Goya

German cinema lovers will appreciate this 1971 East German epic on the life of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Presented in a newly-restored edition, Goya—directed by Konrad Wolf (Solo Sunny) and starring Lithuanian actor Donatas Banionis (Solaris)—offers evidence that the much-maligned state-run East German film industry was capable of creating more than dreary propaganda. As a biopic, Goya doesn't take an encyclopedic approach—the adult Goya is already winning acclaim as the film opens—but instead focuses on both the opulent style of Goya's art and the tumultuous political environment that shaped his work and life. Shot in 70mm, Goya is blessed with exquisite art direction and sumptuous costume designs (one can only imagine the grandeur of experiencing this film on the big screen). Surprisingly, the only evidence of its Communist bloc roots lies in Wolf's extreme recreations of the Holy Inquisition's investigations of Goya (which seems to be more dictated by East Berlin's anti-religious policies than an honest historical appraisal). But the filmmaker scores points for surreptitiously sneaking in unauthorized footage of a genuine Spanish bullfight (Franco's government would not allow Goya to be shot in Spain, so Bulgaria filled in for the location photography). DVD extras include interviews with screenwriter Angel Wagenstein and actress Tatjana Lolowa, who both offer entertaining insights into the creation of this undeservedly obscure film. Recommended. (P. Hall)