Long Live Death
Viva la muerte
Synopsis
At the end of the Spanish civil war, Fando, a boy of about ten, tries to make sense of war and his father's arrest. His mother is religious, sympathetic to the Fascists; his father is accused of being a Red. Fando discovers that his mother may have aided in his father's arrest. Sometimes we witness Fando imagining explanations for what's going on; sometimes we see him at play, alone or with his friend Thérèse. Oedipal fantasies and a lad's natural curiosity about sex and death mix with his search for his mother's nature and his father's fate. Will Fando survive the search?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
New Trailer [Subtitled]Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-05-08
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 25, 1971
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 28, 2023
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Fernando Arrabal
- Screenplay & Story
- Claudine Lagrive, Fernando Arrabal
- Original Score
- Jean-Yves Bosseur
- Original Title
- Viva la muerte
- Country of Origin
- France, Tunisia
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- SATPEC, Isabelle Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Fernando Arrabal
Claudine Lagrive, Fernando Arrabal
Jean-Yves Bosseur
Jean-Marc Ripert
Laurence Leininger
Department Leadership Roster
Fernando Arrabal
Director
Claudine Lagrive
Writer
Fernando Arrabal
Writer
Jean-Marc Ripert
Director of Photography
Laurence Leininger
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Long Live Death.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Long Live Death.
WatchLisT++
Cult Classics
Every film on Wikipedia's List of cult films.
Radiance Films
Films released by Radiance Films, built from the label's store catalogue. Refreshed 2026-09-08.
Radiance Films
Films released by Radiance Films, built from the label's store catalogue.
BD Release: 1971-1975
Movies released in 4K Blu-ray format - 1971-1975
Best Weird Movies List
Similar Titles to Long Live Death
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
4.2
7.8
2.0
7.6
4.0
6.4
6.0
6.9
6.5
5.7
7.1
6.3
6.8
6.8
7.5
7.6
9.0
5.8
More Like Long Live Death
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Long Live Death
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Long Live Death about?
At the end of the Spanish civil war, Fando, a boy of about ten, tries to make sense of war and his father's arrest. His mother is religious, sympathetic to the Fascists; his father is accused of being a Red. Fando discovers that his mother may have aided in his father's arrest. Sometimes we witness Fando imagining explanations for what's going on; sometimes we see him at play, alone or with his friend Thérèse. Oedipal fantasies and a lad's natural curiosity about sex and death mix with his search for his mother's nature and his father's fate. Will Fando survive the search?
Who directed Long Live Death?
Long Live Death was directed by Fernando Arrabal.
Who stars in Long Live Death?
The principal cast of Long Live Death includes Mohamed Bellasoued, Anouk Ferjac, Núria Espert, Mahdi Chaouch, Ivan Henriques.
When was Long Live Death released and how long is it?
Long Live Death was released in 1971 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for Long Live Death?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Long Live Death was composed by Jean-Yves Bosseur.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Long Live Death?
Long Live Death holds official age classifications: DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.).