The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is a 2018 adventure-comedy film starring Adam Driver, directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam and Tony Grisoni, loosely based on the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. It is widely recognized as one of the most infamous examples of development hell in film history, with Gilliam unsuccessfully attempting to make the film many times over the span of twenty-nine years.
Gilliam started working on the film in 1989, but was unable to secure funding until 1998 when it entered full pre-production with a budget of $32.1 million without American financing, with Jean Rochefort as Quixote, Johnny Depp as Toby Grisoni, a 21st-century marketing executive thrown back through time, and Vanessa Paradis as the female lead. Shooting began in 2000 in Navarre, but a significant number of difficulties such as sets and equipment destroyed by flooding, the departure of Rochefort due to illness, problems obtaining insurance for the production, and other financial difficulties led to a sudden suspension of the production and its subsequent cancellation. The original production was the subject of the documentary film Lost in La Mancha, which was intended to be a making-of but was released on its own in 2002.
Gilliam made repeated attempts to relaunch production between 2005 and 2016, which included Depp, Ewan McGregor and Jack O'Connell, as Toby Grisoni and Robert Duvall, Michael Palin, and John Hurt as Quixote. However, all ended up being cancelled for various reasons, such as failing to secure funds, Depp's busy schedule and eventual loss of interest in the project, and Hurt being diagnosed with the cancer that would eventually result in his death. After yet another failed attempt, it was unexpectedly reported in March 2017 that filming had finally started, with Driver, who was confirmed in 2016 and helped secure funding as Grisoni, Jonathan Pryce as Quixote, and Olga Kurylenko as the female lead. On 4 June Gilliam announced that the shooting of the film was complete, 17 years after it originally started.
The film premiered on 19 May 2018, simultaneously acting as the closing film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and being released in French theaters.
Plot
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote tells the story of a deluded old man who is convinced he is Don Quixote, and who mistakes Toby, an advertising executive, for his trusty squire, Sancho Panza. The pair embark on a bizarre journey, jumping back and forth in time between the 21st and magical 17th century. Gradually, like the infamous knight himself, Toby becomes consumed by the illusory world and unable to distinguish his dreams from reality.
Cast
- Adam Driver as Toby Grisoni, an advertising executive who comes back to the village where he filmed his student film ten years ago, and whom Quixote mistakes for his trusted squire Sancho Panza. Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, and Jack O'Connell were all previously cast in the role.
- Jonathan Pryce as "Don Quixote", an old Spanish shoemaker named Javier who played the part of Quixote in Grisoni's old student film, but has since become convinced he is actually the famous literature character.
- Stellan Skarsgård as The Boss, Toby's superior.
- Olga Kurylenko as Jacqui, the Boss' wife.
- Joana Ribeiro as Angelica, a young woman who played a minor role in Grisoni's film ten years ago.
- Óscar Jaenada as the Gypsy, a mysterious character who keeps crossing paths with Grisoni.
- Jason Watkins as Rupert, Toby's ambitious agent.
- Sergi López as the Farmer
- Rossy de Palma as The Farmer's Wife
- Hovik Keuchkerian as Raul
- Jordi Mollà as Alexei Miiskin, a cruel oligarch.