Mad Love (2001)
"Juana la Loca" (original title)

The love story who transformed Juana, Queen of Spain, into Juana "The mad". A story of passions, lies and jealousy with a politic fight behind.

Director:

Vicente Aranda

Writers:

Vicente Aranda (screenplay), Antonio Larreta (screenplay),

Stars:

Pilar López de Ayala, Daniele Liotti, Rosana Pastor

14 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pilar López de Ayala	...	Juana
Daniele Liotti	...	Felipe
Rosana Pastor	...	Elvira
Giuliano Gemma	...	De Veyre
Roberto Álvarez	...	Admiral
Eloy Azorín	...	Álvaro de Estúñiga
Guillermo Toledo	...	Capitán Corrales
Susi Sánchez	...	Reina Isabel (as Susy Sánchez)
Chema de Miguel	...	Don Juan Manuel
Andrés Lima	...	Marqués de Villena
Cipriano Lodosa	...	Marliano
Manuela Arcuri	...	Aixa-Beatriz
Carolina Bona	...	Inés
Jorge Monje	...	Hernán
Sol Abad	...	Mucama

Storyline

Juana is married off by her pious parents, the Catholic kings Ferndinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, to ally Spain, united by their marriage, to the Burgundian and other Habsburg heritage of archduke Maximilian's son Philip. When they meet, it's love at first sight, for her all-consuming, for him one of many happy bed partnerships as she later discovers. Deaths in her family soon make Juana Isabella's heir, but Ferdinand suggests she inherited her grandmother's madness and supports Philip's ambition to rule instead, which becomes the stakes of political maneuvering in the Cortes (nobility-dominated parliament). Combined with Philip's incurable infidelity, which includes a Moorish whore-princess, multiple drama is inevitable, and worse follows.

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Plot Keywords:

king | queen | spain | love | queen of spain | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

juanalaloca.com (Spanish) Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

Spain Italy Portugal

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

30 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Madness of Joan

Filming Locations:

Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

€4,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$31,417 (USA) (30 August 2002)

Gross:

$279,605 (USA) (13 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Enrique Cerezo Producciones Cinematográficas S.A., Eurimages

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Locura de amor (1948)

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Soundtracks

"Danza"
Anonymos author

User Reviews

Revisionistic, but very well acted!

There is no question that director Vicente Aranda has taken considerable liberty with generally accepted history, but despite this and a few flaws within the context of certain scenes, what we have is an excellent story, and one very well recounted and acted.

It will come as absolutely no surprise for those who have seen this film to know that Pilar Lopez de Ayala (as Juana I) and Rosana Pastor (Elvira, Head of Queen´s Household) are nominated in the lead and supporting categories of the Spanish Goya Film Awards, and, despite having been ignored by the Golden Globes, this film should be in contention for Oscar Consideration as Spain´s representation for the "Best Foreign Film" of 2001. Frankly, the performances just mentioned were so stunning, especially Pilar Lopez de Ayala, that I would consider her among nominees for Best Actress at the Oscars, not only given the absolutely pathetic list the Golden Globes presented in the Drama category, but simply because Pilar Lopez de Ayala DESERVES IT, much as did Fernanda Montenegro in the Brazilian masterpiece "Central Do Brazil" just a few years back.

For the historians among the viewing public, my recommendation is to simply look the other way on the bit of revisionism on display, given that far greater crimes have been committed by Hollywood as regards same. The story is excellent, the costumes & design, art direction, cinematography, and above all film editing are simply tops -- and film editing has been a GREAT problem in US films in recent times. Go and see it and I DO MEAN the original version! Rating = 4 stars (of five).