The Apostle (2012 film)

Plot

After breaking out of prison together, thieves Ramon and Xavier part ways. Xavier tells Ramon he hid stolen jewels in the home of a woman named Luisa, located in the village of Xanaz. Xavier accidentally walks back into the prison, while Ramon heads for Xanaz. When he arrives, he finds several tourists and the village’s overly friendly residents, including the local priest, Don Cesareo. The villagers insist that each visitor stay in a separate house and promise to show Ramon Luisa’s home the next morning.

Ramon is taken to the house of a woman named Dorinda. She casually mentions feeling “trapped” by Xanaz and informs him that Luisa is dead. She urges him to drink hot milk to help him sleep, but instead Ramon locks her cat in his room and searches her attic. There he discovers belongings he believes the villagers stole from others. He watches Dorinda and other villagers head to the church, but when he follows, the building is empty. He takes a few valuables, including a golden medal, then collapses for no clear reason.

Meanwhile, the vain and materialistic Archpriest of Santiago travels toward Xanaz with his humble assistant, Pablo. The Archpriest was supposed to receive the Medal of the Apostle, a golden medal blessed by the pope, but it never arrived on time. He suspects it was lost somewhere along the pilgrimage route.

When Ramon wakes the next morning, the villagers are suddenly hostile. Dorinda accuses him of killing her cat, and the villagers drive him away. He falls asleep in the woods and dreams of Cesareo and Dorinda celebrating among a pile of treasure. Waking after dark, he returns to the village and nearly reaches Luisa’s house before Cesareo finds him. The priest apologizes and insists Ramon join him for a lavish meal, which includes a special wine. Ramon pretends to drink, then slips out to Luisa’s house and retrieves the jewels. As he tries to escape, he encounters a man in a trance carrying a large cross through Xanaz. A supernatural force forces Ramon to take the cross, and the other man runs away.

Production

Production began in 2008. With a budget of €5.2 million, The Apostle was partially crowdfunded by 560 backers. It was filmed in stereoscopic stop-motion using clay animation, being the first one made in Europe. Written and directed by Fernando Cortizo, the film was Cortizo's directorial debut. The cinematography was handled by Matthew Hazelrig, and the film was edited by Fernando Alfonsin. The soundtrack was composed by Xavier Font, Philip Glass and Arturo Vaquero, and released by Orange Mountain Music.

Release

The Apostle premiered in Spanish theaters on October 31, 2012. Distributors Film Arante and Coven Distribution had initially planned a release in 80 theaters, but due to various issues, it ended up playing in just 13. The film was a commercial failure, earning $17,061 during its opening weekend and a total of $59,810 across its entire theatrical run. This financial loss nearly bankrupted Artefact Productions. Following the disappointing reception, director Cortizo told Fotogramas that he would never make another film in Spain, calling the three years of work a waste and lamenting the wasted efforts of many people. In November 2014, Artefact Productions made the film available for rent on its official website for €1.50 per 24-hour period, along with a €10 DVD. Multiple subtitle options were offered, including English. Because of past difficulties with Film Arante and Coven Distribution, the company has chosen not to license the film to streaming services or DVD distributors, selling it only through its own site. At the 27th Goya Awards, The Apostle was nominated for Best Animated Film but lost to Tad, The Lost Explorer.