“You need cinematica – cinematica needs you”, is the last cry for help sent by Jorge over Montevideo’s Radio Capital. He runs the Cinematica together with Martinez, its director. But the fate of the film archive’s screening venue has been determined. The sponsors have concluded that non-profit culture is not worth supporting and with this conclusion goes Jorge’s livelihood. In his mid-forties and still living with his parents, Jorge has spent the past 25 years working in the film archive and is now left dangling on the edge of nothing. The world around him, however, continues as if nothing has happened. LA VIDA ÚTIL records in poetic black and white images Jorge’s attempts at adapting to these new conditions.

A timely yet magical film for everyone who is working in or passionate about cinema.

“In Spanish, ‘La vida útil’ means the estimated duration that an object is capable of functioning correctly. The “reborn” or the adaptation of that character to his new world is what interested me in developing the film. The main character, drowned in movies, will find the reply to his life in a cinematographic way. I like to think about Jorge as a Don Quixote, whose background allows him to start living his own adventures; and I think that’s the only way he has to survive.” (Federico Veiroj)