Mad Love 2001

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Mad Love ★★½ Madness of Love; Juana la Loca; Joan the Mad 2001 (R)

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. 117m/C VHS, DVD . SP IT PT Pilar Lopez de Ayala, Daniele Liotti, Manuela Arcuri, Eloy Azorin, Rosana Pastor, Giuliano Gemma; D: Vicente Aranda; W: Vicente Aranda; C: Paco Femenia; M: Jose Nieto.