Alatriste (2006)

Director:

Agustín Díaz Yanes

Writers:

Arturo Pérez-Reverte (novels)
Agustín Díaz Yanes (written by)

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (Spain)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Biography | History | Thriller | War

Plot:

Viggo Mortensen plays the Spanish soldier-turned-mercenary Captain Alatriste, a heroic figure from the country's 17th century imperial wars.

Plot Keywords:

Army | King | 17th Century | Spain | Shot In The Head

Awards:

4 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Viggo Mortensen	...	Diego Alatriste
Elena Anaya	...	Angélica de Alquézar
Unax Ugalde	...	Íñigo Balboa
Eduard Fernández	...	Sebastián Copons
Eduardo Noriega	...	Conde de Guadalmedina
Ariadna Gil	...	María de Castro
Juan Echanove	...	Francisco de Quevedo
Javier Cámara	...	Conde Duque de Olivares
Antonio Dechent	...	Curro Garrote
Blanca Portillo	...	Fray Emilio Bocanegra
Francesc Garrido	...	Martín Saldaña
Pilar López de Ayala	...	Mujer de Malatesta
Jesús Castejón	...	Luis de Alquézar
Cristina Marcos	...	Joyera
Luis Zahera	...	Pereira

Also Known As:

Alatriste de Arturo Pérez-Reverte (Spain) (closing credits title)

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | Flemish | Latin | Portuguese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:7 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:MA (2008) | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

Baeza, Jaén, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Estudios Picasso

Trivia:

Spanish composer Roque Baños is the author of the music soundtrack for the film, but the piece that sounds during the climactic last scene was substituted with a march called 'La madrugá' used in many Easter week processions in Spain, giving it an undercurrent of suffering, inevitability of defeat and and end-of-the-road feeling. Baños has never been happy that the music he composed for the scene was not used, although it is included in the soundtrack cd.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the group walks back from their white flag meeting with the French commander at the battle of Rocroi, the movie focuses on how few Spanish soldiers are left. In the foreground a few casualties can be seen. On the left a man in brown clothes lying on his back, his spear in his right hand. A little to the right in this same shot exactly the same casualty in exactly the same pose can be seen, except for a few details regarding the shadows on the ground.

Quotes:

Conde Duque de Olivares: Without Flandes, there's nothing... Captain.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Spanish Movie (2009)

A great surprise, impactant and visually astounding

Is no surprise for anyone that Spanish writers are conquering the international market: there are the cases of Javier Sierra (Secret Supper), Ruiz-Zafón (Shadow of the Wind) or Juan Gómez-Jurado (God's Spy). Well, this movie is based in five novels of a Spanish bestselling author who preceded all of them in the lists: Arturo Pérez Reverte.

The movie tell the whole story of old soldier Diego Alatriste, a captain of Spanish Army in Spanish Golden Century. This is the most expensive Spanish-language film ever made in Spain (about €24 million – US$30 million). It portrays Spain of the 17th century using both fictional and real characters. Twentieth Century Fox has taken the rights on the film.

The story start whit the Spanish Armada had already been defeated but Spain was still the world's greatest superpower. The Captain is recently home from fighting in Flanders in the Dutch war for independence from Spain. He has come home because of a serious wound that has left him unfit for the military. However, and like many of veterans of Spain's wars, he is fit enough to eke out a meager living as something of a gun, or sword, or knife for hire. He collects debts, avenges the honor of cuckolded husbands, and even kills for the right price. He is very good at his job. Year by year we follow Diego in his violent life, to the bitter end, and his tale is the one of both Spain and the whole world.

The acting, obviously leaded by star Viggo Mortensen is absolutely amazing. A well acting job by Mr Mortensen is no surprise for anyone, but the real living characters that Eduard Fernández (Copons) and Blanca Portillo (friar Emilio Bocanegra) creates are astounding.

Indenpendent chapter deserves the photography, spectacular, and costumes design. A delight.