Altamira (film)
Finding Altamira (released as Altamira in Spain) is a 2016 Spanish biographical drama film starring Antonio Banderas, and directed by Hugh Hudson. It is Hudson's first fiction film since I Dreamed of Africa in 2000,[1] and his final film before his death in 2023.[2]
| Finding Altamira | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Hugh Hudson |
| Screenplay by | José Luis López-Linares Olivia Hetreed |
| Produced by | Lucrecia Botin Álvaro Longoria Andy Paterson |
| Starring | Antonio Banderas Golshifteh Farahani Allegra Allen Clement Sibony Rupert Everett |
| Cinematography | José Luis Alcaine |
| Edited by | Pia Di Ciaula |
| Music by | Mark Knopfler, Evelyn Glennie |
| Distributed by | Eagle Films Samuel Goldwyn Films |
Release date | 1 April 2016 (Spain) |
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Spain |
| Language | English / Spanish |
Synopsis
The film chronicles the groundbreaking discovery of stone age cave paintings in the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria, Spain, and the subsequent controversy by leading religious and scientific figures of the day.
Cast
- Antonio Banderas as Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola y de la Pedrueca
- Golshifteh Farahani as Conchita
- Allegra Allen as María Sautuola
- Irene Escolar as older María
- Clément Sibony as Émile Cartailhac
- Henry Goodman as De Los Ríos
- Pierre Niney as Paul Ratier
- Rupert Everett as Monsignor
- Javivi Gil Valle as Harlé
- Nicholas Farrell as Vilanova
- Lluís Soler as Mero
- Tábata Cerezo as Pasi
- Chantal Garsan as the soprano
- Concha Hidalgo as the marchioness
- Katie Paterson as Carolina
- Maryam d'Abo as Elena
- José Luis Esteban as padre Tomás
- Gonzalo Cunill as Cubillas
- Ximena Vera as the sister
- Kike Guaza as king Alfonso XII
- Tristán Ulloa as Abbé Breuil
- Carlos Camino as a boy
- Javier Laorden as the editor
- Dylan Moreno as the mayor
Production
It was shot in Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Puente San Miguel and Santander at the end of 2014.[3]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by guitarist Mark Knopfler and percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
Reception
The film has a score of 57% on Metacritic.[4]
Johnathan Holland of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "picturesque, but routine" and wrote that "little of the wow factor is felt on a first viewing of the Antonio Banderas-starring, Hugh Hudson-directed Finding Altamira, where events which played a footnote role in Darwin's great scientific revolution are reduced to a good-looking but unimaginative period drama in which everything proceeds exactly as expected".[5]
References
- De Semlyen, Phil (9 October 2015). "First Look At Antonio Banderas In Altamira". Empire Online. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- "Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson dies aged 86". The Daily Telegraph. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- Europa Press (22 January 2016). "'Altamira' se estrenará en abril en Santander con asistencia de Antonio Banderas". El Diario (in Spanish). Madrid.
- "Finding Altamira Review". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- Holland, Jonathan (4 April 2016). "'Altamira': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
External links
- Altamira at IMDb
- Altamira at Rotten Tomatoes