Finding Altamira (2016) (Movie Review)

Dir: Hugh Hudson
Starring: Antonio Banderas
Dur: 1 hr 33 mins
Genre: Biography
PG: A few kisses.
Rating: 6/10

Knowledge is never complete. No one can claim to have complete knowledge about anything. Nevertheless, there have been and perhaps even are till today, people who believe that the knowledge they have is complete and infallible. Such a fanatic view is dangerous as it has the possibility of gradually escalating to aggressive fanaticism.

Finding Altamira recounts the true story of a magnificent discovery in the hills of Spain and the consequent series of events that nearly destroyed a family and shook the world of anthropology. The story centres around a single family on whose plot the discovery was made and on one man in particular, Marcelino Sanz de Sautola (Antonio Banderas). A cave was accidentally discovered by Maria, Marcelino’s daughter, in which were found paintings that dated far earlier than the studies of that time showed possible. Marcelino was a rationalist with a devout side and his faith spurred him on his scientific path. His findings pitted him against the scholars and religious tradition of his time. Soon he was outcasted and died an apparent failure. The veracity of his research as well as his integrity were acknowledged only much later.


The film dramatically tells his story. The joy of the discovery brutally suppressed by his rejection and ostracization. His young daughter plays an endearing part as a lovable, budding scientist with a candidness so characteristic of a child. The actors have done justice to their roles. The director has even included some splendidly picturesque scenes of landscape perhaps attempting to emphasize the beauty of the place. The film doesn’t drag and may perhaps seem unappealing. Being a true story I don’t feel that much more could have done without the director becoming untrue to the actual events.

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