Five seemingly unrelated voyagers find themselves united in the same destiny. Five people, on separate journeys for different reasons, happen to be crossing the bridge at San Luis Rey at noon on the fateful day of July 20th, 1714. The bridge breaks and all five fall to their deaths in the deep gorge below. Was it chance or the hand of God that brought them together on that fatal day at that place and that moment in time? Or were they, in some way, to blame for what happened to them?

This page was created on May 27, 2005
This page was last updated on June 1, 2005

—Overview
—Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections

Directed by Mary McGuckian
Writen by Mary McGuckian
Novel by Thornton Wilder

Cast (in credits order)
Robert De Niro .... The Archbishop
Kathy Bates .... The Marquesa
Harvey Keitel .... Uncle Pio
Gabriel Byrne .... Brother Juniper
Pilar López de Ayala .... Camila Villegas (La Perichole)
Geraldine Chaplin .... Abbess
F. Murray Abraham .... Viceroy of Peru
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Javier Conde .... Camilla's lover
Émilie Dequenne .... Doña Clara
Adriana Domínguez .... Pepita
Emilio Gavira
Samuel Le Bihan .... Vicente
John Lynch .... Captain Alvarado
Dominique Pinon
Mark Polish .... Manuel
Michael Polish .... Esteban
Jim Sheridan .... The King of Spain

Produced by
Jeff Abberley .... executive producer
Mark Albela .... line producer
Elvira Bolz .... co-producer
Michael Cowan .... producer
Craig Darian .... executive producer
Samuel Hadida .... producer
Victor Hadida .... executive producer
Peter James .... executive producer
Howard G. Kazanjian .... executive producer
Garrett McGuckian .... producer
Mary McGuckian .... producer
Denise O'Dell .... producer
Jason Piette .... co-producer
James Simpson .... executive producer

Original Music by Lalo Schifrin
Cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe
Film Editing by Kant Pan

MPAA: Rated PG for thematic elements, some disturbing images and some sensuality.
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM, and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG

From the backstreet brothels and theatres of 18th century Lima to the majestic courts of Spain; from the palaces of Peruvian Archbishops to the Inquistadorial missions from Madrid; and from the sanctuary of Inca shrines high up among Andean villages to the straits of the American coastlines; comes a story of chance.

PERHAPS AN ACCIDENT Perhaps not. But one thing is certain. Five seemingly unrelated voyagers find themselves united in the same destiny. Five people, on separate journeys for different reasons, happen to be crossing the bridge at San Luis Rey at noon on the fateful day of July 20th, 1714. The bridge breaks and all five fall to their deaths in the deep gorge below.

Was it chance or the hand of God that brought them together on that fatal day at that place and that moment in time? Or were they, in some way, to blame for what happened to them?

I will not post these comments. I welcome your spiritual concerns and prayer needs.  I will correspond with you, usually within two weeks.
Email David Bruce