If A Movie Where Stellan Skarsgard Plays A Famous Painter And Javier Bardem Plays A Seedy Priest Sounds Interesting, Check Out This 2006 Film

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Let me tell you about a painting that’s always stuck with me – Francisco Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son. It’s one of Goya’s incredibly dark “Black Paintings,” and the story is he actually painted it directly onto the wall of his house. The image itself – a wild-eyed Saturn, or Cronus as the Greeks called him, literally eating one of his children – is both fascinating and genuinely terrifying. It’s a piece that really gets under your skin.

I was really excited to see the movie Goya’s Ghosts when I learned it starred two incredible actors, Stellan Skarsgard and Javier Bardem, so I watched it right away!

While not flawless, this 2006 film (released in the US in 2007) is a great choice if you enjoy historical dramas, the story it tells, or the performances of its cast, including Natalie Portman!

Firstly, It Displays One Of My Favorite Artists, Francisco Goya, In A Tight Spot

I knew Goya’s paintings, but this movie taught me a lot about him as a person. Seeing how powerful and emotional works like Witches’ Sabbath (The Great He-Goat), The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, and The Third of May 1808 are, I always pictured him as a solitary, quiet individual who preferred to paint alone.

I was surprised to learn he was a well-known artist, often commissioned to paint members of the nobility, and that’s how this story begins. Goya (played by Skarsgard) is painting a portrait of a priest (Bardem) when the priest sees a painting Goya did of a woman (Natalie Portman) and becomes infatuated with her. He secretly pursues her, and then commits a terrible act against her – I’ll explain the details of that later.

Although the film blends history with fiction, it’s still a compelling historical drama. The story unfolds during the Spanish Inquisition, and Goya frequently gets unintentionally involved in other people’s conflicts simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whether you enjoy it will likely depend on your personal taste, but it avoids being dull.

I don’t want to give away the details of how he avoids danger, but it’s incredibly interesting to watch Goya portrayed as someone who’s genuinely scared and constantly has to be clever to stay out of the church’s bad graces.

Javier Bardem Is Terrifying As A Priest

Before Javier Bardem became a household name for his chilling performance in No Country for Old Men – and seriously, you can watch it for free right now, which is a steal – he was already scaring the pants off audiences, but this time in Spain. I’m talking about Goya’s Ghosts, a film that showcased his knack for playing truly unsettling characters a full year before Anton Chigurh entered our nightmares.

In the movie, Bardem portrays Brother Lorenzo Casamares, a powerful priest during the Spanish Inquisition. He uses his position and the strict rules of the time against others, particularly Ines (played by Portman), whom he finds attractive. Ines is accused of being Jewish, despite her denials, and after enduring brutal torture, she falsely confesses and is ultimately imprisoned.

Bardem’s character commits a shockingly cruel act against Ines, which I’ll detail shortly. This single act firmly establishes him as the most captivating villain in the film, though many consider Anton Chigurh to be more frightening.

The performance is unsettling, and it reminds me of Javier Bardem in Darren Aronofsky’s mother! – a film I still often think about. He’s brilliant at being both charming and frightening, sometimes within the same scene. In Goya’s Ghosts, he embodies all of those qualities, but also reveals a cowardly side, running away when things start to go wrong – and they go wrong quickly. It’s a captivating performance, and easily one of my favorites of Bardem’s, which is high praise considering how much I enjoy his work.

Natalie Portman’s Story Is Infuriating In How Wronged She Is

Natalie Portman is incredibly talented and strong, and I’ve been a fan since her early role in Leon: The Professional. She continued to impress in films like the Star Wars prequels and Thor: Love and Thunder. However, my favorite performances are actually when she portrays characters who are deeply vulnerable.

I’m thinking of films like Closer, Black Swan, and Jackie. But I don’t think Natalie Portman has ever been more exposed and fragile on screen than in Goya’s Ghosts. The film depicts such intense physical and emotional abuse that it genuinely made me feel furious while watching it.

What makes this situation so upsetting is a dynamic similar to Stockholm Syndrome – she develops feelings for the man who abuses her. Brother Lorenzo relentlessly pursues her, and while initially appearing supportive while she’s imprisoned – even praying with her – he later sexually assaults her, resulting in a pregnancy. Years of imprisonment and, ultimately, having her baby taken from her, push her into madness.

This film features a character who consistently faces hardship, and unfortunately, things never really improve for her. It’s a sad story that leaves you feeling downhearted throughout and especially at the end. Natalie Portman delivers an incredibly convincing performance as someone constantly suffering, to the point where you might need to watch her in a more empowering role just to feel better.

The Setting Is Vivid And Haunting

I really enjoy historical dramas, and costumes are a big part of what draws me in. I recently wrote about the movie Sweeney Todd, focusing on how well the filmmakers brought old London to life. I feel the same way about this film – it does a fantastic job of recreating 18th and 19th-century Spain.

One of the most striking aspects of these paintings is the clothing. Because Goya often painted aristocrats, we see them depicted in scenes of daily life – conversing or simply posing. He also portrays religious figures in their elaborate robes. Interestingly, the line between the nobility and the clergy isn’t sharply drawn, and I believe that’s intentional – it reflects the fact that, during this period, priests often were members of the aristocracy.

The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the time, and it really hits home when Ines ends up in prison. She’s immediately at the very bottom – treated worse than anyone, and sadly, she’s forced into a life of prostitution just to survive. It’s a tough thing to watch, but it feels brutally honest.

The film’s setting truly captures the feel of the era, and I believe the movie wouldn’t be successful without such realistic scenery.

Overall, It Is An Overlooked Gem From The Early 2000s

As a film lover, one of the things I enjoy most is sharing lesser-known movies with others. I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to discuss films like the 1940s classic, Black Narcissus, and then switch to something like the 1970s thriller, Black Sunday.

I understand why people might not know about older films from the 40s or 70s, but it surprises me when they haven’t heard of Goya’s Ghosts. It was released in 2006, which isn’t that long ago! However, being a Spanish film, it’s possible it just wasn’t widely seen.

If it sounds appealing, I recommend giving it a watch. It’s a bit of a hidden gem from the early 2000s and often gets lost among the more famous works of Portman, Bardem, and Skarsgård, so it’s worth checking out if you haven’t seen it.

Have you ever watched Goya’s Ghosts? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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2025-11-10 04:10