Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan,’ Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Boarded by Luxbox Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

by

Film production company Luxbox is now a part of the Lav Diaz-directed historical drama titled “Magellan.” This movie features renowned actor Gael García Bernal and is set to make its debut at the World Premiere in the Premiere section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Diaz’s past movies feature award-winning titles such as “The Woman Who Left,” which was honored with the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion in 2016, and “From What Is Before,” which took home Locarno International Film Festival’s Golden Leopard in 2014.

The movie, set in the 16th century, tells the story of Magellan, a daring Portuguese explorer with great ambition. Facing opposition from Portugal’s king who isn’t backing his quest to explore the globe, he manages to convince Spain’s royal family to finance his daring voyage in search of the legendary eastern lands.

The journey is more tiring than anticipated, as hunger and mutiny test the crew’s endurance to the utmost. Upon arriving at the Malayan Islands, Magellan’s perspective shifts dramatically. He becomes fixated on conquest and conversion, leading to widespread unrest that he can no longer contain.

Joaquim Sapinho, from Rosa Filmes in Portugal, commented: “Lav Diaz offers a distinctive perspective on the meeting between Magellan and the Philippines through film. However, Gael García Bernal leads us into the enigma of our shared human essence. Together, they redefine the genre of adventure films.

The co-producers for this project are Andergraun Films from Spain, Black Cap Pictures from the Philippines, Ten17P based in the Philippines, El Viaje Filmes from Spain, Volos Films hailing from Taiwan, Lib Films out of France, and AKP21 also from France.

Luxbox, under the guidance of Fiorella Moretti, expressed their gratitude in a collective statement: “It’s a great privilege for us at Luxbox to work alongside Lav Diaz, a renowned contemporary filmmaker whose bold artistic expression has always captivated us. In ‘Magellan,’ he presents an epic portrayal of history, reinforced by a powerful performance from Gael García Bernal. This tale, grounded in one of the most pivotal chapters of world history, has never been narrated from a Filipino perspective; Lav Diaz brings it to life on screen with depth, poetic beauty, and an urgent sense of importance.

Read More

2025-04-24 21:19