Uncovered is a 1994 British thriller film starring Kate Beckinsale.[1] Beckinsale plays an art expert who faces danger after discovering a clue to a 500-year-old murder mystery in a Flemish painting.[2][1] Directed by Jim McBride, the film is based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte called The Flanders Panel.[3][4]

Uncovered
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJim McBride
Screenplay byArturo Pérez-Reverte (novel)
Jim McBride
Michael Hirst
Jack Baran
Based on
Produced byEnrique Posner
Jack Baran
StarringKate Beckinsale
John Wood
Sinéad Cusack
Paudge Behan
Art Malik
CinematographyAffonso Beato
Edited byEva Gardos
Music byPhilippe Sarde
Production
companies
Ciby UK
Barnholtz Entertainment
Distributed byCiby 2000
Release dates
  • May 1994 (1994-05) (France)
  • 5 January 1995 (1995-01-05) (Germany)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Julia, an art restorer living in Barcelona, Spain, discovers a painted-over message on a 1471 Flemish masterpiece called La partida de ajedrez (The Chess Game) reading "Qvis Necavit Eqvitem", written in Latin (English: "Who killed the knight?").

With the help of her old friend and father-figure, the flamboyantly homosexual César, who lives at Casa Batlló, and Domenec, a local chess genius Julia found in Park Güell, Julia works to uncover the mystery of a 500-year-old murder. At the same time, however, Julia faces danger of her own, as several people helping her along her search are also murdered.

Cast

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Reception

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Noting that the cast of Uncovered was "an amazing array of BBC regulars", the Reno Gazette-Journal argued that the film "plays in a very over-acted character", but called out Irish actor Paudge Behan as its "bright spot".[5] Video Store Magazine called the film "a clever thriller that blends seemingly unfilmable subjects – art restoration, chess playing – into an intriguing whodunit", saying "Beckinsale is charming and lovely".[1]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Tiffany, Laura (11 January 2004). "Uncovered". Video Store Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2026 via ProQuest.
  2. "New Releases". Video Business. 19 January 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2026 via ProQuest.
  3. McCarthy, Todd (30 May 1994). "Film reviews -- Uncovered directed by Jim McBride and starring Kate Beckinsale". Variety. Retrieved 27 March 2026 via ProQuest.
  4. Fialkoff, Francine (1 January 1995). "!Salud to Spanish-language collections!". Library Journal. Retrieved 27 March 2026 via EBSCOhost.
  5. Hartman, Forrest (30 April 2004). "Small Screen". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 27 March 2026 via ProQuest.
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