Old rockers never truly fade away, they just find a louder stage to shout from. In the comedy For Your Dead, José Mota and Jorge Sanz play two aging members of Shrapnel, a rock band whose heyday was the 1980s. The band released its first and only LP before ever performing live, and now, three decades later, they’re summoned to reunite for a shot at reliving youth’s dreams.
The film centers on the idea that life isn’t about chasing the goals themselves but the journey taken to reach them. That journey can surprise, amuse, and teach. Mota explains that the movie is about letting go of insecurities and fears, and about recognizing the value of the path as much as the destination. He notes that the project also serves as a tribute to rock, with his co-stars lending their energy to a story built on the small, intimate struggles the characters carry inside.
Despite the outward bravado, Mota’s performance is arguably the most understated of For Your Dead. He describes his approach as one of restraint, aiming for a character that reveals himself gradually. Fito Cabrales joins in the role of an appearance-driven leader, while Sayago Ayuso—best known as the co-host of the Rock FM program El Pirata y su banda—makes his directorial debut with a film about a world he deeply knows. The result, says Mota, is a depiction that challenges clichés about the rock scene and its people. The cast members portray performers who care about culture and who are, in truth, surprisingly well-prepared—an image that diverges from pop culture stereotypes.
To Sing a Song
When it comes to singing, Mota confesses he is not a natural vocalist. Yet with the right support, he can deliver a convincing performance on stage, even if singing isn’t his native talent. He portrays Valen, a lifelong figure in the narrative, for whom the music is less about flawless technique than about the moment itself. The character’s life in entertainment unfolds in a way that reflects a broader truth about those who live in the business: they often compress time, choosing to seize the present as a form of survival.
Valen’s exuberance is tempered by the reality of his personal life. This is a man who can be wildly entertaining yet recognizes that such freedom can come at a price. His story embodies a tension between living in the moment and maintaining responsibilities to family and personal commitments. The film uses this tension to explore how people respond when the chance to relive youth arrives, and how the choice to embrace or reject that chance shapes their futures.
Director and cast members share a belief that life’s arc isn’t measured by past glories but by what comes next. In the larger context of Mota’s career, For Your Dead sits alongside other projects where music and performance intersect with personal reinvention. The actor discusses how the role offered a different lens on his craft, a chance to experiment with a character who gradually reveals his deeper layers while remaining true to the spirit of the project. The creative team aimed to invite audiences into a world where humor arises from everyday miseries and the warmth of long-standing friendships rather than from big, flashy punchlines.
Meanwhile, Sanz reflects on his own history in cinema and television, and how the film resonates with his sense of fun. He relates that his character mirrors a curiosity about how far one can push the boundaries before it becomes unsustainable. The movie’s tone leans toward affectionate comedy rather than sharp satire, allowing the performers to explore vulnerability beneath the bravado of rock-and-roll personas.
Across the production, the collaboration with Almodóvar’s touring team and others in the director’s circle is acknowledged for shaping a project that honors aesthetic boldness without losing emotional grounding. The cast emphasizes that working with established filmmakers can be a learning curve, but the experience is ultimately rewarding when the final cut captures the right balance between heart and humor. The film’s message—that pursuing a dream is as meaningful as achieving it—emerges through dialogue, character arcs, and the shared history of the bandmates. For Your Dead ultimately invites audiences to consider their own paths and the ways relationships, passion, and time intersect on the road to fulfillment.