Lost in La Mancha DVD: Review By stevegibbs

As if making a movie isn't a difficult enough undertaking in itself, director Terry Gilliam seems to delight in taking on the impossible. In this one-of-a-kind doc*mentary, former Monty Python alum turned cinematic genius allows it all to hang out. This is not your soupy, smiley Fox TV special about how wonderful it is to be a part of the magical movie industry; there are no actors regurgitating studio hype, and precious few glimpses of the 'finished' product. That is because Lost in La Mancha is the record of a movie dream collapsing rapidly into the stuff of nightmares.

I must tip my hat to Gilliam, who allowed the doc*mentary crew to keep filming and recording even as he and his own crew lurched from one catastrophe to the next. In his words: "Somebody may as well get a film out of this, because I'm not going to."

The film begins by setting up Gilliam's vision: a unique take on the classic story of Don Quixote, which he has been attempting to develop for about ten years. We are treated to a sample of storyboards and script readings; models and huge fantastical set pieces under construction; a warehouse full of props and costumes all being prepped. It appears that The Man Who Killed Don Quixote could be something very special; dare I say, a masterpiece.

But things begin to go wrong prior to shooting. There are problems with contracts and persistent health problems facing one of the principal cast; fighter jets and a torrential storm interrupting location filming; a dismal warehouse calling itself a sound stage; insurance difficulties; the list goes on.

In the end, Gilliam shot just 6 days before the project was shut down. All we are left with is a handfull of clips and a dream of what Quixote might have been.

Theatrical trailer

Exclusive interviews with cast and crew including Terry Gilliam, Johnny Depp, filmmakers Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe, and producer Lucy Darwin

Deleted scenes

9 deleted scenes which, while not adding a great deal to the movie themselves, are nonetheless interesting. For some obscure reason, Terry Gilliam at a bullfight is the most memorable for me.

Video soundbites

Basically mini-interviews with the main players, throwing a little more light onto what really happened.

Costume design, storyboards, and production stills from The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Judging by these, Quixote was set to become one of Gilliam's most spectacular fantasies. At least we can relish what little exists.

Rare Terry Gilliam interview at the Telluride Film Festival

A fascinating chance to get inside Terry Gilliam's head. I especially like his conversation with Salman Rushie as they shoot the breeze on Gilliam's past work, his image as an out-of-control director, the battle to release Brazil and what he thinks of Steven Spielberg's A.I.

IFC Focus: Terry Gilliam with New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell

Presented in full screen format. This is a gritty, down-and-dirty video diary and definitely looks the part, which is no bad thing. After being bombarded by the usual Hollywood glitz, it's nice to know from the start that this is reality (of sorts). The film puts you right in the midst of all the action, proving the old saying that moviemaking - just like war - can be hell

Like the picture, the sound varies immensely, depending on the setting. While much of the sound is clear, what the cast and crew are actually saying isn't always easy to understand since they are a very mixed European bunch, many with thick accents. Thankfully subtitles sometimes come to the rescue.

If Hollywood had scripted this catalog of creative disaster, no one would believe it! To see these events unfold is ridiculously funny, and at the same time, heart-breaking; entertaining and agonizing. Lost in La Mancha is probably the most honestly candid 'making of' movie I have ever seen. It should be required viewing for anyone in film school and for all serious movie buffs. You'll never watch movies quite the same way again.

There is a delicious irony in the fact that both Don Quixote and Lost in La Mancha mirror each other, describing one man's losing battle against harsh reality. Thankfully, Gilliam is stubborn enough not to know when to quit. I hear he is still planning to buy back his script from the insurance company and try again!