El, Dumbfounded King

Spain in the 17th century. The young king is newly wed and inexperienced, both when it comes to politics and women. He is caught by surprise by his aide whife admiring the naked body of the beautiful courtesan Marisa. The king innocently asks if it would be Possible for him to see his young queen naked as well. This innocent request creates a scandal at court and in the kingdom. In addition the country is on the verge of bankruptcy and war. The king has many enemies, but there are also friends who want to help him.
Comment:
As soon as I had read Gonzalo Torrente Ballester's novel ''Cronica del Rey Pasmado'', I called the author and suggested that it be made into a film. He was enthusiastic about the project. That was in 1989. A year later J had found both the ideal settings and actors for the film. Bringing together the production team, which included many of the most prominent individuals of the Spanish theatre, was about as easy as lacemaking. But the fact that the movie is based
on a novel by Gonzalo Torrente Ballester opened many doors for me.
The movie was filmed in eight weeks, in Toledo, Madrid, Salamanca and Portugal. A lot of work went into reconstructing the castle scenes at the Alcazar, since this no longer exists.
The story takes place in the rigid society of the Inquisition and deals with the triumph of eroticism and sexuality over narrowminded moralism, censorship and religious dogmas. Torrente himself has explained the things that happen in the story, with the fact that morals at that time were much more licentious than they are now.
Even if Torrente doesn't mention the King's name in the book, it is understood that he is referring to Philip IV. The royaJ visit to the brothel which triggers off the conflict, is sUpposed to have taken place in reality. It is an interesting period, since most of the great Spanish painters and writers besides Cervantes lived in it. Spain was characterized by artistic creativity as well as decadent life in the royal court.
Imanol Uribe