Italy’s Fandango will be launching sales at the Cannes Marché du Film on “The Sleeper,” a doc directed by Spain’s Alvaro Longoria about a lost Caravaggio painting depicting a thorn-crowned Christ that’s been making global headlines and will soon be displayed at the Prado museum in Madrid.
“The Sleeper” is structured like a thriller in which the viewer is guided by art dealer Jorge Coll on the tortuous journey of this piece of art, titled “Ecce Homo.” After hanging in the living room of an ordinary Spanish home for decades, the painting was attributed to the circle of the 17th-century Spanish artist José de Ribeirawhen it was offered for sale at a Madrid auction house in April 2021. It almost sold for just €1,500 ($1,600) before something clicked, prompting experts in Spain and Italy to reexamine the work.
“What happens when a painting that has always adorned the living room of an ordinary house turns out to be a unique work of art in the world?” reads the doc’s logline.” What path does the investigation follow to determine its authenticity? What interests and struggles are unleashed for a piece of art that could be worth $400 million?”
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On Monday, the Prado said that “Ecce Homo,” which has been purchased anonymously from the family that had owned it for generations for an undisclosed sum, will go on show at the museum from May 28 until October.
The Prado’s director, Miguel Falomir, noted that the painting’s new owner has worked with experts to restore “Ecce Homo” to its full splendor and reconstruct the story of its travels.
based on an original story conceived by Longoria – who is a co-founder of Spain’s Morena Films – with Mediacrest’s Gerardo Olivares and Estrategia Audiovisual’s Ricardo Fernández-Deu, “The Sleeper” is co-produced with Italy’s prominent Fandango, the indie behind veteran auteurs such as Nanni Moretti as well as up and coming directors. “The Sleeper” went into production at the end of 2023 – after they secured all rights to its story – and was shot in Madrid, London and several cities in Italy.
The doc marks Longoria’s return to directing. His 2012 debut “Sons of the Clouds,” produced by Javier Bardem, scored a Spanish Academy Goya, while 2015’s “The Propaganda Game” earned a nomination.
