This trailer is the result of at least 17 years of production. Perhaps pre-production or re-production are better ways to describe it. It is a 21st century version of the story of Don Quixote, the 17th century novel character who was determined to bring back chivalry and justice to the world. In this Terry Gilliam version, Don Quixote is a delusional old man who actually believes he is the 17th century legend, and goes on the same journey. Of course, any attempt to restore chivalry is bound to end in disaster, so the movie will be part comedy, part tragedy, and virtually all fantasy.
That is Jonathan Pryce as Don Quixote, with Adam Driver cast as Toby Grisoni who is actually an advertising executive in real life but who Pryce presumes to be Squire Sancho Panza from the novel. There has to be a romantic interest, which is played by Olga Kurylenko. This is the final cast of characters, as the film has seen a number of major stars such as Robert Duvall and Johnny Depp come and go from the production. What has yet to be final is the release date of the movie as it is currently tied up in some legal matters.
For the Don Quixote challenged, the most famous image from the novel is Quixote continually charging a windmill on his trusty steed. This encounter is the first of his many battles, as he imagines himself to be a knight and the windmills are ferocious giants he must slay. The trailer, subtitled in French, gives a good sense of what to expect, as it doesn’t take itself too seriously while there is plenty of action and adventure to keep viewers interested. The movie is expected to be previewed at the Venice Film Festival later this year.
The trailer looks promising, and when released it can be a nice change of pace from some of the more serious medieval themes that have been making the rounds on television. There is something to be said for escapism.
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