Lav Diaz's 'Magallanes' Deconstructs Colonial Myth with Gael García Bernal

Lav Diaz, the Filipino slow cinema master and Golden Lion winner for 'The Woman Who Left' (2016), presents 'Magallanes', a critical revision of the Ferdinand Magellan narrative from a Filipino perspective. The film, which won the Golden Spike at SEMINCI after its Cannes Première, stars Gael García Bernal as Magellan, tracing his psychological descent from idealistic explorer to tragic figure consumed by conquest and religious conversion. Rather than a conventional historical epic, Diaz explores the cultural, spiritual, and political consequences of the encounter between East and West, questioning foundational myths like the arrival of Christianity and the heroization of figures like Lapu-Lapu. The film also highlights the often-overlooked figure of Beatriz, Magellan's wife, who represents the desire for home. Shot in color with a relatively brief 156-minute runtime, 'Magallanes' retains Diaz's signature patient observation and blend of professional and non-professional actors. It will be released in Spanish cinemas on July 3, with an exclusive clip provided by El Hype. A future nine-hour version is planned.