Movie Review: Goya in Bordeaux

Story: I got hooked during the opening credits when a cow's carcass (my vegetarian friends might wince a bit at the beginning) morphs (a la Francis Bacon) into Francisco de Goya's 82 year old face. Director Carlos Saura and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro team up again (Tango, Flamenco, Carmen) to bring us this visually exciting, surreal homage to Goya's life and beliefs through his art. The film is dramatically wanting but artistically very satisfying. It is filled with -actually glows - with color and texture. The story zig zags through Goya's tumultuous life and times as he awaits death in exile in Bordeaux, France. Goya (1746-1828) lived through four Spanish monarchies, a French invasion by Napoleon's brother and Spain's struggle for independence. His court painting series and his prints about the disasters of war are shown or actually depicted throughout the film. For about the same price as admission you can also go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and see some of the real works. If you are a huge fan you can take a trip to Spain to see a lot more at the Prado Museum. This film is definitely not for everyone. But if you like art, Goya, painting, printmaking and something a bit different, this film is for you.

Acting: Francisco Rabal (a Bunuel staple) as the elder Goya was perfect as the ravaged, tormented Goya.

Pets: Pets do not fare well in this film. Not for the squeamish.

Visual Art: Everywhere - just wonderful.

Soundtrack: Don't remember

Theater Audience: The same audience as last week's foreign film, Solas- without the screamer.

Quirky Meter: 5

Oscar Worthy: No

Nit Picking Quotient: Nothing to gripe about except for the pageantry at the end of the film. I thought it was a bit much.

Length: 102 minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 7