DVD Review: Goya’s Ghosts

By June L. Feb 26, 2008, 14:06 GMT

GOYA’S GHOSTS is a sweeping historical epic, told through the eyes of celebrated Spanish painter Francisco Goya (STELLAN SKARSGARD).  Set against the backdrop of political turmoil at the end of the Spanish Inquisition and start of the invasion of Spain by Napoleon’s army, the film captures the essence and beauty of Goya’s work which is best known for both the colorful depictions of the royal court and its people, and ...more

Milos Forman brings to the screen a story of life in Spain during the Inquisition years of the 18th Century, and Napoleon’s conquest of the country fifteen years later.  These two times of mass confusion bordering on national hysteria are viewed through the eyes and work of Spanish painter Francisco Goya.

With Goya as central character, giving the audience his unique view, this film bears resemblance to his more controversial drawings and prints.  Some are wickedly comic political statements while others are darkly disturbing revelations, with witches and demons sharing space and faces with establishment characters. 

This artistic rendering paired with actual historical facts, makes for confusion and a blurring of the lines of reality.  This is how Goya’s Ghosts plays.  Like Goya’s paintings, there are dark corners, things in shadow, but there are faces that stand out, some of incredible beauty, others horrific or comic, but one always feels that the faces are real, the trappings and backgrounds are not the important element of the artwork. 

Stellan Skarsgard is Goya, respected painter for the portraits of Royalty and important personages, but also the artist who records scenes of confused morality and degradation that plague his country.  He paints the beauty of young Ines (Natalie Portman) the daughter of a rich merchant and also the very grand portrait of Brother Lorenzo (Javier Bardem). 

Goya sees them both as friends, but they will soon clash in the hysteria of the reinstated Inquisition, of which Brother Lorenzo is in charge.

Fifteen years later events brought about by the conflict between Brother Lorenzo and Ines and her family, are still being played out.  Napoleon invades Spain and makes his brother King. 

The Inquisition is declared abolished, and prisoners are freed from the dungeons.  For a moment it seems as though some order and civility will be restored, but then the French soldiers turn on the Spanish people, and all is chaos again.  Goya is older, and now completely deaf, but still records the visions of his country and tries to render aid to those he sees as his friends. 

Javier Bardem is riveting as Brother Lorenzo.  We suspect him as evil, even realize it as he undertakes the rebuilding of the Inquisition practices.  He is so slick that one can doubt what one has actually seen, and suppose that he has a higher purpose to his malevolent actions. 

Goya sees him in the light of friendship, not realizing that the man is digging for dirt every time he visits in the first part of the film, and has hardly reformed his character in the second half although his allegiances have changed. 

Mr. Bardem gives such an excellent performance, you hate him, but you can’t take your eyes off him, feeling much like a bird being mesmerized by a snake.

Goya’s Ghosts is presented on single disc, with a playing time of approximately 114 minutes.  It is available with language tracks in English and French, and subtitles in English, Spanish and French.  There is a very interesting behind the scenes featurette included.  The film is rated R for violence, disturbing images, some sexual content and nudity.

The costumes are incredible, and the settings amazing to see.  One sequence shows Goya preparing and executing a brass plate etching for printmaking, step by step.  Because Goya is the center of the story, it is important to see what occurred in his life and work, to balance the blurry chaos of the world outside his workshop. 

Goya’s Ghost is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD database for more information.