Magellan is a feature biopic directed and written by Lav Diaz. Debuting in the Cannes Première section at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, the film marks the Filipino filmmaker's return to the Croisette. Diaz previously took home the Golden Lion at Venice in 2016 for The Woman Who Left. Led by Gael García Bernal playing the Portuguese explorer Fernand de Magellan, the movie was released in French theaters on December 31, 2025.
The story centers on the historic figure of Magellan, a daring navigator driven by the desire to push the limits of the known world. Through his daring sea voyages and intricate relationships with European royal powers, the film chronicles a journey defined by grand ambitions, relentless pursuit of discovery, and encounters with the unknown.
Beyond the myth of the explorer, the film also delves into the personal side of the character, particularly his relationship with his wife, Beatriz Barbosa de Magallanes. Married in 1517, they spend only a brief time together before Magellan sets off on an expedition to Southeast Asia, from which he will never return.
Lav Diaz takes a contemplative approach to examining the human, political, and spiritual costs of exploration, shifting the focus to those who directly experienced the repercussions of colonial ventures.
Magellan continues the tradition of Lav Diaz’s filmmaking, known for his sweeping historical and political epics that challenge mainstream narratives. The director opts to tell this story from the perspective of the Philippines, the land where Magellan met his end, highlighting local figures like Humabon and Lapu-Lapu, and critically examining the origins of Western myths.
The film is built around a co-production involving multiple countries across Europe and Asia, blending professional actors with non-professionals. This mixture aims to convey a sense of authenticity, a key priority for the director, who favors raw reactions and a stretched-out pacing to reflect the nuanced and complex historical context.
Through its scope, length, and distinctive stylistic choices, the film targets viewers who appreciate author-driven biopics and demanding historical dramas. It can be compared to the epic works of Lav Diaz, where History is explored as a terrain of moral, political, and personal tensions.
Magellan
Film | 2025
Release in theaters: December 31, 2025
Biopic, Drama, Romance | Duration: 2h43
By Lav Diaz | Starring Gael García Bernal, Roger Alan Koza, Dario Yazbek Bernal
Original title: Magalhães
Countries: Philippines, Portugal, Spain
With Magellan, Lav Diaz offers an ambitious and thought-provoking reinterpretation of a foundational myth of Western history, examining the violence of conquest and shedding light on the darker aspects of those who have long been celebrated by history.
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