Manolete

Manolete, also known as The Passion Within in the United Kingdom, Blood and Passion in Canada, and A Matador's Mistress in the United States, is a 2008 biopic of bullfighter Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, better known as "Manolete". The film was written and directed by Menno Meyjes. This is the first film from HandMade Films since Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). This film was researched and written by Bill Crown. Alison Richards pitched it to Channel 4 at the American Film Market in Santa Monica. The casting decision for Adrian Brody and Penelope Cruise were made by producer Alison Richards because Brody had an uncanny resemblance to Manolete and had just won the Oscar for The Piano. Penelope Cruise was selected because of her popularity in Spain. Neither Bill Crown or Alison Richards received compensation for years of development on this project and neither received credit. Despite being repackaged and renamed, numerous times, the movie failed at both box office and streaming platforms. One account says the budget was 28 million. While another states 60 million. Karmic failure. Plot The Menno Meyjes directed drama stars Adrien Brody as Spanish bullfighter Manolete, in a film that covers his late life love affair with actress Lupe Sino (Penélope Cruz) before he was gored to death in the bull ring. Sino's communist politics turned their affair into a scandal in the early 1940s, especially after discovering her previous marriage to a PCE member. The film begins with Manolete's last day in Linares. Cast Adrien Brody as Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, a.k.a. "Manolete" Penélope Cruz as Antoñita "Lupe" Sino Santiago Segura as Guillermo Ann Mitchell as Doña Angustias Josep Linuesa as Enrique de Ahumada Juan Echanove as Pepe Cámara Pedro Casablanc as General Tomas Rozzi as the 'dealer' Nacho Aldeguer as Luis Miguel Dominguín Diego Martín Berta de la Dehesa Rubén Ochandiano Omar Muñoz as young Manolete Denise Moreno as girl Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez as Torero