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As Luck Would Have It (2013) movie poster

Plot Summary

As Luck Would Have It (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · English
Directed by
Álex de la Iglesia

Roberto, a successful advertising executive, faces a sudden downturn in his business, forcing him to conceal his financial struggles from his wife, Luisa. A surprising accident thrusts him into the public eye, leading him to exploit the situation for financial gain. While attempting to secure their future, Roberto’s increasingly desperate actions cause Luisa to question his behavior and their relationship.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in As Luck Would Have It: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of As Luck Would Have It (2013) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As Roberto Gómez (played by Actor Name) traverses the bleak terrain of his unemployment, he clings desperately to the faint glimmer of purpose that his marriage provides. His devoted wife, Luisa (played by Actor Name), strives to lift his spirits as he heads out to meet an old acquaintance, Javier Gándara. However, this encounter only serves to further diminish Roberto's already fragile confidence. Upon his arrival, he is met with a chilling indifference from former colleagues, and Gándara's brusque dismissal effectively seals the fate of his professional despair.

As Roberto's emotional state approaches the brink of chaos, he impulsively undertakes a nostalgic journey to the hotel where he and Luisa shared their blissful honeymoon. To his dismay, he discovers that the enchanting retreat has devolved into a bustling site for archaeological digs. Wandering aimlessly through the area during a press event, his disorientation is amplified by the ever-watchful Claudio, a security guard who observes the unfolding drama.

In an unexpected turn of events, Roberto suffers a shocking fall, leading him to crash down and become pinned by a spike. Claudio's hurried evaluation uncovers the severity of the situation: Roberto's skull is perilously impaled, plunging him into a dire predicament. As Claudio rushes off to seek help, Roberto is left grappling with the biting irony of his circumstance.

News of his mishap spirals through the media like wildfire, leading to rampant misinterpretation as a potential suicide attempt. Luisa, consumed by distress, receives a frantic call from her husband, only to confront the heart-wrenching truth that no one seems willing—or able—to take charge of his dire condition.

As chaos and speculation escalate, Roberto's plight morphs into a media spectacle, attracting a plethora of figures, including Mayor Alcalde, museum director Mercedes, and Dr. Velasco, a reluctant medical professional. The powers that be engage in a back-and-forth negotiation on how to resolve the crisis while preserving their public images, leaving Roberto trapped with his fate teetering on the edge.

With each passing moment, Roberto's desperation to provide for his family intensifies, propelling him onto a questionable path to potentially profit from his misfortune. He enlists the help of Johnny, a savvy agent, who endeavors to secure deals for product placements and exclusive interviews. Despite Luisa's vehement disapproval, she finds herself unable to prevent Roberto from pursuing this lucrative route. Johnny manages to capture the interest of influential media executive Álvaro Aguirre, who demands Roberto remain at the accident site for any chance of an interview, offering a stunning sum for a posthumous feature, although Johnny struggles to secure a binding commitment.

Luisa grows increasingly concerned about her husband prioritizing financial gain over quality family time, urging him to reconnect with their children and address their needs. Heeding her advice, Roberto reaches out to their kids, inviting them to visit him at the hospital. Meanwhile, Mercedes is prepared to assist in freeing Roberto from the spike, but others intervene, realizing that this may only exacerbate his condition.

As Dr. Velasco deliberates on the proper course of action, Johnny approaches Luisa with an enticing offer for the posthumous interview. Enraged by the idea of her husband being exploited, she fires Johnny and vows to intervene if he dares approach Roberto again. Unbeknownst to Roberto, Luisa has severed ties with Johnny; when he inquires about their progress, she conceals the truth, falsely asserting that Johnny has landed a lucrative contract worth hundreds of thousands.

Feeling the pressing need to support his family, Roberto agrees to provide an emotional interview to Pilar Álvarez, a local reporter assigned by Luisa. Álvarez knowingly hands the recording over to Luisa, recognizing its potential value. As Roberto is finally freed from the spike and spirals into delirium, he begins to describe vivid scents amidst his profuse bleeding. Claudio offers a listening ear to Luisa as she anxiously awaits updates from Dr. Velasco.

Days later, Dr. Velasco arrives with a somber demeanor. When Roberto's family gathers around, they receive heartbreaking news: he has succumbed to his injuries during surgery. The crowd, now filled with bystanders drawn in by the media frenzy, collectively reacts with shock and sorrow. Tears flow freely as Álvarez makes her way to the museum, offering Luisa a staggering amount for the tape, but she declines with a grim, unspoken resentment.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:13

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Plot questions answered

As Luck Would Have It Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about As Luck Would Have It (2013): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Roberto visit the hotel where he and Luisa honeymooned?

Roberto visits the hotel because he's struggling with unemployment and emotional despair. The trip is an impulsive nostalgic escape - he returns to the place where he and Luisa experienced their happiest moments, seeking comfort during a difficult period in his life.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Roberto's deepening depression as he loses his job and faces rejection from former colleagues.

  • roberto
  • hotel
  • honeymoon
  • unemployment
  • depression
  • luisa
Q2

Why does the media interpret Roberto's fall as a suicide attempt?

