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 byHugh Hudson
Screenplay byJosé Luis López-Linares
Olivia Hetreed
Produced byLucrecia Botin
Álvaro Longoria
Andy Paterson
StarringAntonio Banderas
Golshifteh Farahani
Allegra Allen
Clement Sibony
Rupert Everett
CinematographyJosé Luis Alcaine
Edited byPia Di Ciaula
Music byMark Knopfler, Evelyn Glennie
Distributed byEagle Films
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release date
  • 1 April 2016 (2016-04-01) (Spain)
Running time
97 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageEnglish / Spanish

Synopsis

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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

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Production

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It was shot in Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Puente San Miguel and Santander at the end of 2014.[3]

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by guitarist Mark Knopfler and percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

Reception

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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

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  1. ^ De Semlyen, Phil (9 October 2015). "First Look At Antonio Banderas In Altamira". Empire Online. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson dies aged 86". The Daily Telegraph. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. ^ Europa Press (22 January 2016). "'Altamira' se estrenará en abril en Santander con asistencia de Antonio Banderas". El Diario (in Spanish). Madrid.
  4. ^ "Finding Altamira Review". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. ^ Holland, Jonathan (4 April 2016). "'Altamira': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
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