The Captive - Freedom, Fiction & Our Stories

Today on Face2Face, David Peck is joined by three remarkable storytellers: writer-director Alejandro Amenábar, Alessandro Borghi, and Julio Peña Fernández, to talk about The Captive. Set in Algiers in 1575, the film reimagines a little-known chapter in the life of Miguel de Cervantes, years before Don Quixote, when he was held for ransom and discovering the power of storytelling itself. Our conversation moves through history and fiction, freedom, sexuality, tolerance, identity and the people who shape us along the way and ultimately to the extraordinary idea at the heart of the film: that stories don’t simply entertain us; they can change how we see ourselves and each other.The Captive (El Cautivo) is Alejandro Amenábar’s bold and beautifully realized reimagining of a little-known chapter in the life of Miguel de Cervantes. Set in Algiers in 1575, the film follows the young soldier and future author of Don Quixote after he is captured and held for ransom, years before he would become one of history’s most influential storytellers.Starring Julio Peña Fernández as Cervantes and Alessandro Borghi as Hasan, the Bajá of Algiers, The Captive explores survival, imagination, identity, power and the strange ways our most difficult experiences can shape the stories we eventually tell. Visually rich and deeply human, Amenábar’s film asks us to consider not simply how Cervantes survived captivity, but how a storyteller might have been formed within it.David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 800 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.