EL GRECO

Italy, 1966, 95 minutes, Colour.
Mel Ferrer, Rosanna Schiaffino, Adolfo Celi, Fernando Rey.
Directed by Luciano Salci.

El Greco is a moderately interesting biography of the painter and his life in Spain. His paintings are presented. The atmosphere of the times is recreated, Mel Ferrer is somewhat stolid in the central role. However it does give an opportunity to see something of the painter within his surroundings and environment. Interesting. but not essential viewing,

I. Was this a biographical film? Did it seem fairly factual?

2. Did the film come to grips with El Greco as a painter ? his sensitivity, motivation. Quality of life? Inspiration? his business sense and the contracts he made? As a man? his integrity? Ambition, capacity for living? his being persecuted, vindicated.

3. Did the picture of sixteenth century Spain, its grandeur, beauty, aristocracy, jealousy, religious dogmatics, of Toledo circles contribute much to your understanding of El Greco’s personality and work?

4. How did El Greco change Felix as a person?

5. How did El Greco, change the proud and aristocratic Hieronym?

6, What picture of Spanish Catholicism did the film give? externally religious, making much of religious art,
supervision of purity of doctrine, harsh in administration of its laws, placing causes before people,

7. Reaction to El Greco’s trial? Was it fair? Was it based on justice? What was wrong with the attitudes of the Cardinal? Was he completely in the wrong or was he doing his job?

8. Why did such a religious period have such a fear of witchcraft?

9. What was the significance of the end of the film with El Greco at the asylum and the camera's dwelling on the inmates? How did they reflect what El Greco suffered?

10. What relationship did he have with his son? Did El Greco have a happy life?