Mad Love Movie Review 2001

Peculiar costume drama is base on the life of Spanish queen Joan (known as "Joan the Mad" or "Juana La Loca"), daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. In 1496, she is sent to marry Prince Philip of Flanders (known as "Philip the Handsome"). Although the marriage is arranged, the two are instantly smitten, Joan exceedingly so. As the passion wears thin for Philip and he begins fooling around, her intense love is enhanced by jealousy, which Philip uses to ascend to the throne by having Joan declared insane after Isabella dies. Considered tame in comparison to Aranda's previous work (especially considering the passionate subject matter), pic does well on his attention to subtle detail and the standout performance of Lopez de Ayala as the lusty queen.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 117 minutes.
Originally from Spanish, Italian, Portuguese.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Spain, Royalty, Biopics: Royalty, Sanity Check, Marriage, Period Piece: 15th Century, Period Piece: 16th Century, Flashback, Obsessive Love, Betrayal

Screenplay

Vicente Aranda

Cast

Pilar Lopez de Ayala, Daniele Liotti, Manuela Arcuri, Eloy Azorin, Rosana Pastor, Giuliano Gemma

Cinematography

Paco Femenia

Director

Vicente Aranda

Music

Jose Nieto

Other

Daniel Fontrodona, Teresa Font, Josep Rosell

Producer

Enrique Cerezo, Sony Pictures Classics