PIC of the Week – The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
Cinedigm has released a film in the making for over 25 years, figuratively. The madman of cinema that has either been loved or hated by audiences and studio execs alike for his outrageously daring visions finally achieves bringing his passion project to his public. The writer/director/artist who stole his own film from the studio, re-edited it and delivered the movie to the L.A. Film Critics only to win Best Picture. Terry Gilliam is triumphant bringing The Man Who Killed Don Quixote to life, and as chaotic as it is, his film speaks out to artists young and old, making it an endearing experience to any lover of the arts excluding those who do not appreciate his storytelling techniques.
Gilliam has either tickled our funny bone with Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Meaning of Life (The Crimson Permanent Insurance and animation sequences), taken us to fantastical places while bending our mind with Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys and his director’s cut of Brazil. He’s also proved to be both scholar and poet while extolling the never ending quest of individuals to seek their holy grail with his film The Fisher King. But, he’s also had bumps on the road of his career: Tideland, Zero Theorem and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
As mentioned before, the writer/director has been working to get this vision on the screen for over a quarter of a century. Talk about dedication. The man started working on his film back in 1989 with a cast including Johnny Depp, French stage and screen star Jean Rochefort and French singer, model, actress Vanessa Paradis. The documentary Lost in La Mancha chronicles the disastrous production that was plagued by running over schedule, over budget, poor location choices, a flash flood and Rochefort unable to continue filming due to a herniated disc.
The backstory to Gilliam’s film is a great companion piece to the finished masterpiece. I do not use that word lightly. After all the unusual casting decisions that never worked out (i.e. Sean Connery as Quixote, Danny DeVito as Sancho) and the years of frustration watching everything he worked so hard for go to shambles, Terry Gilliam somehow through the dear love of storytelling continued to persevere and in turn became The Man of La Mancha to reach his impossible dream.
Gilliam’s film deals with many themes he is dear to – the perception of sanity, the search for the holy grail, a quest for love and one’s soulmate, and individual versus society. Instead of attempting to capture the majesty of Cervantes lovely tall tale, Gilliam lays out a modern retelling with a very different structure. Miserable commercial director Toby insists his next project has to be shot in Spain. He is so in demand that he makes sure everyone follows his commands.
While struggling with his production team and main actor, Toby happens upon a vendor peddling pirated movies. Toby is shocked when he finds his final student film on DVD. Playing the movie brings a slow progression of regret. What he strived to be and what he is now. By fate or the stars aligning, Toby cannot help but reflect that his student film about Don Quixote is now coming back to haunt him as he brings back the Man of La Mancha for an insipid commercial.
Toby reflects back to when he shot his passion project. He relives the fun, joy and love for both the countryside and its people. As with Cervantes story, Gilliam soon has Toby mixing reality with fantasy. But, what really makes his story so deeply fascinating is that he sees his affect on everyone he worked with in the past near the same location. Lives have changed, and not for the better. Toby also faces that he might have missed the boat with what he thought to be the love of his life.
Gilliam’s film does get chaotic at times as we try to distinguish past from present, fantasy from reality and the merging of some as Toby, the student filmmaker, commercial director bounces around one crazy sequence of life after the other struggling to find his way to some kind of peace within him. Toby slowly emerges as a Man of La Mancha playing out his fantasies and seeking a peasant girl from the past that he thinks can help change his life.
For some, Gilliam’s style may be too heavy or confusing. He is not an ordinary storyteller and definitely an independent thinker with lots to say. He could even bear the title “indie filmmaker.” But, those of us that appreciate his originality, bravura and deep affection for finding the center of the heart and soul may declare The Man Who Killed Don Quixote his best work yet.
Adam Driver is Toby the young and ambitious student director with big dreams of showering an audience with the stories he loves to tell. He’s also the cynical prick commercial director we cannot stand. Driver embodies both roles so well and has a wonderful sense of comic timing. Jonathan Pryce fulfills the spirit of Cervantes’ tale with his Don Quixote. Portuguese actress Joana Ribeiro breaks hearts as Angelica and emerges as Toby’s Dulcinea.
Cinedigm delivers a 2.40 anamorphic Blu disc that captures the earthy tones accompanied with the Spanish location. This may be Gilliam’s most subdued film visually. Gone is the grandiose imagery he is so famous for. But, that does not diminish the look or feel of this film. If anything, the director’s choice to tone it down enhances every frame as Toby’s stories carry us away. The picture is sharp with a wonderful attention to detail.
The 5.1 Surround Sound is as brash as it is subtle. When it comes to the chaos, you feel like it’s all around you. Yet, the quiet, reflective moments are downright lyrical. Roque Baños’ beautiful score adds a heightened emotion giving magic to nearly every scene. Though you have so much going on throughout the soundtrack, dialogue is never lost.
Bonuses? This is where we can only hope Criterion picks Gilliam’s tale of the Man of La Mancha or the man that killed him and brings forth the extras this film so deserves. Cinedigm gives us five behind the scenes featurettes altogether adding up to a scant thirty minutes. Nearly 29 years in the making, reduced to the size of a film short. Oh yes, there’s a trailer as well.
• Locations
• Quixote’s Nose
• Art
• Make-up
• Working with Terry
That’s it. But, do not let the lack of extras (if you can call them that) deprive yourself of the pure joy of this film about what we want to be, what we may end up being and how we can change for the better. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is very much Gilliam, who is always prepared for battle and racing off towards the sunset.
Lowest Price – $9.99 – Target
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