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Lost In La Mancha

Lost In La Mancha

2002
Documentary
1h 29m
Lost In La Mancha may be the first 'un-making of' documentary; the story of a film that does not exist. Instead of a sanitized glimpse behind the scenes, this film offers a unique, in-depth look at the harsher realities of filmmaking. With drama that ranges from personal conflicts to epic storms, this is a record of a film disintegrating. (Quixote Films)
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Lost In La Mancha

2002
Documentary
1h 29m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 60.15% from 730 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(730)
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Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
77th
Another great documentary about production hell. Unlike Burden of Dreams and Heart of Darkness, this one ends in tragedy. Hopefully Gilliam someday has another shot at producing what looks like an incredible film.
Rated 25 Jan 2007
85
73rd
Very depressing, but also a valuable insight into the madness that is a major movie production, or perhaps especially a major Terry Gilliam production.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
94th
As a big Gilliam fan, I find this film to be rather heartbreaking. It's a very nice look at what could have been.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
92nd
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen/The saddest are these: It might have been!" And Lost in La Mancha left me very sad, indeed. The few moments of footage that were shot for Terry Gilliam's aborted project, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, were great. We will almost surely never get to see what might have been, but it sure looked like an excellent film.
Rated 25 Jul 2007
84
85th
As many have said, watching this does make you yearn for what could've been. As it stands, it's a really original and fascinating insight into filmmaking, and a great idea for a documentary.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
81st
Has the cruel fortune of being more interesting and complex than anything recent by Gilliam himself.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
63
60th
Good thing the whole morbid affair was documented like this, really, and Fulton and Pepe have commendably made it good watching as well as a monument.
Rated 18 Jun 2008
86
80th
A nice insight into the whole movie-making process. It's easy to watch a movie and not realize just how much goes into making it -- and how much of a risk the whole thing is. It's a shame this one didn't work out, given that Gilliam had been preparing for it for a decade and could have made something really remarkable.
Rated 23 Nov 2008
7
70th
Very solid fly-on-the-wall-like documentary. And - as stated by others - very depressing. Who wouldn't love to see a Gilliamesque take on Don Quixote?!
Rated 28 Jan 2010
70
51st
Poor Terry Gilliam. I REALLY hope he gets to make this film someday.
Rated 01 Dec 2011
71
84th
Just pains you to think what an interesting movie this could have been.
Rated 22 Sep 2013
23
20th
The movie would have been terrible anyway...
Rated 25 Aug 2007
70
19th
Terry Gilliam trying to convince us one of his failed movies was a Quixotic quest... but really it seemed more like a clear case of overgrown ego.
Rated 18 Jun 2008
78
50th
I'm a sucker for "makings-of"...especially "makings-of" about disasters, fiascos, etc. So, of course, I enjoyed this. The few scenes we see of Gilliam's unrealized film are pretty tantalizing, although I didn't share Gilliam's assertion that Rochefort HAD to be Quixote. Visually, he was pretty striking, but I could barely understand him. Seven months learning English? It showed. Anyways, the filmmakers did a great job conveying how completing a movie is really a minor miracle in itself.
Rated 17 Jul 2008
73
76th
Epic. Tragic. Wonderful. Heartbreaking.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
75
72nd
fascinating
Rated 19 Dec 2008
85
88th
This is a must-watch for every aspiring film-maker, or even just those looking for a deeper appreciation of the art. Everything that could have gone wrong with this production, did. It really makes you wonder how much time, money, effort, and resources are spent on movies that just never really get off the ground, and how many of those failures were potential classics that have been lost forever.
Rated 31 Dec 2008
95
80th
A very interesting look into the production by an inspiring director, made all the better when learning that the film is back in pre-production with Michael Palin on board.
Rated 05 Apr 2009
80
68th
The summary says it all. Intriguing movie about how even one of the most acclaimed directors in the world sometimes not only doesn't get the film right, but doesn't get to make a complete film at all
Rated 18 Jul 2009
74
61st
Interesting look behind the scenes of a movie production which failed miserably.
Rated 10 Nov 2009
80
79th
