Altamira (film)

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 by	Hugh Hudson
Screenplay by	José Luis López-Linares Olivia Hetreed
Produced by	Lucrecia Botin Álvaro Longoria Andy Paterson
Starring	Antonio Banderas Golshifteh Farahani Allegra Allen Clement Sibony Rupert Everett
Cinematography	José Luis Alcaine
Edited by	Pia Di Ciaula
Music by	Mark Knopfler, Evelyn Glennie
Distributed by	Eagle Films Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release date	1 April 2016 (2016-04-01) (Spain)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	Spain
Language	English / Spanish

Synopsis

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

• Antonio Banderas as Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola y de la Pedrueca
• Golshifteh Farahani as Conchita
• Allegra Allen as María Sautuola
  • Irene Escolar as older María
• Clément Sibony as Émile Cartailhac
• Henry Goodman as De Los Ríos
• Pierre Niney as Paul Ratier
• Rupert Everett as Monsignor
• Javivi as Harlé
• Nicholas Farrell as Vilanova
• Lluís Soler as Mero
• Tábata Cerezo as Pasi
• Chantal Garsan as the soprano
• Concha Hidalgo as the marchioness
• Katie Paterson as Carolina
• Maryam d'Abo as Elena
• José Luis Esteban as padre Tomás
• Gonzalo Cunill as Cubillas
• Ximena Vera as the sister
• Kike Guaza as king Alfonso XII
• Tristán Ulloa as Abbé Breuil
• Carlos Camino as a boy
• Javier Laorden as the editor
• Dylan Moreno as the mayor

Production

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

Soundtrack

Main article: Altamira (soundtrack)

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

Reception

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]