Magellan

Magellan

Year: 2025

Runtime: 165 mins

Language: Portuguese

Director: Lav Diaz

Echo Score: 90
HistoryDrama

In the 16th century, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, sought to discover a westward route to the East Indies. After facing opposition from the Portuguese King, he convinced the Spanish monarchy to fund a daring expedition. The voyage aimed to reach the spice-rich lands, but it led to an unexpected and perilous journey across the globe, marking a significant moment in exploration and navigation.

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Timeline & Setting – Magellan (2025)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Magellan (2025). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 16th century (1510s-1519)

Set during the Age of Exploration, the narrative unfolds as European powers chase new trade routes for spices. It covers Magellan's capture of Malacca in 1511, his failed circumnavigation plan with Portuguese support, and the perilous Pacific crossing. The period is marked by imperial rivalry, religious exchanges, and brutal clashes with indigenous societies.

Location

Malacca, Cebu, Patagonia, Pacific Ocean, Portugal, Spain

The film moves across major hubs of 16th-century exploration: the spice port of Malacca, the Philippine island of Cebu, and the treacherous waters of the Pacific as Magellan's fleet sails toward Spain. It also crosses to Portugal and later Spain, framing the voyage as a global enterprise rather than a local raid. The landscapes range from tropical harbors to open seascapes, reflecting the era's imperial ambitions.

🗺️ Historical ⚓ Maritime 🌍 Global

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

Main Characters – Magellan (2025)

Meet the key characters of Magellan (2025), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ferdinand Magellan (Gael García Bernal)

A driven and high-stakes navigator who pursues a voyage to circumnavigate the globe. He endures injuries and mutiny while pursuing a dream of global trade. His charisma and ruthlessness push the mission forward, though his downfall comes from overreach and deception around Lapu-Lapu.

⚓ Explorer 🧭 Leader

Enrique (Amado Arjay Babon)

A Cebuano slave who worships his native gods and serves as Magellan's translator. His secret allegiance complicates his loyalty to Magellan and Beatriz. Enrique's perspective provides a bitter truth about the cascade of violence and the true fate of the expedition.

🧭 Translator 🗡️ Survivor

Rajah Humabon (Ronnie Lazaro)

A local chieftain who negotiates with Magellan and plays a pivotal role in the initial alliance and subsequent conflict. His leadership charts the balance between cooperation and distrust, and his people celebrate a tentative Christian conversion that masks darker consequences.

👑 Indigenous Leader 🤝 Ally

Juana (Hazel Orencio)

Humabon's wife who is baptized as a Christian and acts as a cultural intermediary. Her warnings about divine retribution reveal the fragile balance between faith, power, and cultural upheaval. She embodies the tensions born of religious transformation.

🙏 Faith 🌍 Cultural Bridge

Beatriz Barbosa (Ângela Ramos)

Magellan's Portuguese wife who nurses him back to health and accompanies the voyage as a personal stake in his quest. Her separation from Magellan during the voyage underscores the personal cost of exploration and conquest. She anchors Magellan's domestic life against his imperial ambitions.

💑 Partner 🛡️ Sacrifice

Alfonso de Albuquerque (Roger Alan Koza)

The strategic Portuguese commander who leads the campaign against Malacca and influences the voyage's direction. His ambition for empire and control over spice routes drives much of the political backdrop. His role reveals the political calculus behind exploration.

⚔️ Military Leader 🧭 Strategy

Duarte (Dario Yazbek Bernal)

A member of Magellan's crew whose presence highlights the mix of personalities aboard the voyage. He embodies the human side of the expedition, facing the same dilemmas as the others under extreme conditions.

🧩 Crew 🗣️ Dialogue

Bishop Fonseca (Brontis Jodorowsky)

A cleric whose authority intersects with imperial ambitions, emphasizing the religious justifications used to empower exploration. He navigates the moral terrain between faith and conquest.

⛪ Clergy 🗺️ Politics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

Major Themes – Magellan (2025)

Explore the central themes of Magellan (2025), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Exploration

The voyage embodies humanity's drive to discover new lands and routes, often at great human cost. Ambition drives Magellan to pursue circumnavigation despite mutinies and disease. The journey exposes both the wonder of new horizons and the brutality of conquest.

⚔️ Conflict

Mutinies, battles, and executions punctuate the voyage, highlighting the fragility of authority at sea. The crew's loyalties are tested as mutiny threatens the mission and the line between friend and foe blurs. Violence drives the plot and the fates of several key figures.

🙏 Faith and Belief

Christianization efforts and religious symbols shape early encounters with indigenous populations. The Santo Niño statuette becomes a focal point of trust and conflict, illustrating the power of faith to both heal and inflame tensions. Beatriz's and Humabon's households intersect with these religious dynamics.

🗡️ Betrayal

The truth behind Lapu-Lapu and the massacre of Magellan's men reveals a web of personal and political betrayals. Enrique's secret loyalties and his ultimate revelations expose how power and fear drive decisions. The film culminates in a revelation that reshapes the travelers' fate.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:35

Unlock the Full Story of Magellan

Don't stop at just watching — explore Magellan in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Magellan is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Magellan Summary

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Magellan Summary

Magellan Timeline

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Magellan Timeline

Magellan Spoiler-Free Summary

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Magellan Spoiler-Free Summary

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Magellan (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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