How Guanajuato became the setting for a modern ‘Don Quixote’
Like Don Quixote, the inspiration for "Don Barry: A Quixotic Exploration," filmmaker Paul Smart is an idealist. He made the movie, now streaming on Prime Video, in Guanajuato, despite knowing little Spanish, writes Louisa Rogers. The post How Guanajuato became the setting for a modern ‘Don Quixote’ appeared first on Mexico News Daily
In 2021, filmmaker Paul Smart moved to Guanajuato, Mexico, with his wife and son, drawn by the city's rich connection to "Don Quixote." Known as the "Cervantes Capital of the Americas," Guanajuato boasts the world's largest collection of art inspired by the novel and hosts the world's biggest performing arts festival dedicated to Don Quixote. Smart, a newcomer to Mexico with limited Spanish, fell in love with the city's blend of old and new, European and Indigenous, beautiful and utilitarian.
Smart's fascination with the city's ties to "Don Quixote" led him to create a 175-episode radio reading series of the novel, followed by a contemporary film adaptation he dubbed "Don Barry: A Quixotic Exploration." The film combines two real-life individuals, Paul Smart and experimental filmmaker Barry Gerson, into a composite character named "Don Barry." Gerson, an 80-year-old filmmaker who faced aging issues, provided notes for the film's script.
To produce the film in Guanajuato without extensive Spanish knowledge, Smart relied on his ability to communicate effectively and utilized the city's local dancers, musicians, and an animator for the character of Sanchia, based on Sancho Panza. The film premiered on Prime Video, drawing inspiration from Cervantes' classic tale and the unique cultural backdrop of Guanajuato.
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