It is set in 1868 Pre-revolution Spain , Madrid , about fall Queen Isabel II and return general Prim . There occurs a lot of anti-Borbon strikes and protests against Isabel II . On his return to Spain general Prim joined the opposition, heading revolts in Catalonia against generals Narvaez and O'Donnell. All his attempts failed until the death of Narvaez in April 1868, after which Queen Isabella fell more and more under the influence of the Jesuits, and became increasingly tyrannical, until at last even Serrano was exiled. In September 1868 General Serrano and General Prim returned, and Brigadier Topete, commanding the fleet, raised the standard of revolt at Cádiz . This is the historical scenario in which takes place a especial love story between a fence master named Jaime Astarloa (Omero Antonutti) who is hired to teach a coup-de-grace to a beautiful young woman named Adela De Otero (Assumpta Serna) . Although Jaime has never taught a woman before he agrees to teach the stab . When a local nobleman named Luis Ayala (Joaquim Almeida) becomes involved with her the action begins . Furthermore , the suspenseful intrigue involves a revolutionary journalist (Miguel Rellan) , a police inspector (Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez) and a banker (Albeerto Closas) .
This is a historical thriller that blends loving elements , politics , sober melodrama ; but being carried out in coldness , academicism and slowness . This is a thriller/cold drama that keeps you interested and expecting , including a tragic love story . Hightlights of the movie are the excellent sets and magnificent dueling between Italian Omero Antonutti and Spanish Assumpta Serna . Good acting by Assumpta Serna who wishes to learn a particular thrust which a master is famous for and Omero Antonutti as a fencing master who is fascinated by her . Furthermore , it packs a good support cast full of notorious Spanish actors such as Alberto Closas , Miguel Rellan , Elisa Matilla and special mention to Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by excellent and veteran cameraman Alfredo Mayo , glamorously filmed in Madrid . Emotive as well as thrilling musical score by Jose Nieto . The flick is based on a novel titled ¨El Maestro De Esgrima¨ by Arturo Perez Reverte who also wrote the screenplay along with the director Pedro Olea and Antonio Larreta . Reverte is a Spanish journalist and TV reporter, who turned to writer and today the best-selling author in Spain and the best-selling Spanish author in the world . Famous author of "Alatriste" novels as he carried out quite a lot of the work of investigating historical documents relating to 17th Century Madrid. His novels have the common thread of being based on real historical times and that in each case a great deal of investigation goes into the making of his stories, as well as the fact that he has had to learn a great deal on topics ranging from chess-playing to historical first-editions from 16th Century Dutch masters to Informatics and even swordsmanship . His extraordinary imaginative abilities have been able to produce well-written adventure stories , being adapted for cinema the following novels : Territorio Comanche , The ninth gate , La Tabla De Flandes , Gitano and Carta Esferica .
The motion picture well produced by Antonio Cardenal was professionally directed by Basque (Bilbao) filmmaker Pedro Olea. He is one of the most gripping Spanish directors , being an expert director , producer and screenwriter . He began directing ¨Dias Viejo color¨ and followed a personal work titled ¨Bosque del Lobo¨ about an alleged werewolf . He subsequently directed a trilogy about Madrid , produced by Jose Frade, such as ¨Tormento , ¨Pim , Pam , Pum Fuego¨and ¨La Corea¨ . His biggest success was ¨A man called Flor De Otoño¨ with Jose Sacristan . After that , he made ¨Bandera Negra¨ about arms smuggling and a military thriller : Moriras en Chafarinas¨ ; later on , he directed ¨Mas Alla Jardin¨ with Concha Velasco . And ¨Fencing master¨ that resulted to be one of the best films . Rating : Above average , well worth watching .
