Overview

• Alejandro Amenábar’s new biopic is now in theaters following its early October release.
• The film concentrates on Miguel de Cervantes’ captivity in Algiers from 1575 to 1580 rather than his later literary career.
• France Inter describes the premise as Cervantes captivating fellow prisoners and the Algerian ruler with daily adventure tales.
• In Télérama, Amenábar says he set out to deliver a visually driven spectacle anchored in character and storytelling.
• L’Humanité offers a guarded review that says the film does not fully convince, as French outlets place it alongside other politically and historically themed new releases this week.