÁN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (2016)

Silver Seashell for Best Actor
Eduard Fernández

Feroz Zinemaldia Award
Best Film

GAUDÍ AWARDS (2017)

Best Actor
Eduard Fernández