Goya's Ghosts (2006)

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

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Milos Forman, Jean-Claude Carrière

Stars:

Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

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.

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Plot Keywords:

christianity | female nudity | spanish history | muse | painter | 

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Taglines:

Tell me what the truth is

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, some sexual content and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Les fantômes de Goya

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$159,671, 22 July 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,000,045, 24 November 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Saul Zaentz Company, Kanzaman, Antena 3 Televisión

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When asked why a film about such a quintessentially Spanish artist was made in English, the director replied "I don't speak Spanish."

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Goofs

When Ines is kneeling in Lorenzo's office, the mic is visible at the top of the screen, above and to the left of her head.

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Quotes

[Goya is trying to see Inés]
Goya: I am painter to the king!
Asylum Director: To which king? Do you know how many kings I have in here? I even have two Napoleons, and one of them is an Arab. The other one is 7'2" tall.

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Connections

Referenced in Tvoje tvár má známý hlas: Episode #2.7 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Funeral March (Opening Title)
Written by Josh Zaentz
Courtesy of Tszco

User Reviews

Good picture full of biographic moments and sensitive drama along with the Inquisition and French invasion

The film is set in 1792 ,it deals with eclectic people during a convulsed era from Spain history . It starts with the Inquisition and some years later with the encroachment by Napoleon Army and finishes with the French defeat and restoration of the Spanish monarchy with Fernando VII , after the victory by general Wellington (Cayetano M. Irujo) . The painter (1746, born Fuentedetodos and deceased 1828,Burdeos) Francisco de Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) , quintessential Spanish artist , becomes involved with the Spanish Inquisition , when his muse named Ines (director cast Natalie Portman after noticing her likeness to the girl in Goya's painting "Milkmaid of Bordeaux") who painted her like an Angel in the church of Saint Antonio of Florida and he's now portraying , she then is framed as a heretic . His daddy named Thomas Bilbatua (Jose Luis Gomez) ask him help , hoping what his relationship with the monk Lorenzo (Javier Bardem) can achieve the freedom for his daughter . Meanwhile , Goya is dedicated the painting of the portrait the royal family : Carlos IV (Forman cast Randy Quaid as the King of Spain after seeing his work in ¨Elvis¨ by phoning him and saying, "You are a great actor , you must be my King or I must repaint Goya") , Mª Luisa (Blanca Portillo) and children .

The film is a touching drama added with historic elements and formidable performances . The movie creates a canvas upon a turbulent epoch concerning specially with Inquisition . It was created by Pope Sixto IV in 1478 , its creation is supposedly caused for threat by Jewish and Moors becoming Christianism but practically disappeared with the Borbons Kings (Felipe V,Fernando VI and Carlos III) and was definitively abolished by the Court of Cadiz though spontaneously restored by Fernando VII in 1814 . The sentences were executed by means of a public event called ¨auto of faith¨(thus happens on the final) . Near the end, when the king appears in the balcony at the execution scene, some people yell "Vivan Las Cadenas!" (Long live the chains!). This salute was coined in 1814 by Spanish monarchists when Fernando VII was restored to the throne with absolute powers, thus abolishing the Constitution of Cadiz, which was established by Napoleonic authorities.

The flick displays an interesting showing the means are manufactured the famous Goya's engravings : ¨The war disasters¨ , ¨bullfighting¨ and ¨Caprichos¨ . Besides , recreating historical happenings such as ¨Charge of Mamelucos¨ and ¨Execution on mountain of Principe Pio¨. The movie contains a top-notch star-studded cast , as Skarsgard , Portman , Bardem give a sensational interpretations . Scenarios are luxurious and impressive , being designed by the prestigious Patrizia Von Brandenstein , the sets including palaces , rooms , interiors and outdoors are mesmerizing . Lush and brilliant costume design by Ivonne Blake (Oscar for Doctor Zhivago and Nicholas and Alexandra). Colorful cinematography by expert Spanish cameraman , Javier Aguirresarobe , (The others) . The film was lavishly produced by the brothers Saul and Paul Saentz , Forman's usual producers .The motion picture was well directed by the classic Milos Forman , an expert about biographies of notorious characters such as ¨Amadeus¨ , ¨Larry Flynt¨ , ¨Andy Kauffman¨ (Man on the moon) ; besides filming a lot of successes like are ¨Ragtime¨ ,¨Hair¨, ¨Valmont¨ , and of course , his greatest hit ¨Someone flow the Cucko nest¨.