Not to be confused with the Pierce Brosnan thriller of the same name, this is a documentary about Spaniard David Fandila, a man on a rather bloody mission. Following Fandila on his three-year quest to become Spain's top-ranked bullfighter —a quest that can involve up to a hundred 'matches' per season—The Matador offers fascinating insights into this traditional blood sport. It's definitely not a film for the PETA-inclined (in fact, it's a pretty hard slog for anyone disinclined towards animal cruelty), but is a riveting look at dedication and obsession—in one segment, Fandila defeats six bulls in one day, then heads to the hospital to have his gored abdomen repaired!
Review of The Matador
