Magellan, respectively, in Unlimited, the new Prime Video series that recounts the first circumnavigation of the world. A feat and some historical figures that can be seen as “heroes or as villains”, depending on who and where their history is written, as recognized by the protagonists of the fiction that arrives exclusively this Friday, June 10, to Spain and other countries. Hispanic.
“There is a lot that people do not know about history, that’s why there are many opinions. As an actor I have no interest in making a hero or a villain, I have an interest in making a man,” says the Brazilian actor who has already put on in the shoes of other historical figures in films like ‘300’ or ‘Ben-Hur’.
“What was done seems like a real massacre to me. I think we had no right to invade a land, I don’t think that should ever be done. We have an example present today disturbing all of Europe,” says Álvaro Morte in an interview given to Europe Press after being asked if the controversial figure of the protagonists, ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on which side of the ocean their ‘feat’ is narrated, can influence how the public receives the fiction.
“I think anything can be politicized. If people want to politicize this series, they will,” says the actor who gave life to The Professor in The Money Heist. For his part, Santoro advocates “thinking in the context of events” and “looking from today, contextualizing and thinking about those times.” “I’m not here to judge him (Magallanes), what I tried to do is humanize him,” he maintains.
the premiere of Unlimited in Prime Video coincides with the celebration of the fifth centenary of the expedition, an event that, according to Morte, in Spain “we leave almost completely aside” and “we could celebrate much more” given the size of the naval feat.
For the actors, this fiction offers the opportunity precisely to honor the deed, even if it means that it be examined closely given its historical nature, something that does not intimidate Morte: “I imagine that there will be many very purist people and that they expect from this series something that is very adjusted to reality, but since the production that has never been intended”.
When faced with a shoot with great technical complexity and many extremely difficult action scenes, both actors highlight how enormous the challenge has been and how much they have learned from it. “Magellan left me with real scars,” confesses Santoro, who now shares a wound on his left knee with his character in addition to the “resilience” that characterizes him. Likewise, to embody the explorer, the interpreter had to polish a Spanish with a Portuguese accent.
“I have wanted to make an Elcano that is very connected with its people. I am very much in favor of thinking that projects go well when synergies come together and we all work together. Working independently, it is very difficult to succeed in what you are embarking on ‘, never better said”, expresses Morte, who also affects how interested he is in continuing to interpret characters “that break a little with the pre-established”.
Between Sanlucar and Seville
In an analysis of fiction carried out by Paula Herrero Diz, professor in the Department of Communication and Education in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, she says that a concession that creators take is to ignore until the end the name of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the natural outlet of the Guadalquivir to the sea. “Seville was where the trip was forged, but the sailors remained in Sanlúcar for more than a month to finish supplying the ships and, strategically, mislead the Portuguese who wanted to intercept them. In addition, they never faced them with cannon fire in the open sea as is reflected in one of the episodes,” he narrates.
“This detail is important because Magellan made numerous trips between Seville and Sanlúcar at that time, before leaving, and he did not set sail with the rest of the captains, as the series collects, nor was there a solemn farewell in the presence of the king, although there was a huge expectation among the inhabitants of the city”, he analyses.
Likewise, the teacher talks about its importance: “That town was also the point of arrival, as can be seen in the outcome of the production, when no one was waiting for them. On the other hand, it is striking that Elcano is deprived at all times of his spirituality when your will is convincing proof of your beliefs: numerous churches and religious orders benefited from your generosity in keeping with your promises”.