
Movie spotlight
Don Quixote Returns
Spain, XVII century. Elderly eccentric Don Quihan dreams of romance about knights and exploits. Everyone around him considers the old man crazy, only the shepherd Sancho Panse sincerely believed in the noble impulses of Don Kihano. One night, Don Quihano decides to realize his dream and escape from the city. “Don Quixote Returns” is an adventure comedy based on the novel “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” by Miguel Cervantes.
Insights
Plot Summary
This ambitious, unfinished Orson Welles project, cobbled together from footage shot over two decades, attempts to bring Cervantes' iconic knight errant to life. The narrative loosely follows Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza as they embark on their madcap adventures, encountering various characters and delusional quests.
Critical Reception
The film is largely viewed as a fascinating curio, a testament to Welles's enduring vision but ultimately hampered by its fragmented production and uneven quality. Critics acknowledge the potential and the moments of brilliance, but its unfinished nature makes a definitive reception difficult.
What Reviewers Say
A tragically unfinished masterpiece by a legendary director.
Visually striking with moments of Welles's signature genius.
The fragmented narrative makes it a challenging but rewarding watch for cinephiles.
Google audience: Audience reception is mixed, with many appreciating the artistic ambition and Welles's unique vision, while others find the incomplete nature and disjointed storytelling to be a significant drawback.
Fun Fact
Orson Welles worked on 'Don Quixote' intermittently for over 20 years, from the late 1950s until his death in 1985, making it one of the longest and most troubled productions in cinema history.
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