End of Trip – Sahara

Action-Adventure, Available to Watch, Drama, Feature Films
2023

Running Time
02:09:00
Genre
Action-Adventure - Feature
Language
Spain - French - Arabic
Completed
December 9, 2023, Spain

In the 1970s, groups of young Europeans ventured into the Sahara Desert with the intention of crossing it and experiencing «an adventure.» Ill-prepared, reckless, and ignorant of the terrain they were raversing, they faced life-threatening situations with unexpected consequences. From the passion of these young people for adventure, the world’s most famous rally was born. «End of Trip Sahara» tells one of these adventures.

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A movie from 2023

Based on 25,000 meters of film negatives shot in 1983

In 1985, Antonio R. Cabal released a film titled «Sahara» With significant media impact, it was distributed by Warner, won several awards, and was exported to over 25 countries, becoming the first Spanish film sold to China. In 1990, he withdrew the film from the market, canceling or allowing contracts to expire, and it was last seen on TVE in 1992. It was never digitized, not released on DVD, nor distributed on platforms. Now, we have recovered the original 25,000 meters of unused negative film, completed remastering, restoration, editing, and post-production of the original material, both in image and sound. This has given rise to a new film, «End of Trip – Sahara» featuring over 1 hour of new visual material and new plotlines. Unprecedentedly, after obtaining the Spanish nationality certificate as a new film in 2023 from the Ministry of Culture, we are releasing it again for distribution in national and international cinemas.

The film is remarkable for its production process and its narrative. In this case, it tells the story of two Madrileños who, in 1973, decide to cross the desert in a Land Rover. When they encounter three Frenchmen, their journey becomes complicated with a love story and a confrontation with desert pirates. Furthermore, their coexistence in a Tuareg village is enriched by the presence of a mysterious girl and a Tuareg princess, adding a magical touch to this adventure.

It is a true and authentic «road movie» covering 7,200 km through treacherous trans-Saharan tracks, with a challenging production that culminates in a Tuareg village deep in Algeria. It is a commercial product with impressive cinematography, high technical quality, outstanding performances, and original music and songs. It is an extraordinary product.

Longline: For them, crossing the desert was their way of feeling young. They could only risk
their lives… and they did.

+60 Awards +40 Nominations

About the director:
Holding degrees in Geography and History of Art from the Complutense University of Madrid, Antonio R. Cabal interest in photography was sparked following a memorable journey into the Gabon jungle in 1973. This passion led him to establish an advertising photography studio and further his studies in Image and Sound at the same university’s Faculty of Information Sciences. Antonio foray into the film industry commenced between 1981 and 1982, serving as a still photographer on three films directed by Rafael Gil and on “Otelo” by Max Boulois. In 1983, He debuted as a screenwriter, director, and producer with “Sahara“, premiered at the Palacio de la Música in Madrid, distributed by Warner, and becoming the first Spanish film sold to China for distribution in cinemas and television. This project marked the beginning of a path that kept him linked to Telson for five years, focusing on advertising projects. After completing a Master’s in Cinematographic Writing at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1991, Antonio R. Cabal dedicated himself to scriptwriting, with notable projects including “Journey to the Fantastic World of Gloria Fuertes” and “Forbidden to Laugh”, inspired by the beloved characters of “Carmen and her dolls”. In 2021, he co-produced “Escapes and Absences”, directed by Rafael Alcazar.

In 2023, after nearly two decades of production, he launched “End of Trip – Sahara“, reimagining his first film from 25,000 metres of unused original negative. This work is not only a tribute to his journey in cinema but also an innovation within the industry. He is an active member of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences, SGAE, EGEDA, and the ALMA Screenwriters’ Union. Furthermore, as a founding member of ACTION, he aim to continually contribute to the enrichment of Spanish cinema and the exploration of new narrative frontiers.