SYNOPSIS
1879. Amidst the green hills, snow-capped peaks and dramatic coastline of Northern Spain, nine year old Maria Sautuola, and her father, Marcelino, an amateur archaeologist, discover something truly extraordinary, something that will change the history of mankind. The first cave art – breathtakingly fresh and accomplished paintings of galloping bison. At first all goes well, even the King comes to admire the cave, but Maria’s mother, the lovely and devout Conchita, is not the only one disturbed at the idea that prehistoric “savages” could have created such magnificent art. The Catholic Church sees the claim of ten thousand year old art as an attack on Biblical truth by Godless rationalists. Shockingly the scientists prove just as dogmatic and reactionary. Instead of examining the evidence, Carthailac, the leading prehistorian, condemns Marcelino and his discovery as fakes. Maria’s fairytale world grows dark and her attempts to help only make things worse. The family is thrown into crisis and the cave locked up. It takes all their love for each other to find a way through to redemption and recognition.
CAST & CREW

Hugh Hudson
Director
Producer(s)
Alvaro Longoria, Lucrecia Botín, Andy Paterson
Script
José Luis López-Linares, Olivia Hetreed
Director of Photography
José Luis Alcaine
Production designer
Alejandro Fernández, Benjamín Fernández
Music by
Mark Knopfler, Evelyn Glennie
Sound
Dani Fontrodona
Edit
Pia Di Ciaula
Cast
Antonio Banderas, Golshifteh Farahani, Allegra Allen, Clement Sibony, Rupert Everett
Production company(ies)
Mare Nostrum Productions, El Maestro de Altamira, A.I.E., Fox International Productions
Hugh Hudson
Anglo-Scottish film director-producer-writer, Hugh Hudson began his career as a filmmaker in documentaries, producing and directing many award winning films. Opera director in Germany 2016. His films include: Fangio (1975), Chariots of Fire (1981, 4 Oscars including Best Picture, BAFTA - Best Picture), Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984, 4 Oscar Nominations), Revolution (1985), Lost Angels (1989, nominated for Cannes Palme d’Or), My Life So Far (1999), I Dreamed of Africa (2000, Closing Film Cannes), Rupture (2011, 70 minute doc. for BBC4) Altamira (2016).
Filmography
A... Is for Apple (1963, short), Design for Today (1965, doc.), The Tortoise and the Hare (1967, short), Irresistible (1971), 12 Squadron Buccaneers (1978, doc.), Fangio: Una vita a 300 all'ora (1980, doc) Chariots of Fire (1981), Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), Revolution (1985), Lost Angels (1989), The King of Ads (1991, doc.), Lumière and Company (1995, segment), My Life So Far (1999), I Dreamed of Africa (2000), Rupture: A Matter of Life or Death (2011, doc.), Finding Altamira (2016).