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El Cid: The Legend
Directed by José Pozo
Produced by Julio Fernández
Written by José Pozo
Starring Manel Fuentes (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar)
Sancho Gracia (Conde Gormaz)
Carlos Latre (Ben Yussuf / Conde Ordóñez)
Loles León (Infant doña Urraca)
Natalia Verbeke (Jimena)
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez
Music by Óscar Araujo
Zacarías M. de la Riva
Cinematography Adrià García
Víctor Maldonado
Editing by Félix Bueno
Distributed by Filmax Animation
Release date(s) 19 December 2003 (2003-12-19)
Running time 90 minutes
Country Spain
Language Spanish

El Cid: The Legend (Spanish: El Cid: La leyenda) is a Spanish animated film that came out on December 19, 2003. It was written and directed by José Pozo. The movie tells the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a real-life hero known as El Cid. It's based on his famous historical legend.

Story of El Cid

Ben Yusuf starts his plan to take over the whole Iberian peninsula. He invades the Muslim land of Zaragoza. Because of this, Prince Al-Mu'tamin escapes to Castile. He goes to warn King Ferdinand about Yusuf's invasion.

In Castile, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar lives a good life. He is the son of a nobleman. Rodrigo is best friends with Prince Sancho. He is also secretly in love with Jimena. Jimena is the daughter of Count Gormaz. But Gormaz does not like Rodrigo. He wants Jimena to marry the proud Count Ordoñez instead.

The royal court hears that Yusuf's army has crossed into Castile. Rodrigo gets a chance to go on a mission. He joins Sancho, Ordoñez, and Gormaz. While they are camping, Al-Mu'tamin and his warriors attack Gormaz. Rodrigo steps in to help. Al-Mu'tamin explains his situation. Sancho then allows him to come back to the palace with them.

Later, King Ferdinand dies. The tricky Princess Urraca wants Sancho dead. She wants the weaker Prince Alfonso to become king. Count Gormaz meets Rodrigo on a balcony. Jimena asked him to meet. Rodrigo asks Gormaz if he can marry Jimena. Gormaz says no. He challenges Rodrigo to a fight. Rodrigo doesn't want to fight, but Gormaz insists. Rodrigo draws his sword.

While they fight, Urraca sends her servant to kill Sancho. The servant stabs Sancho with a dagger. At the same time, Rodrigo accidentally kills Gormaz. Jimena sees this and is very upset. She tells Rodrigo to leave. Later, Alfonso becomes king. But at the ceremony, Rodrigo refuses to kneel. He makes Alfonso promise he had nothing to do with Sancho's death. Alfonso does, but he is very angry. He banishes Rodrigo from the kingdom.

Rodrigo goes to Zaragoza. His friends Alvar Fañez and Garces meet him there. Prince Al-Mu'tamin also joins them. Al-Mu'tamin suggests they take back his father's castle. His father is Emir Al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza. With help from Garces' badger, Ruidoso, they get into the castle. They free Al-Muqtadir and other enslaved Muslims. Rodrigo becomes the leader of Al-Muqtadir's army. He starts taking back lands that Yusuf had seized. He does this in King Alfonso's name. This is his way to get his honor back. Muslims start calling Rodrigo "El Cid," which means "The Lord."

Soon, King Alfonso sends a letter to Rodrigo asking for help. Rodrigo goes back to Castile alone to see the king. Alfonso tells him that Yusuf has gathered his army in northern Spain. He offers to forgive Rodrigo if he helps. Rodrigo says that Yusuf plans to take Valencia. Alfonso is angry at Rodrigo's defiance. He orders Rodrigo to be put in prison.

Princess Urraca then gives Rodrigo the same dagger used to kill Sancho. She frees him. But she tells him he must kill Alfonso. Rodrigo goes into Alfonso's room. Instead of killing him, he shows the dagger. He reveals that Urraca planned Sancho's death. Alfonso is scared and lets Rodrigo escape. Rodrigo stops by Jimena's room. But she still believes he killed her father. She rejects him. Sad, Rodrigo leaves Castile.

