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The Matador

Play trailer Poster for The Matador 2008 1h 15m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
This documentary chronicles the grand ambitions of rising matador David Fandila, also known as El Fandi, as he attempts to take his place in bullfighting history as the 13th matador to defeat 100 raging bulls within the course of a single season. While the bulls themselves often prove quite dangerous -- as evidenced by a graphic goring by the horns of a particularly testy opponent -- Fandila must also contend with equally enraged animal rights activists and the shadow of a worried mother.

Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times [The filmmakers] capture the paradox of beauty and cruelty that charges their entire film. The Matador is rightly exciting -- and unsettling. Rated: 4/5 Nov 26, 2008 Full Review V.A. Musetto New York Post Mostly The Matador romanticizes a brutal tradition that has no place in the 21st century. Rated: 1/4 Oct 31, 2008 Full Review Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times Stripping away centuries of civilization, The Matador confronts something primal in human nature, daring us to do the same. Rated: 4/5 Oct 31, 2008 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews A no-frills documentary for those who romanticize bullfighting as both a sport and an art. Rated: C+ Feb 26, 2013 Full Review Elena Oumano L.A. Weekly The Matador reserves judgment while raising the core issue concerning this traditional ritual: deep, poetic cultural expression or glorified animal cruelty? Nov 26, 2008 Full Review Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters More observational than overtly critical, The Matador reveals the ways that violence defines a conventional, familiar, and increasingly scrutinized masculinity. Nov 14, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
Audience Member I was about to change the channel when this first came on Sundance ~ glad I didn't. I was glued to this documentary from beginning to end... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member A documentary of El Fandi, the Spanish bull-fighter. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member i can watch that again. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member guzel bir film, izlenir Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member I knew next to nothing about the picture prior to seeing it. This was both good and bad. I was hoping it would be a fictional portrayal of a Matador, but I was disappointed. I would be interested to see a documentary filmed by someone not so obviously disgusted by the killing of the bulls. The not-so-subtle musical cues and cinematic techniques definitely left the audience predisposed to find the death of the bulls violent and horrendous. Every time the sword was thrust into the bull and they struggled to their death I found myself sympathetic to their plight. However, I still eat beef, chicken, fish, etc. Thus, one has to find value in the argument that the bulls are at least given a fighting chance for their life, as opposed to their compatriots that are simply slaughtered in beef processing plants with much less ado. The narrative isn't terribly engaging, but I was interested in the subject enough to keep me engaged throughout. When I think of bullfighting, I think of two things: Hemingway and Almodovar. Both are of immense interest, so it is quite natural I would enjoy the picture. I would happily see a bull fight up close and personal, but don't suppose I wouldn't cringe, at first, at the fatal blow. Some Absinthe probably wouldn't help. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member [font=arial][size=-1]Don't get fooled by those people who never watched this movie. It's beautifully done - from storyline, visual, cinematography, editing, music score to directing. This movie does NOT support bullfight. It keeps an open-minded attitude that allows voice from both sides to be heard. After all, it's more about a young man's persue of his dream and rediscover human's nature. This movie is NYTime's critics' pick.[/size][/font] Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Matador

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary chronicles the grand ambitions of rising matador David Fandila, also known as El Fandi, as he attempts to take his place in bullfighting history as the 13th matador to defeat 100 raging bulls within the course of a single season. While the bulls themselves often prove quite dangerous -- as evidenced by a graphic goring by the horns of a particularly testy opponent -- Fandila must also contend with equally enraged animal rights activists and the shadow of a worried mother.
Director
Stephen Higgins, Nina Gilden Seavey
Producer
Stephen Higgins, Nina Gilden Seavey
Production Co
Matador Film
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 15m