Eighteenth century Spanish cartographer Urrutia Salcedo was a man ahead of his times. He was responsible for producing nautical charts that were revered by intelligent men that loved the sea; they felt guided by a master that put into paper maps that still today are considered unique documents, produced at a time where primitive techniques still were the norm. When one of his original works come into a Barcelona auction house, there is a bidding war among what appear three serious buyers. The book goes to Tanger, a representative of the national maritime museum located in Madrid.
The auction is seen through Coy's eyes, a man that loves old charts as well as has a passion for the sea. He cannot help himself in following Tanger to the museum to check on a particular detail of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. What he discovers is a difference of a nautical mile in the Urrutia Salcedo's map of the region that might shed light on the mystery of the lost brigantine Dei Gloria, which sank off the coast of Spain on a return trip from Cuba, a couple of centuries ago.
What follows is Coy's quest to find out the sunken ship, but he is not prepared to deal with the two men that are also interested in finding the ship. Add that to his involvement with Tanger, who is more ways than one, has not completely let Coy know what her real intentions are.
Imanol Uribe, the director of this film, who adapted the Arturo Perez Reverte bestseller, has an eye for detail, placing his movie in different points of Spain. He was lucky in finding Javier Aguirresarobe to do the splendid cinematography for the movie.
Carmelo Lopez does an excellent job as Coy. With his handsome dark looks, he makes the best of his character. In some ways his work in this film is a joy to watch. The only weak element is Aitana Sanchez Gijon, who doesn't bring a menacing touch to her Tanger, a duplicitous woman, if ever there was one. Enrico Loverso, a good Italian actor seems out of his element as Palermo.
The film is somewhat predictable because we realize where it's going from the start, but it offers a tale of adventure in incredible locales that is its best asset.
The auction is seen through Coy's eyes, a man that loves old charts as well as has a passion for the sea. He cannot help himself in following Tanger to the museum to check on a particular detail of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. What he discovers is a difference of a nautical mile in the Urrutia Salcedo's map of the region that might shed light on the mystery of the lost brigantine Dei Gloria, which sank off the coast of Spain on a return trip from Cuba, a couple of centuries ago.
What follows is Coy's quest to find out the sunken ship, but he is not prepared to deal with the two men that are also interested in finding the ship. Add that to his involvement with Tanger, who is more ways than one, has not completely let Coy know what her real intentions are.
Imanol Uribe, the director of this film, who adapted the Arturo Perez Reverte bestseller, has an eye for detail, placing his movie in different points of Spain. He was lucky in finding Javier Aguirresarobe to do the splendid cinematography for the movie.
Carmelo Lopez does an excellent job as Coy. With his handsome dark looks, he makes the best of his character. In some ways his work in this film is a joy to watch. The only weak element is Aitana Sanchez Gijon, who doesn't bring a menacing touch to her Tanger, a duplicitous woman, if ever there was one. Enrico Loverso, a good Italian actor seems out of his element as Palermo.
The film is somewhat predictable because we realize where it's going from the start, but it offers a tale of adventure in incredible locales that is its best asset.