THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE

Is a movie by Terry Gilliam that is an adaptation of the famous novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. I personally think that it is a masterpiece and the perfect adaptation for multiple reasons. The novel itself is actually considered one of the first modern novels and the story is about an old man who goes mad from reading too many Arthurian romances and decides to become a knight himself. The book was revolutionary though because it then portrayed the people that the knight met realistically and not as caricatures to humorous effect. The second half of the story is then considered the first post-modern story and so adapting such a book wasn't going to be easy, as you can imagine.

           © Terry Gilliam                                                       © Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam's version is different in appearance but is very true to the spirit of the book in the 'story-within-a-story' narrative. The movie is about a filmmaker that is trying to adapt the the book itself and who then gets caught up in the fantasy of his own creation, much like Don Quixote when he reads too many chivalric romances. The film has an added layer of intertextuality as it satirizes the filmmaking process itself, which is apt, as it took Terry Gilliam roughly thirty years to make it. It is a very funny film despite the complexity and you do not need to have read the book to enjoy it.

Here's a link to The Man Who Killed Don Quixote on Amazon where you can buy it.