"Cabezas Cortadas": Lost Glauber Rocha Film Restored for Lumière Festival

Glauber Rocha's 1970 film "Cabezas Cortadas" is undergoing a significant restoration project, set to be presented at the International Classic Film Market (MIFC) within Lyon's Lumière Film Festival. This unique work, lauded as one of Spanish cinema's most fascinating yet misunderstood pieces, is being revived by sister companies Video Mercury Films and FlixOlé, in collaboration with ECAM Madrid Film School.

The film, which delves into the descent into madness of an exiled dictator, faced controversy and misunderstanding upon its 1970 release. It was seen by some as an allegorical masterpiece against tyranny and by others as incomprehensible. The restoration will bring this "cursed film" back to public attention.

Video Mercury Films is leading the restoration, which includes a 6K digitization of the original negatives. The process involves meticulous color grading and digital image restoration, with a new digital copy expected by 2027. The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to preserving and distributing historically valuable Spanish films that lack digital copies, giving them a vital second life.