Director Raúl Ruiz died in August 2011 during preproduction. Producer Paulo Branco offered the job of directing to actor John Malkovich, but Malkovich felt he wouldn't be able to do justice to Ruiz's vision, recommending instead Ruiz's widow and long-time collaborator, Valeria Sarmiento.
Lines of Wellington (2012) was the official submission of Portugal to the Oscars® 2014 Best Foreign Language Film category.
PROLOGUE: "After the failed attempts of Junot and Soult in 1807 and 1809, Napoléon Bonaparte sent a mighty army led by Marshal Masséna to invade Portugal in 1810. The French had no difficulty reaching the center of the country where the Anglo-Portuguese army, led by General Wellington awaited them."
Lines of Wellington (2012) was in competition for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. It was also shown at the 2012 San Sebastián International Film Festival, the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2012 New York Film Festival. The film was selected as the Portuguese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.