ALTAMIRA: THE DAWN OF ART

• Emma Suárez

  Geraldine Chaplin

  Antonio Valero

  Joe Manjon

Documentarian and director of photography José Luis López-Linares examines meticulously here the prehistoric frescoes of the Altamira Cave in northern Spain, regarded as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Cave Art.’ On the one hand, he recreates the discovery of the paintings in 1879, and on the other he explores various caverns around the world to reconstruct the life of humans during the Magdalenian period. Lastly, he portrays with care, precision, quasi-devotional respect, and a great deal of emotion, every detail of what he defines as the ‘Prado Museum of Prehistory.'»

In 1879 the little girl María Sanz de Sautuola & Escalante and her father Marcelino discovered rock paintings in the caves of Altamira. The story, told through María’s eyes by means of animation and 3D technologies, shows the life of human beings in Cantabria 14,000 years ago and delves into the mystery of artistic creation.