Lost in La Mancha (2002)

[TimR]

I was surprised by this small-scale documentary about a very large scale project that didn't come off - Terry Gilliam's plans to make a fantasy drama based on Don Quixote. It is very basic and unpretentious and follows the making of the film on location in Spain until a combination of bad weather, financial problems, insurance problems, cast illness and lack of alignment between producers and director finally bring the project to an end. The steps are very clear and it is a sad film in its own way.

It is interesting that this is the same subject that Orson Welles finally gave up on in the 50s.

There are some fascinating glimpses of what might have been with French actor Jean Rochefort as Quixote; he had planned for years but became ill and Gilliam was determined to have him in the role.

Gilliam himself is a fascinating figure. He thinks in terms of huge productions and realized dreams, and it is clear he is not pragmatic enough to deal with many of the problems - however, he is not narcissistic and does not blame others. His enthusiasm and intensity are impressive and the people on the film have no illusions about the chances they are taking - but want to be involved anyway.

The question now is: Will this ever be made?

This documentary is listed as a UK/USA release, and Gilliam is US born, but now a British citizen and his films are British. The production team for La Mancha is British, French and Spanish. So i'm not sure where this thread goes.

[Amethyst_Isle]

I have this documentary on dvd somewhere but never got round to watching it (soooooo many in my to watch pile ) one day I will.

Gilliam has had such problems when he makes films,usually it is down to going over budget and sometimes friction with studios...see The Making of Brazil has a good example.

[didi-5]

I watched this a few months ago, it is fascinating. The production of the film certainly does seem to be cursed.

[Steve Crook]

Gilliam has had such problems when he makes films,usually it is down to going over budget and sometimes friction with studios...see The Making of Brazil has a good example.

So do many film-makers. But Gilliam managed to complete a few other "impossible" projects like Baron Munchausen, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil, Jabberwocky and others. So I don't think it's all his fault, he does choose to do some difficult projects

Steve

[TimR]

So do many film-makers. But Gilliam managed to complete a few other "impossible" projects like Baron Munchausen, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Brazil, Jabberwocky and others. So I don't think it's all his fault, he does choose to do some difficult projects

Steve

Yes, that audacity and vision are fascinating. He does fail at times but when he succeeds his films are remarkable. Brazil does not look like anything else and no one else could have made it. His imagination is almost too much for the screen, but he does manage to communicate some of it to the audience.

[TimR]

I have this documentary on dvd somewhere but never got round to watching it (soooooo many in my to watch pile ) one day I will.

Gilliam has had such problems when he makes films,usually it is down to going over budget and sometimes friction with studios...see The Making of Brazil has a good example.

That's true. In this case though there were many problems that were not associated with him, such as Rochefort's illnesses and the constant uncertainty around his return. I suppose he could have been replaced - which I'm sure most directors would do - but Gilliam did not want to do it without him and was also genuinely concerned about the rejection. So it was a combination of unrealistic stubbornness, vision and integrity. Altogether very interesting.

[Azanti]

I met him recently on the tube going into London, and telling him I was a young film maker (Well, younger than him) he was very generous with his time and conversation, and we discussed this film especially at some lenght.

I doubt it is a project he will return to. He strikes me as a brave film maker, I am not saying all of his films are works of art, but he has struck gold more than most and made some brilliant pieces of cinema most of which only the most determined individual could have got made within the studio system.

Probably one of the most gutsy and talented British directors of his generation

[moonfleet]

About the great Jean Rochefort, he was so disapointed by this twist of fate , he would have been the perfect Don Quixote even more because he's a horse lover and a very good cavalier ==> http://www.elevagedesquarts.com/spip.php?article403... Terry Gilliam has also the eclectic talent to select such different types of actors in his films, De Niro as the rebel plumber in Brazil, John Neville as the Baron of Munchausen, Robin Williams as the Moon King and with Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King, Madeleine Stowe,Bruce Willis (impressive) and Brad Pitt (mader than mad) in Twelve Monkeys...
Yes Lost in la Mancha is a unique documentary ...but it's also very sad, because the film will never be released


Mr Rochefort is also the special guest "horse columnist", during the Olympics, for french newspaper Le Monde

[TimR]

About the great Jean Rochefort, he was so disapointed by this twist of fate , he would have been the perfect Don Quixote even more because he's a horse lover and a very good cavalier ==> http://www.elevagedesquarts.com/spip.php?article403... Terry Gilliam has also the eclectic talent to select such different types of actors in his films, De Niro as the rebel plumber in Brazil, John Neville as the Baron of Munchausen, Robin Williams as the Moon King and with Jeff Bridges in The Fisher King, Madeleine Stowe,Bruce Willis (impressive) and Brad Pitt (mader than mad) in Twelve Monkeys...
Yes Lost in la Mancha is a unique documentary ...but it's also very sad, because the film will never be released


Mr Rochefort is also the special guest "horse columnist", during the Olympics, for french newspaper Le Monde

Yes, I agree. it is sad that it was never made. It had the potential to be an outstanding film.

Thanks for the news about Jean Rochefort. It is good to see he is healthy and working. There is so much detail about his illness in the documentary. I didn't know what had happened to his health in the time since.