Intrigues, love and sex with the Duchess, jealousy from the queen, and finally the Duchess killed, but who killed her? Bigas Luna was able to ensemble a plot, which starts with few dialogs, good photographs, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón (The Duchess) and Penélope Cruz showing something of their charms, one Jorge Perugorría (Goya painter) talking or whispering, probably making an effort to avoid his Cuban accent, Jordi Mollà as a lover and powerful minister, and Stefania Sandrelli, no matter how old she is, as a queen, and also a lover. The excitement really starts after mid film, and more than a drama it becomes a good thriller. Therefore do not miss anything from the first part of the film if you want to understand what really is going on. Moreover the film indicates how the famous paint of Goya "La Maja Desnuda" was done and what source the painter used. Certainly it was not the Duchess' body but the one of a nice gypsy lady, Pepita Tudó (Penélope Cruz), very "maja" by the way, we would say in Spanish.
Review of Volaverunt
