Alicante, 4 March 2025

“El Cautivo,” directed by Alejandro Amenábar, will be released in cinemas across Spain on 12th of September, distributed by Buena Vista International (The Walt Disney Company).

With a screenplay by Alejandro Amenábar, “El Cautivo” stars Julio Peña and Alessandro Borghi, alongside Miguel Rellán, Fernando Tejero, Luis Callejo, José Manuel Poga, Roberto Álamo, Albert Salazar, Juanma Muniagurria, César Sarachu, Jorge Asín, Mohamed Said, Walid Charaf, and newcomer Luna Berroa, among others.

Filming took place in the Land of Valencia, including the Santa Bárbara Castle in Alicante city, Santa Pola, and “Ciudad de la Luz Film Studios,” as well as other locations in the region, and at the Royal Alcázares of Seville.

SYNOPSIS

Year 1575. The young soldier Miguel de Cervantes is captured at sea by Arab corsairs and taken to Algiers as a hostage.

Aware that a cruel fate awaits him if his family does not pay his ransom soon, Miguel finds solace in his passion for storytelling. His captivating tales bring hope to his fellow prisoners and ultimately attract the attention of Hasan, the mysterious and feared Pasha of Algiers, with whom he begins to develop an unusual affinity.

As tensions rise among the captives, Miguel, driven by his unwavering optimism, starts to devise a daring escape plan.

Alejandro Amenábar on “El Cautivo”:

“In 1575, the doors of freedom closed for Miguel de Cervantes, but in return, those of his imagination and humanity opened. While devising daring plans to escape from a desolate Arab prison, that young soldier was pushed to understand the world of his captors and interact with them on enemy soil. And there, among his fellow prisoners, he discovered his true calling as an unparalleled storyteller. Entering the mind and heart of one of literature’s greatest talents has become the most intense and personal endeavour of my career. I hope that people come to know Miguel de Cervantes as well as I feel I do now, and that they take a journey through time to find themselves among corsairs, captives, renegades, friends, and foes… observing and listening to that fascinating man who did not yet know he was a genius.”

“El Cautivo” is a Spanish-Italian co-production by Mod Producciones, Himenóptero, Misent Producciones, Mod Pictures, and Propaganda Italia, with the participation of Netflix, RTVE, and RAI Cinema, and financing from ICAA – Ministry of Culture – Government of Spain and the Italian Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Generalitat Valenciana, with support from Eurimages and Regione Lazio, financing from Arcano, and participation from CREA SR.

The film is produced by Fernando Bovaira, producer of Alejandro Amenábar’s films and successful series such as “Los Farad,” “La Fortuna,” “Crematorio,” and “El día de mañana,” as well as films like “Los Destellos,” “La estrella azul,” and “La buena letra,” which will soon premiere at the Malaga Film Festival.

The technical team includes cinematographer Álex Catalán (“While at War”), production designer Juan Pedro de Gaspar (“While at War”), costume designer Nicoletta Taranta (“A Chiara”), makeup and hair designers Ana López Puigcerver and Belén López Puigcerver (Oscar® nominees for “Society of the Snow”), and sound designer Gabriel Gutiérrez (“While at War”). Alejandro Amenábar has composed the film’s score.

Buena Vista International will release the film in Spain, while Film Constellation is handling international sales.

Source: The Walt Disney Studios: https://prensa.disney.es/

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