When we put ourselves ‘on the line’

An eye-witness account of the preparation, production, post-production and release of José Luis Borau’s On the Line (Río abajo, 1984) by the American producer of the film, Steven Kovacs. This article details the relationship between Borau and Kovacs and the evolution of the production from screenplay to finished film, including the way decisions were made and the problems that plagued the production. In telling the narrative, the author attempts to evaluate Borau’s intention, vision, and directorial style.