Mad Love (2001)

The love story that transformed Juana, Queen of Spain, into Juana "the Mad". A story of passions, lies and jealousy with a political motive 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:

female nudity | male rear nudity | male nudity | king | 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 France

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

30 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mad Love

Filming Locations:

Barajas, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

€4,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

€425,402 (Spain), 2 October 2001, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,417, 1 September 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$279,605, 15 December 2002

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,200,000, 31 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 (1909)

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Soundtracks

Danza del Vientre
Composed by José Nieto

User Reviews

"Mad" or sexually liberated?

I can't believe this film has such a low rating. Every time I see it in the video store, I think, "I wish I could erase my memory of it so I could see it again for the first time."

The viewer gets an intimate look at life as a female member of a royal family during the 16th century. Unable to control with whom she spends her life or make basic choices, Juana is confined in a woman's role, yet has sexual passion fit only for men in her time. And possibly still in ours. It is up to the viewer to decide is she is "mad" or simply craves intimacy.

An unpredicable, controversial, and beautifully filmed period film, don't pass this one up.