: Alongside Ballesta, the film stars Miki Esparbé, Luis Callejo, and Liah O'Prey.
While the film takes some creative liberties for dramatic effect, it stays true to the spirit of the real Lucio Urtubia, who lived until 2020. It serves as an accessible introduction to his life and the broader history of Spanish anarchists in exile.
The story follows Lucio Urtubia (played by Juan José Ballesta), a Spanish bricklayer and anarchist who fled to Paris in the 1950s. Over several decades, Lucio transitions from a humble laborer to a legendary figure in the anarchist movement. His most famous feat involves a massive targeting First National City Bank (now Citibank) in the 1970s. By flooding the market with counterfeit traveler's checks, he aimed to disrupt the global financial system to fund social causes. Themes and Style
: Viewers see Lucio grow from a naive deserter into a sophisticated strategist who outwitted international police forces and powerful banking institutions. Production and Reception
(known internationally as A Man of Action ) is a 2022 Spanish historical drama film directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera and written by Patxi Amezcua. Inspired by the life of Lucio Urtubia , the film explores the intersection of anarchist activism and high-stakes crime in mid-20th century Europe. Plot Overview