The film is a touching drama adding historical events that inspired his work and packing an enjoyable photography as well as brilliant settings shot on authentic locations . Here Goya relives key momentos in his life as his relation to the known Duchess . Being shown with a pervasive melancholy that does for slow drama . It deals particularly with Goya , Francisco Rabal, and his relationship with Duchess of Alba, the gorgeous Irina Demick . There are some historic remarks , appearing Manuel Godoy , King's scheming favorite : Ricardo Merino , and King Carlos IV and his wife María Luisa . And of course , French encroachment , the charge of Mamelucos , Los Fusilamientos Principe Pio , immortalized by Goya paintings . With France invasion takes over Spain Pepe Botella , or José Bonaparte , Napoleon's brother . Later on , there takes place the French defeat and restoration of the Spanish monarchy with Fernando VII after the victory by General Wellington and General Castaños . Then Fernando VII is back Spain , but he abolished Cadiz Constitution , which was established by Napoleon authorities . In 1820 happens a riot in Cabezas de San Juan by General Riego and succeeded the Constitutional triennium 1820 -1823 , but after Riego is taken prisoner and executed by hanging , returning King's authoritarism . As Goya observes events , wars , parties , dances , social habits and he sees and he paints it . As he creates Los Caprichos , Los desastres de guerra , The trials of Inquisition , The black paintings , and , of course , The Dressed Maja and The Naked Maja , and many others . As Goya becomes involved with kings, aristocracy , and villagers, being subsequently accused as an "Afrancesado" and he , finally , flees banished to France , in Burdeos .
This is a lush costumer based on actual events , but predominates love stories and slow-moving melodrama. The picture relies heavily on the lovely relation between Goya and Duchess of Alba .The sets are evocative , the gowns are extravagantly adequate and paintings pass by in front of your eyes , and atmospheric ,though theatrical , at times , production design. There are various Flasbacks and some dream images with no much sense . As well as some briefly erotic frames as Irene Demick is on the beach. It is an easy and sad vision of Saragossan painter, as he watches the citizens upheaval against Napoleon troops , as Goya designs his known engravings describing the war horror .The motion picture glamorously and sumptuously photographed , was regularly directed by Nino Quevedo.
Others films concerning this historial painter are the following ones : 1958 The Naked Maja by Henry Koster with Tony Franciosa , Ava Gardner, Amadeo Nazzari . Los Desastres de la Guerra series 1983 by Mario Camus with Francisco Rabal and Sancho Gracia as Juan Martin el Empecinado . Tv series by José Ramon Larraz with Enric Majo as Goya and Laura Morante as Duchess Alba . Goya in Bordeaux 1999 by Carlos Saura with Francisco Rabal again and Maribel Verdu as Duchess of Alba that is an extremely Theatrical vision of the exiled painter .