An epic portrayal of jealousy, hatred, love and redemption set during the tumultuous times of the Spanish Civil War…
A tale of loss between a father and son, of revolutionaries fighting for freedom, of a woman’s search for love and meaning… and the struggles of a man whose life impacts them all...
THE PROJECT
There Be Dragons combines action, adventure and romance with the extraordinary drama of human tragedy and divine redemption. Director/writer Roland Joffé (The Mission, Killing Fields, City of Joy) has taken characters from different times and places and interconnected their lives to create conflict and irony, and ultimately challenge them with choices of hope or despair…
PLOT
While researching the life of Josemaria Escriva, the controversial founder of Opus Dei, the young journalist Robert uncovers hidden stories of his estranged father Manolo, and is taken on a journey through the dark, terrible secrets of his family’s past...
Going back in time, we see that Manolo and Escriva are childhood friends, and both face the hardships and injustices that are tearing Spain apart. But as young men, their paths diverge, and while Escriva pursues a life of faith, Manolo is swept into the brutal and tumultuous Spanish Civil War.
Once a soldier, Manolo becomes obsessed with a beautiful Hungarian revolutionary, Ildiko, who has joined the militia in pursuit of passion and purpose. But when Ildiko rejects him and gives herself instead to the courageous militia leader Oriol, Manolo’s jealousy leads him down a path of betrayal.
As personal and national battles rage, the characters’ lives collide and their deepest struggles are illuminated. Only then can they face the ultimate choices that will result in tragedy or triumph, and a chance for final redemption.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
There Be Dragons director Roland Joffe has previously directed the highly acclaimed films The Mission (starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, nominated for seven Academy Awards, and winner of “La Palma de Oro” of Cannes) and The Killing Fields, winner of three Academy Awards.
Joffe’s cast for Dragons includes:
Charlie Cox (Stardust, Casanova)
Wes Bentley (American Beauty, Ghost Rider)
Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Max Payne)
Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, Golden Compass)
Dougray Scott (Mission Impossible, Ever After)
Rodrigo Santoro (300, Che)
Academy Award winner Eugenio Zanetti (Restoration) is art director; Academy Award winner Yvonne Blake (What Dreams May Come) is the wardrobe and costume designer; Academy Award winner Michelle Burke (Quest for Fire, Dracula) is makeup designer.
The $35 million film was shot in Argentina and Spain and will be released in theaters worldwide in 2010.
BUDGET & FINANCING
- What is the budget of There Be Dragons?
There be Dragons has a medium size budget for Hollywood standards.
- Who is financing the movie?
The film is being financed by a combination of equity investors, bank loans, a Spanish national television network (Antena 3 TV), and state tax incentives. There are over 100 private and institutional investors.
IS THIS AN OPUS DEI MOVIE?
- Is Opus Dei involved in the financing of the movie?
No. Opus Dei as an organization has not invested in the movie, and is not endorsing the project. Some of the movie’s investors are members or are connected to Opus Dei, but many other investors are not in any way associated with Opus Dei. There are also other investors who are atheists and agnostics. Two of the producers of the movie are members of Opus Dei, but they are acting in their individual capacity as in any other private or professional project.
- What influence does Opus Dei have in the making of the movie?
Opus Dei as an organization has no involvement in the movie. Of the hundreds of cast and crew members, only three have any connection with Opus Dei (one of them being the lead producer, Ignacio G. Sancha). Just as he invited a well-know Jesuit priest, Daniel Berrigan, to help consult on The Mission, director Roland Joffe also invited a priest of Opus Dei to the set of Dragons to advise him and the leading actor, Charlie Cox, on matters relating to Josemaria Escriva and Opus Dei.
- What is the position of Opus Dei regarding the movie?
Opus Dei has made no formal statement regarding its position on the movie. Moreover, the producers do not consider Opus Dei’s position relevant, as their goal is to give director Roland Joffe artistic freedom to give his view on Opus Dei’s founder, with no outside interference.
- Do you think that Opus Dei people will like the movie?
The movie is intended to satisfy a very broad audience as it deals with all kinds of human dilemmas: love, passion, betrayal, crime, science and religion, humor, death, guilt, and above all, forgiveness.
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
- Who is in charge of the project?
Roland Joffe is the director and screenwriter of the movie, with absolute freedom to make the film he wishes to make. Roland is also a producer on the film, and is joined by producer Guy Louthan (a Hollywood veteran), and lead producer Ignacio G. Sancha (a Spanish lawyer/banker) and his partner Ignacio Núñez, who collectively control the project.
SCRIPT & STORY
- Who wrote the script?
The script has been entirely written by Roland Joffé. It was a pre-condition for his hiring that he would write the script 1 from scratch.
- Are you portraying St. Josemaría Escriva’s relationship with General Franco?
No, the action in the movie takes place before Franco became ruler of Spain. However, the National army that was under Franco’s orders during the Civil War will be part of the action and drama of the movie.
- Is your portrait of Escrivá historically accurate?
Yes, we believe it is. This does not mean that every single event reflected in the movie is perfectly accurate, as the director has taken some fictional liberties that do not affect the overall historical accuracy. Moreover, the movie focuses more on concepts and themes as opposed to historical events.
- Will the film appeal to general audiences?
General audiences will enjoy the action, adventure, romance, high production values and universal themes the movie offers.
- It was rumored that Robert de Niro and Antonio Banderas where involved in this project. Is this true?
No.
- Do you think that this movie will help to promote Opus Dei or the Catholic Church?
It is not intended to promote or criticize any organization or individual. Our goal is to entertain the audience while portraying ordinary human beings engaged in the drama of passion and betrayal, purpose and forgiveness.
- Is this movie a reaction against The Da Vinci Code?
No, it has no relation to Da Vinci Code whatsoever. However, we are absolutely sure that the Da Vinci Code audience will enjoy this film, as it gives a lot of insight on the founder of Opus Dei, the organization that was portrayed as a secretive cult in the Da Vinci Code.
DISTRIBUTION & RELEASE
- Which studio will release the movie?
The film has been financed outside the studio system so it is not under the control of any studio. The producers will meet with distributors in early 2010 to determine who will distribute the film.
- When will the movie be released?
The anticipated release of the movie will be late summer or fall of 2010.
1 Heriberto Schoeffer, one of the previous promoters of the project, worked with Barbara Nicolosi, who wrote her own script that was never considered, as Roland Joffé wanted to write his own screenplay. Neither Schoeffer nor Nicholosi are involved in the project now.