By Variety | Created at 2025-01-15 08:40:48 | Updated at 2025-01-15 12:54:00
4 hours ago
Haut Et Court has taken French distribution rights to the upcoming historical epic “The Captive,” directed by Alejandro Amenábar, best known for “The Others” and Oscar winner “The Sea Inside.”
The $15 million film, which shot last year at locations in Valencia, Alicante and Seville in Spain, is now in post-production. Film Constellation handles worldwide sales on the film. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures will be releasing the film in Spain.
The film centers on the origin story of a young Miguel de Cervantes, the author of the novel “Don Quixote,” as he was taken captive at the age of 28 by the Moors in Algiers.
The action takes place in 1575 in Algiers, where De Cervantes, a wounded Spanish soldier, is held prisoner by Ottoman corsairs. A cruel death awaits him should his fellow countrymen fail to pay his ransom soon, but within the confines of his cell, Cervantes discovers a surprising refuge – the art of storytelling.
His stories enthral his fellow captives, and capture the attention of Hasan, the enigmatic and feared Bey of Algiers, igniting a secret affinity between captor and captive. Suspicions rise amidst growing tensions in the city, and Cervantes, driven by an unwavering sense of optimism, devises a daring plan for freedom.
This marks the second time Haut et Court will release a film by Amenábar, following their collaboration on the 2019 war drama “While at War” (released in France under the title “Lettre à Franco”).
Haut Et Court said in a statement: “Having read the powerful script and seen some stunning early visuals, we eagerly anticipate the finished film. Alejandro’s fresh perspective on the youth of Cervantes—one of the most iconic writers in world literature—brings the story to life in a way that resonates strongly with today’s world. With its universal appeal, exceptional cast, and Alejandro’s remarkable talent, this film is sure to captivate audiences.”
Julio Peña (“Berlin,” “Through My Window”) stars alongside Alessandro Borghi (“The Eight Mountains,” “Supersex”), with cinematography by Alex Catalán (“Loving Pablo,” “While at War”), production design by Juan Pedro de Gaspar (“Even the Rain,” “The Queen of Spain”), costume design by Nicoletta Taranta (“A Chiara,” “Rose Island”), editing by Carolina Martínez (“La Fortuna”), visual effects by Ana Rubio (“The Beasts,” “Elite”), and music by Amenábar.
The film is produced by Fernando Bovaira at Mod Producciones (“The Others,” “The Summit,” “While at War,” “Biutiful”), Himenóptero (“Regression,” “The Sea Inside”) and Misent Producciones, in coproduction with Propaganda Italia (“Monica,” “Piove”), with the participation of Netflix, RTVE and RAI Cinema and the support of ICAA, Generalitat Valenciana and Eurimages.
