Why ex-python’s ‘cursed’ film can be shown

Said to be the most cursed film in cinema history, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

was finally screened yesterday at the closing event at Cannes.

Twenty-five years in production, Terry Gilliam’s version in 2000 backfired when Jean Rochefort, the French actor playing Quixote, fell ill and flash floods washed the entire set away overnight.

Suspense over whether it would be screened went down to the wire after Paulo Branco, his former producer, last month sought to block the world premiere, claiming his company owned the rights.

Cannes said it stood “firmly” on Gilliam’s side and accused the producer of “intimidation”.

On May 9, a French court ruled the film could be screened on the proviso the festival made it clear a judgment on Branco’s claim to the rights was still pending.

But in another victory for Gilliam, a French court ruled yesterday that the film could be screened in cinemas around the country starting today.