Alfonso calls Rodrigo's father, Don Diego Laínez de Vivar, to court. He asks if Diego freed Rodrigo. Diego denies it. He says he was with Alfonso when Rodrigo escaped. Now Alfonso is sure Urraca freed Rodrigo and planned Sancho's death. He has Urraca arrested. He prepares to join Rodrigo and his army. Meanwhile, Jimena changes her mind. She follows Rodrigo to Valencia. However, Ordoñez chases her. Soon, both are captured by Emir Al-Qadir, Yusuf's friend.

Rodrigo and his friends sneak into Yusuf's castle in Zaragoza. They hope to open the gates for Rodrigo's troops. The plan goes wrong. Rodrigo has to give up when Yusuf threatens Jimena. But soon, Rodrigo and his friends escape. Garces opens the castle gates. Rodrigo's army, led by Al-Mu'tamin, attacks the castle. But Yusuf's large army soon overpowers them. Meanwhile, Rodrigo fights Yusuf. Yusuf gets the upper hand and disarms Rodrigo. But at the same time, Ordoñez and Jimena escape. Jimena rejects Ordoñez. Rodrigo's horse, Babieca, knocks Ordoñez out.

Alfonso and his army arrive at the castle. They defeat Yusuf's army. Yusuf is very angry and tries to kill Rodrigo. But Jimena gets Rodrigo's sword for him. This allows Rodrigo to disarm Yusuf and defeat him.

Soon after, Alfonso forgives Rodrigo. He gives his blessing for Rodrigo to marry Jimena. Ordoñez accepts this. Ordoñez apologizes to Rodrigo and Jimena. He joins them on their journey to Valencia. Rodrigo is given control over Valencia.

Movie Music

The main song for El Cid: The Legend was made and sung by Luis Fonsi. It is called La fuerza de mi corazón.

The Spanish rock band Diosa also helped with the music. They had made music for other Spanish feature films before.

Characters and Voice Actors

What's Different from History?

The movie El Cid: The Legend is based on a real historical figure, but it changes some facts. Here are some differences:

  • In real life, Princess Urraca was not seen as a bad or power-hungry person. Also, it's not confirmed that she ruled the city of Zamora.
  • In history, King Alfonso was the one who planned against his brother Sancho. He wanted to be king of both Castile and León.
  • Ben Yusuf, a real historical figure, did not have a scar on his left eye. His real appearance was different from how he looks in the movie. The scar was added to make him look more like a villain.
  • Prince Al-Mu'tamin was a prince and also a mathematician in real life. In the movie, he is only shown as a prince.
  • Jimena never mentioned her older brother, Fernando, who was a military leader.
  • Count Gormaz's real name was Diego Fernandez.
  • Alvar Fañez did not go with El Cid when he was sent away from the kingdom.
  • In history, Ben Yusuf was seen as an honorable man. He also helped start the city of Marrakesh. In the movie, he is shown as a cruel and evil person.
  • Ben Yusuf and El Cid never actually met in person. El Cid mostly fought against Yusuf's nephew and other leaders, not Yusuf himself.
  • Muhammad ibn 'A'isha, Ben Yusuf's son and governor of Murcia, is not in the movie.
  • The Almoravids (Yusuf's group) had two invasions. It was during the second invasion that they planned to take over the whole Iberia Peninsula.
  • Abu Ahmad Dja'far, the leader of Valencia, does not appear in the movie. In reality, Rodrigo ordered his death.
  • Count Garcia Ordonez did not have feelings for Jimena in real life. He hated Rodrigo because Rodrigo publicly shamed him in a battle and put him in prison for three days.
  • Berenguer Ramon II, Count of Barcelona is not in the movie or mentioned.
  • Ben Yusuf's real name was Yusuf ibn Tashfin.

Awards

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: El Cid: La leyenda para niños

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