Lost In La Mancha [DVD] [2002]

LOST IN LA MANCHA is a cautionary tale about the making of a feature film, or rather the un-making of it.

For years, Director Terry Gilliam dreamed of making a screen adaptation of the Don Quixote story - you know, that old and senile Spanish knight who tilts at windmills. In 2000, with a budget of $32 million, Terry set about to do just that. His film, entitled "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote", stars Jean Rochefort as Quixote and Johnny Depp as Sancho Panza.

After several months of pre-production, Rochefort and Depp arrive on location, and shooting begins in the Spanish desert. During the first week, the crew copes with continual overflights of screeching F-16 jets, a thunderstorm that generates a flash flood that destroys equipment, and an injury to the 70-year old Rochefort that'll apparently keep him off his faithful steed unless cured. (Don Quixote on foot? Hmm, doesn't call-up quite the same image, does it?)

In the second week of shooting, a visit by the investors is followed by one from the insurance adjuster, who begins to mumble about "acts of God" precluding payment. Meanwhile, Rochefort is back in Paris to see his physician, and things don't look promising for a timely return. Then, the First Assistant Director, Phil Patterson, delivers the final blow.

Viewing LOST IN LA MANCHA, there's a certain terrible fascination watching the director's dream crumble before his (and your) eyes because of appallingly bad luck. One can't help but feel sorry for the poor devil. The film will, perhaps, only appeal to one that loves the movies and appreciates, at least to a minor degree, the organization, preparation, and coordination necessary to mount and complete a major production.

A postscript in the end credits informs the audience that Gilliam has since re-acquired the rights to "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote", which defaulted to the insurance company, and plans to give it another go. If it's ever released, I'll pay to see it just out of sympathy.

It didn't bode well from early on in pre-production, but Gilliam's enthusiasm and faith in his project was infectious and people involved in the film all did their best to try and make it work. However, it does seem as though the project was jinxed from the start, even though, if the film DOES get made, I am sure it will be fabulous, as the scenes they DID manage to shoot looked great, especially the "Giants"!

We both really hope that Terry Gilliam has another shot at this as we are sure it will be marvellous if he finally succeeds. There was also a very good point made in the film that Terry has been penalised for Baron Munchausen in Hollywood and there is little commercial faith in him there after that movie, which seems very unfair considering that Twelve Monkeys was successful as was The Fisher King. Give the man the money to make what will be a marvellous film!