If your in the biz you'll totally get this. I'm an actor but I've AD'd before, and didn't have to deal with anything near this bad. Those French producers should be shot as they were extra cooks. And I live 10 miles from a nato range. Jets have ruined more voice recording sessions than I can count. This would have been a brilliant movie and I really feel sorry for Jean in the end as he probably feels guilty for something that he couldn't control. Could luck with the next try Terry!
Rated 24 Nov 2009
79
70th
Should be required viewing for film industry professionals, and on that level, makes an effective horror film. The best and saddest moment comes when his Sancho (or, 1st AD) sides with the Windmills even after Gilliam kept the producers from firing him. Gilliam: "When I'm getting fucked I like to be warned in advance." Wouldn't we all.
Rated 03 Mar 2010
65
26th
Love Gilliam's work, but this look into the disasters of film making just isnt that engaging to me.
Rated 17 Mar 2010
80
72nd
Here we see the real story of Gilliam tilting at his own windmills, and losing spectacularly. Very painful; but lots of movies die in similar ways, and we never know about it. This is a good record of how things, and especially how MANY things, can go wrong. DVD includes extensive and notable extras including long and charming interviews with Gilliam. Post-IMAGINARIUM, Gilliam claims to be returning to QUIXOTE. Better luck this time, we hope.
Rated 22 Jul 2010
80
70th
If nothing else, this film was the biggest happy accident ever. For the filmmakers to accatch on tape everything that went wrong with this production is spectacular. As a filmmaker, this film is a nightmare. The flood was particularly disturbing.
Rated 10 Aug 2010
40
71st
A testament to Gilliam's runaway ambition, this behind-the-scenes peek at the Creative Process offers much of interest to the filmmaker's champions and detractors alike.
Rated 28 Nov 2010
70
76th
A typical example of murphy's law. Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Poor Terry.
Rated 16 Dec 2010
80
83rd
Essential viewing for those interested in the workings of filmmaking, with delicious parallels with Quixote.
Rated 21 Jan 2011
82
58th
The tale of the cursed film.
Rated 29 Jan 2011
30
78th
"Gilliam's impassioned demand for the impossible is seen as his Achilles Heel." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 03 Feb 2011
1
0th
It's definitely an interesting look at the production process of a film, primarily because 1. Hey, the production process is interesting 2. It's less a "how to do" and more of a "here's the worst-case scenario". It was interesting in that vein, but aside from the subject matter I didn't really find it that "arresting", although I'm doubtful that would be possible. Just felt more academic than entertaining at the end of the day. I hope this film gets made though. Score is not a grade.
Rated 25 Jul 2012
80
70th
Maybe this film is a mirage in the minds of directors. Not being able to be created by the competent hands of Gilliam or earlier, Welles. Quixote remains an illusion teased to bitter realization by reality/sancho itself. The comparisons to Gilliam and the Don came out quicker than this production took to fall apart. Strange hints throughout that this collapse was an act of god. Is god the foul red tape that lingers between insurance companies and ever-extending medical return dates?
Rated 06 Sep 2012
70
53rd
It's inspiring to see someone struggling so hard to make his dream come true.
Rated 17 Aug 2015
75
81st
Terry is really admirable, the production of this movie was hell on earth and he still wants to continue, a very great lesson from when everything goes bad just keep pushing, this time it didn't work but hey this guys brought us some great movies. Also it's extremely interesting to watch the development from preproduction to canceling; this is a masterclass in film making.
Rated 16 Feb 2016
8
70th
I love that that every director who tries to make a Don Quixote movie ends up becoming Don Quixote
Rated 28 Apr 2016
83
77th
Everything possible goes wrong yet Terry Gilliam keeps persisting. He never threw a pity party for himself, but you still couldn't help but feel bad for the guy. The passion, patients, and persistence show how much this director loves to create film as an art form and not just to make money. I have not seen a lot of his movies, but this documentary led me to add a few to my watch list. Johnny Depp seemed so easy going. It was quite a contrast to the previous documentaries about film making I hav
Rated 06 May 2018
80
68th
R - Fascinating. The minutiae of what happens in just trying to get, and keep, a film on the road is interesting enough, but what happens when a series of disasters escalates to the point where the film no longer exists? Rewatched because, one pending lawsuit aside, Terry Gilliam's latest attempt to get the film made may be about to appear.
Rated 05 Jun 2018
70
62nd
Very interesting look behind the scenes of a major production The comic timing of this documentary is impeccable - although it does make one feel bad for Gilliam. Curious to see what he managed to make of it now!
Rated 12 Oct 2020
78
75th
The first documentary i ever rented, bought or watched on big screen. Here the director Gilliam fought against his own windmills and came second. Very interesting view about film making and preparations.

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