In the Land of Don Quixote

Filmed during Orson Welles’s travels through Spain while preparing his unfinished Don Quixote project, this nine-part travelogue documents the country’s landscapes, cities, and cultural traditions—from Andalusia to Pamplona—through an intimate, observational lens. Shot as a series of personal, narration-free travel films, the material was later broadcast by Italian television (RAI) with added voiceover, making the series both a poetic portrait of Spain and a rare glimpse into Welles’s working life, family, and creative process.

Directed by Orson Welles, In the Land of Don Quixote leans on a strong ensemble — Beatrice Welles, Arnoldo Foà, Paola Mori — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1964.