Decent rendition about the famous painter of the Spanish Renaissance focusing on his stay in Toledo and known popularly to the world as el Greco . Domenikos, El Greco , was born in Crete , which was at the time part of the Republic of Venice and the center of Post-Byzantine art . His works painted in Italy were influenced by the Venetian Renaissance style of the period . In 1570 he moved to Rome , where he opened a worshop and executed a series of works . During his stay in Italy , he enriched his style with elements of Mannerism and of the Venetian Renaissance and influenced by Tintoretto . In 1570 , he moved to Toledo, Spain , to paint an altarpiece and where he lived and worked until his death . In Toledo , El Greco received several major commissions and produced his best-known paintings . There Domenikos (Mel Ferrer who produced too) fell in love for a gorgeus local woman (gorgeous Rosanna Schiaffino) , daughter of a wealthy aristocrat (Adolfo Celi) the trouble ensues . El Greco's dramatic and expressionist style was met with puzzlement by his contemporaries but found appreciation in the 20th Century . El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism, while his works and personality were a source of inspiration for poeta and writers . Can Darkness win Light ? . Can the Darkness codemn the Light ?. The man..the age..both on fire..now on film ! The lavish courts of Spain .. the savage torture of the inquisition .. the treachery of love.. all storming across the canvas of the man called El Greco.
This costumer partially based on facts , but predominantes the slow-moving melodrama and relying heavily on the love story between Domenikos : Mel Ferrer and Jerónima de las Cuevas : Rosanna Schiaffino . These two actors are well accompanied by a fine support cast , including Italian secondaries : Adolfo Celi , Mario Feliciani , Gabriella Giorgelli, Franco Giacobini , as well as Spanish players : Rafael Rivelles , Angel Aranda , Victor Israel and the great Fernando Rey as King Felipe II. It results to be an enjoyable historical film about an uncompromising artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos , set in the 16th Century , regarding his stay in Toledo , here is confronted by his greatest adversary, the Holy Inquisition . This is a moving biography of the notorious painter , his hardship way , including fencing , trial before Inquisition , as well as romance . Never backing down in his fight with the establishments of his day El Greco's story is one of unusual love , heroism, treason and the power of one Man and his creative consciousness to stand out and overcome vulgarity and ignorance, being a real inspiration which lives on to this day . The motion picture with special mention for sensitive musical score by Ennio Morricone , evocative set design by Dante Ferretti and brilliant cinematography by Barboni , being professionally directed by Luciano Salce . He shot with a pervasive melancholy that does for slow drama and showing colourfully the Greco's wonderful paintings .
