In 1800 the Duchess of Alba (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón) is probably the wealthiest and most independent Spanish widow of her time. She holds a party at the palace filled with high society figures. There is Prime Minister Godoy, his lover Pepita (Penélope Cruz), who was the model for Goya’s famous painting La maja desnuda, and there’s also Francisco Goya himself. The next morning the Duchess is found dead in her bed.
After the first ten minutes of the film, the director intrigues us with a shot of Penélope Cruz‘s soft breasts. Seventeen minutes later there is a long hot scene with Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. A man kisses her feet, then slips a hand under her dress and masturbates her. Seven minutes later we are watching Penélope Cruz naked in the painter’s studio, where she’s posing for a painting. Two minutes later there is a sex scene with Stefania Sandrelli. The actress does not undress, but the scene is still arousing.