The media jumps to this conclusion because Roberto was visibly despondent after losing his job, and he was found at an archaeological dig site under mysterious circumstances. The combination of his emotional state and the unusual setting leads reporters to speculate about intentional self-harm rather than an accident.

Foreshadowing: Roberto's earlier meetings with former colleagues and his profound sense of professional failure set up this tragic misinterpretation.

  • media
  • suicide attempt
  • misinterpretation
  • accident
  • news
Q3

Why does Roberto agree to profit from his accident?

Roberto feels desperate to provide for his family despite being unemployed. With no income and mounting pressure, he sees the media attention as an opportunity to secure financial security for his wife and children, even if it means exploiting his own tragedy.

Foreshadowing: His initial struggle with unemployment and inability to find work establishes his desperation.

  • roberto
  • money
  • profit
  • family
  • desperation
  • financial struggle
Q4

Why does Luisa fire Johnny and reject the media deals?

Luisa fires Johnny because she sees him as exploiting her husband's life-threatening situation for profit. She's deeply opposed to turning Roberto's suffering into entertainment or commercial gain, and she wants to protect him from being further degraded.

Foreshadowing: Luisa's concern for Roberto's wellbeing is established early when she tries to lift his spirits during his unemployment.

  • luisa
  • johnny
  • exploitation
  • media
  • protection
  • family
Q5

How does Roberto die?

Roberto dies during surgery from the injuries sustained when he was impaled on the spike. Despite medical efforts to free him and treat his wounds, his condition deteriorates and he succumbs to his injuries on the operating table.

Foreshadowing: Claudio's initial assessment reveals the severity of the impalement, with Roberto's skull perilously injured.

  • roberto
  • death
  • surgery
  • injuries
  • spike
  • medical
Q6

Why does Roberto agree to give an interview while still injured?

Roberto agrees to the interview because he feels an urgent need to secure financial stability for his family. Despite his critical condition, he believes this is the only way to provide for them after his death, making one final desperate attempt to fulfill his role as a provider.

Foreshadowing: His earlier decision to work with Johnny demonstrates his willingness to capitalize on the situation for his family's sake.

  • roberto
  • interview
  • pilar alvarez
  • family
  • desperation
  • recording
Q7

Why does Luisa refuse the money for Roberto's interview at the end?

Luisa refuses the money because she feels deep resentment toward the media's exploitation of her husband's tragedy. After watching Roberto be turned into a spectacle and used for ratings, she rejects further commodification of his suffering, choosing dignity over financial gain.

Foreshadowing: Her earlier firing of Johnny and opposition to profit from Roberto's accident foreshadow her principled refusal.

  • luisa
  • money
  • interview
  • recording
  • rejection
  • resentment
  • exploitation
Q8

Why does Roberto's condition worsen after being freed from the spike?

Roberto's condition worsens because the injury was too severe. Once he's freed from the spike and moved, his body goes into further distress. He experiences delirium from blood loss and his injuries prove fatal during the subsequent surgery.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Velasco's serious demeanor and the medical team's hesitation indicate the gravity of his injuries from the start.

  • roberto
  • condition
  • worsen
  • spike
  • surgery
  • delirium
  • bleeding

Movie threads

More Movies Like As Luck Would Have It, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes As Luck Would Have It tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about desperate measures and moral downfall like As Luck Would Have It

When ordinary people resort to extreme and cynical acts to save themselves. If you liked the grim desperation in As Luck Would Have It, explore similar movies about characters who make cynical choices when faced with ruin. These films often feature high intensity, dark tones, and heavy emotional weight, chronicling a person's moral collapse under extreme pressure.

  • desperate
  • anxious
  • somber
  • grim
  • tragic
  • ironic
  • Tone: dark, satirical, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, escalating pressure
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist facing an existential threat (like financial collapse) who seizes upon a morally dubious opportunity. The narrative charts their escalating actions as they become trapped by their own scheme, leading to the alienation of loved ones and a tragic outcome that highlights the cost of their desperation.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their exploration of a specific character arc: the descent into moral compromise under pressure. They share a dark, satirical, and often bleak tone, a steady pacing that builds claustrophobic tension, and a heavy emotional focus on the consequences of sacrificing one's integrity.

Movies about media exploitation and public spectacle like As Luck Would Have It

Stories where personal tragedy is sensationalized and exploited by the public eye. Fans of the media frenzy and public spectacle in As Luck Would Have It will find more unsettling dramas here. These movies explore how personal tragedy is twisted into entertainment, often featuring steady pacing, a darkly satirical tone, and a heavy emotional weight about the loss of privacy and dignity.

  • media frenzy
  • satirical
  • somber
  • claustrophobic
  • exploitative
  • public spectacle
  • Tone: dark, satirical, somber
  • Pacing: steady, chaotic buildup
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a sudden, often bizarre incident that catapults an individual into the media spotlight. The story then follows the chaotic exploitation of their suffering by news outlets, corporations, and the public. The conflict arises from the character's struggle to maintain autonomy and humanity within the relentless, alienating machinery of the spectacle.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their central theme of media exploitation and the creation of a public spectacle from private pain. They share a satirical edge regarding sensationalism, a consistently high tension derived from the loss of control, and a bleak, somber mood that questions the ethics of consumption.

Every angle

As Luck Would Have It (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about As Luck Would Have It in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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