He has decided to slow down, to enjoy more peace and disconnection at his idyllic estate in the Mallorcan mountains, s'Estaca, where he plans to spend longer periods now. He will turn 80 years old next September and considers himself "semi-retired" already.
Michael Douglas is an iconic Hollywood legend. Son of another legend and with two Oscars in his long career. But in Mallorca, he feels at home, in a place he has been "in love" with for decades - he says it literally - and where he expresses himself naturally.
He does not shy away from any debate, including that of mass tourism, calling for a collective agreement to seek the "delicate balance" on the island, against "the feedback loop of 'airbnb' and rental cars". "If I spent more time here, I would be at the town hall," he jokes.
This Sunday, he received the Masters of Cinema award, the honorary award that the Atlàntida Film Fest presents every summer in Palma, the film festival sponsored by Queen Letizia. "It's the first time a queen has presented me with an award," Douglas humorously appreciates.
Just hours before receiving the award, the actor reviewed his career with the media. Of all the characters he has portrayed (some as iconic as Gordon Gekko), he says his favorites are those that operate "in gray areas," neither "heroes nor villains." He also praises one of his latest projects, the one he developed with the recent series The Kominsky Method, a comedy created by Chuck Lorre.
In relation to this series, Douglas emphasizes the value and difficulty of comedy. "It's much easier to be dramatic than to be a good comedian and make people laugh." And he laments the frequent disrespect that this genre receives: "Comedy is often not given the respect it deserves."
The well-known actor has not acted for a while and reveals that he has instructed his representatives to only notify him if there is a particularly interesting project. A script ("the most important part of any project," he points out) "that leaves something for people to reflect on." That, he says, is his greatest "reward," the accolade he seeks with his projects as a producer, to sow something among the audience to achieve "the communication that cinema achieves in a world of isolated people."
Douglas confesses to being a great reader of news. He follows current events, politics, and does not hide that he is a prominent donor to the Democratic Party. But he speaks of the current situation in his country with some weariness: "Politics take up too much time in people's lives, when leaders should only be public servants."
When asked about Joe Biden's withdrawal as a presidential candidate, a friend of his, he praises his accomplishments, highlighting the revitalization of NATO. He does not mention Donald Trump, but leaves a message: "There is a democratic crisis in the United States due to what the other party represents."
Later in the evening, Douglas went to the courtyard of the Misericordia in Palma to receive the honorary award from the Atlàntida festival. There, he reiterated his praises for Mallorca and his refuge in the mountains of the Sierra de Tramuntana, a threshold "to another world."
The actor conversed with Queen Letizia, who presided over the gala alongside the President of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens.
The festival promoted by the Queen
Queen Letizia began to associate her image with the Atlántida Film Fest in the summer of 2019. That was the first year she attended the closing gala of the event, boosting the popularity and international projection of a film festival for cinephiles, born from the successful Spanish platform Filmin.
One of its founders, Jaume Ripoll, is from Mallorca and was the architect of Letizia's 'signing'. Ripoll is a regular guest at the crowded cocktail party for civil society that the Royals host every year in Palma (first at La Almudaina and since 2022 at Marivent). At one of these receptions, the young entrepreneur and producer approached King Felipe VI's consort and told her about his festival, to which they had unsuccessfully and formally invited the monarchs.
Letizia, a big film enthusiast, showed great interest and accepted the invitation. She was attracted by the festival's independent, innovative, and social nature, focused until a few years ago on the online version. Its European stamp and indie aroma did the rest.
The Queen also saw the opportunity to set her own agenda during her summer stay, killing two birds with one stone: a modest event with global aspirations and a message but also with a Mallorcan touch. A way to support the local scene through the universal language of cinema and to carve out her own activity apart from her husband, who is dedicated these days to his passion for sailing.
Letizia's presence has boosted the festival's interest, which last year reached 750,000 viewers. Despite its growing popularity, it has always been built on the decisions of a purist jury, projecting films for film lovers and avoiding the most popular trends. The list of awardees reflects this: Judi Dench, Ken Loach, Vanessa Redgrave, Stephen Frears, Roland Joffé, Barbara Broccoli, or Juan Antonio Bayona.