4L (Spanish: 4 latas) is a 2019 Spanish comedy film directed by Gerardo Olivares and written by Olivares and María Jesús Petrement. The plot revolves around Tocho (Hovik Keuchkerian), who is a rough, bad-mannered alcoholic; Jean Pierre (Jean Reno), who was once a womanizer but has matured; and Ely (Susana Abaitua). They are all travelling from Spain to Ely's father Joseba (Enrique San Francisco) who lives in Tombuctu, Mali, and is on his deathbed. They decided to travel there by using Ely's father's old car, a car in which they used to do road trips.
Contents
Plot
As the plot begins, Tocho, a rough, alcohol-infused citizen of Bilbao, Spain, receives a letter telling him that Joseba, an old friend, is dying in Timbuktu. Deeply touched and nostalgic, Tocho travels by coach to France where he enlists another old friend, Jean Pierre, the owner of a vineyard, to join him on a trip to say goodbye to their beloved Joseba. Jean Pierre somewhat tentatively agrees, and the two men next visit Joseba's estranged daughter Ely to ask her to join them. To their amazement, Ely reveals that the old 1982 Renault that the three friends once drove across the Sahara Desert has been carefully preserved in her garage. She accepts their offer, if they will drive in the Renault from Spain to Timbuktu once again. With fond memories of their youthful adventures, Jean Pierre and Tocho agree to recreate the journey with Ely in tow. But the men and the car are older now, and times have changed. What was once a road trip of freedom becomes a journey fraught with breakdowns and stereotypical near-death moments in the desert. A Malian hitchhiker Mamadou is befriended by Ely, but dies of thirst when walking off to seek help when the 4L breaks down. There is an encounter in the middle of the Tanezrouft with a French trafficker who has a grudge against Jean Pierre, who stole one of his trucks many years ago. Arriving in Timbuktu the three travellers find an ailing Joseba and his Malian partner, and the closing scene leaves the four main characters promising to restore a riverboat on the Niger (in reality about 20 km from Timbuktu) owned by Joseba.
Production
Filming took place over a period of eight weeks on the Spanish islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, as well as in Morocco and Senegal. The actors never visited Algeria, Mali or Timbuktu, as featured on screen.
Release
Distributed by Wanda Films, 4L was theatrically released in Spain on 1 March 2019.
It was released on 12 July 2019 on Netflix.
Reception
As of October 2021, 57% of the seven critical reviews compiled on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average rating of 5.2/10.