Love and Madness ("Mad Love" film review)

          Movies that are based on history and real life bore me most of the time. But it seems like Director Vicente Aranda took his movie, “Mad Love” to a higher level. I cannot say that I was superfluously amazed by this movie, but at least, for a film of this kind, my focus remained on the screen until the credits were being rolled.

            Like what I have said, “Mad Love” is a film based on real-life. It revolves around Queen Joanna of Castile, third daughter of Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. For political purposes, she was forced to leave her childhood friend, Alvar, to marry Philip, the Archduke of Austria whom she had not seen yet. Upon her arrival in Flanders, she was easily captivated by Philip’s good looks and “expertise in bed.” They were married right away and had children. Then, Queen Isabella died which caused them to become king and queen. In conjunction with the death of her mother, she caught her husband in bed with one of her court ladies. This incident started the obsession of Queen Joan, which later worsened because of another girl; this time, the Moorish prostitute, Aixa, who knew black magic and who pretended to be one of her new court ladies to be near King Philip. Queen Joan was later known as “Joan the Mad.” Her said-to-be madness caused her almost dethronement. Good thing, she spoke up before this happened. Shortly after, her husband fell ill and died. Although she remained queen, she was locked up as a mad woman in the Castle of Tordesillas for the rest of her life, and still waiting for the time that she and King Philip would again reunite. (Wikipedia)

            This movie is not merely about sex and madness. It is also about how a woman could give up power for love, and how a woman could regain that power if she really wanted to. I could also say that this movie is the opposite of “Malena.” If in “Malena,” beauty is disadvantageous, in “Mad Love,” beauty is shown to be a means of getting one’s motives, which is exemplified by Ines, the court lady, and Aixa.

            A lot of symbols were shown in the movie. First was the top, a symbol of Joan and Alvar’s friendship. In fact, he took this top in order to use the latter, to make King Philip jealous. A black dress was also worn by Queen Joanna many times in the story implying that she was mourning for something. The scissors she used in cutting Ines’ hair symbolized her “madness” and obsession. “Mad,” the word which was repeated several times is a symbol too, that emphasized Joan’s so-called “madness.” I also noticed the somewhat amulet which was used by Aixa which symbolized wickedness. And finally, in the last part of the movie, Queen Joan was wearing a new wardrobe which meant that she was willing to change.

            The movie location was breathtaking. It seemed like the film was really made during the 1400’s-1500’s. Music, too, was utilized properly. It is one of the things that saved the movie (because as I’ve said, historical movies usually bore me). Director’s style was not that evident. There were flashbacks, familiar twists – things I always see in other movies. But it’s okay. It did not make the movie boring anyway.

            For those who like historical and biographical movies, this one might suit you. I also recommend this to all women, especially the feminists, so that they may be inspired by Queen Joanna’s life.