Goya's Ghosts

Plot

Painter Francisco Goya faces a scandal involving his muse, who is labeled a heretic by a monk.

Release Year: 2006

Rating: 6.9/10 (14,469 voted)

Critic's Score: 52/100

Director:
Milos Forman

Stars: Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård

Storyline
The painter Goya becomes involved with the Spanish Inquisition when his muse, Ines, is arrested by the church for heresy. Her father, Thomas, comes to him hoping that his connection with Brother Lorenzo, whom he is painting, can secure the release of his daughter.

Writers: Milos Forman, Jean-Claude Carrière

Cast:

Javier Bardem
–

Lorenzo

Natalie Portman
–

Inés
/
Alicia

Stellan Skarsgård
–

Francisco Goya

Randy Quaid
–

King Carlos IV

José Luis Gómez
–

Tomás Bilbatúa

Michael Lonsdale
–

Inquisitor General

Blanca Portillo
–

Queen María Luisa

Mabel Rivera
–

María Isabel Bilbatúa

Unax Ugalde
–

Ángel Bilbatúa

Fernando Tielve
–

Álvaro Bilbatúa

David Calder
–

Monk 1

Frank Baker
–

Monk 2

Ramón Langa
–

Hooded Monk

Manuel de Blas
–

Pyre Monk

Andrés Lima
–

Confiscating Monk

Taglines:
Tell me what the truth is

Details

Official Website:
Official site |
Official site [Japan] |

Release Date: 10 November 2006

Filming Locations: Monasterio de Veruela, Veruela, Vera de Moncayo, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain

Opening Weekend: €7,133
(Netherlands)
(15 April 2007)
(12 Screens)

Gross: $2,064,684
(Spain)
(26 November 2006)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The tan and brown print satin pelisse worn an extra during the French invasion is the same costume worn by Anna Chancellor (Mrs. Peake) when she comes to the Worrall's house in
Princess Caraboo, by Sheila Gish (Mrs. Norris) to Maria's wedding in
Mansfield Park, and by an extra in the first church scene in
Miss Austen Regrets.

Goofs:

Anachronisms:
The film starts in 1792 with the inquisition examining Goya's etchings "Los Caprichos". In fact, the etchings were not created until 1797.

Quotes:

[Goya is trying to see Inés]

Goya:
I am painter to the king!

Asylum Director:
So what, I have three Napoleon Bonapartes in here, and two of them are Arabs.

User Review

Don't believe the critics – See This Film!!!

Rating: 9/10


There is one great flaw here that almost everyone mentions… and it's
true. The accents of the non-Spanish actors clash terribly with the
Spanish ones, as well as with each other. That's a real flaw, but if
you can get past that, there's a great film waiting to be seen. I found
I forgot all about it after the first 10 minutes. The critics just
don't get this film. A lot of regular people seem to miss it too. They
want a film with a typical "leading" role. They want their morality
tales (which this certainly IS) delivered in easy shades of Black and
White… no gray. They don't understand films where the title character
is primarily an Observer. Sometimes that CAN be dissatisfying, but here
the Observer is a genuine genius. Some people want him to be a moral
giant, but he's not, he's simply an observer who has actualized the
doctor's oath: First, do no harm. This is a brilliant story, and a
morally complex one, too. There are some parallels to America in Iraq,
though that is not the primary goal. This story illuminates the folly
of any regime, liberal or conservative, as each picks its friends and
foes, taking 180 degree turns from whoever was last in power. Javier
Bardem gives an incredibly canny performance! Natalie Portman is
totally unsentimental and totally committed to her multiple roles: just
great! Stellan Skarsgard threw me off at first with the sound of his
voice, but builds a performance of power and truth, in spite of it.
Randy Quaid was a small revelation. And of course the film looks and
sounds spectacular, with it's numerous and detailed textures,
compositions and sounds. If you want to think; if you like having pat
assumptions challenged; if you love people and history and art: see it!