The film chronicles the groundbreaking discovery of stone age cave paintings in the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria, Spain, that threatens to shake religious understanding and tear the discoverer's family apart.
Director Hugh Hudson shoots in lush settings and provides ample footage of the incredible paintings; this could make a nice double feature alongside Werner Herzog's documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams.
'Finding Altamira' excels at showing the joys and sorrows that can come from a historic discovery. It also paints a beautiful picture of a tender father/daughter relationship.
Despite a few flourishes, plus some solid work from Antonio Banderas as Marcelino de Sautuola -- the amateur scientist who first uncovered the famous cave paintings in northern Spain -- it's pretty much the work of someone going through the motions.
Couched in a tale of scientific discovery is a lovely portrait of a father-daughter relationship grounded in intellect and curiosity, a rare thing onscreen.
