Le Marquis d'Esquilache

The film is well based on historical events about Leopoldo Gregorio , Marquis of Esquilache (Messina, December 23, 1699 - Venice, September 15, 1785) , an Italian statesman who acted as minister of Charles III of Spain . Esquilache is a marvelous 1989 Spanish film , being excellently directed by Josefina Molina . The picture gives a magnificent portrayal to historic kingdom and cultural memory of an interesting period , with a look back to the past , offering us a provoking retelling on essential happenings . The film stars Fernando Fernán Gómez as Leopoldo De Gregorio , Marquis of Esquilache , who gives an awesome acting and it is based on the play "Un Soñador Para Un Pueblo" by Antonio Buero Vallejo.

This excellent picture recreates faithfully the historical facts , as several years separate us from the events are to narrate , but the shadows still hide from the public this great historic moment , and the significance of such deeds . ¨Esquilache¨ is filled with those lights and shadows , gathers such a very important known event recreated in the artistic frame called ¨Illustration¨ , characterized and inspired by the ideas of reason and freedom . The movie contributes to artistic and cultural record of an era , being masterfully narrated and perfectly played as well as directed . Here appear numerous historical characters competently performed , such as : Charles III by Adolfo Marsillach , Isabel De Farnesio interpreted by Amparo Rivelles , Duque De Villasanta by Alberto Closas and Marqués De Ensenada acted by Ángel De Andrés López . It displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Juan Amoros , being shot on location in Royal Palace of Madrid . Luxurious sets make excellent use of real locations in Spain and it has a look of a great production . Attractive and magical musical score by José Nieto . The motion picture was stunningly directed by Josefina Molina who has received a honorific Goya , she has directed good flicks such as ¨Función De Noche¨, ¨Lo Mas Natural¨, ¨La Lola Se Va a Los Puertos¨ and the prestigious TV series ¨Tesesa De Jesus¨. The film was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival and won numerous Goya Awards .

The film is very well set in Charles III epoch , he was the main promoting of Enlightened absolutism , also known as enlightened despotism and benevolent absolutism , it is a form of absolute monarchy or despotism inspired by the Enlightenment . As a lot of European Enlightened monarchs embrace rationality . Most enlightened monarchs fostered education and allowed religious tolerance , freedom of speech , and the right to hold private property . Charles III, King of Spain from 1759 to 1788, sought to rescue his empire from decay through ambitious reforms such as weakening the Church and its monasteries , promoting science and university research, facilitating trade and commerce, modernizing agriculture , and avoiding war . Charles III had been introduced to reform by his mentor in Sicily, Bernardo Tanucci. Although Tanucci remained behind in the Two Sicilies to advice Charles's son, King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, as the two thrones could not be united by consequence of treaty, Charles carried with him a cadre of Italian reformers who saw potential in the Spanish bureaucracy for modernization. Spain relapsed into former patterns after his death . The most important political reforms this promoter monarch instituted in his kingdom included : Codifying the laws of their territories . Reforming the countryside by establishing who owned which land and by reporting this data in property surveys called Cadasters . Abolishing, or taking steps to abolish, aristocratic tax immunities . Limiting the nobility's power to police and pass judgement upon their peasants . Diminishing peasants' legal disabilities, including ameliorating , if not abolishing, the hereditary status and impositions of serfdom where they still existed . Establishing some measure of religious toleration . Sponsoring cultural activities and institutions . Other illustrated kings are the followings : Emperor Joseph II , ruler of Austria , Empress Catherine the Great and Senior ministers , such as the Marquis of Pombal, who was Joseph I of Portugal's prime minister, and Struensee in Denmark . And in Spain , Marques De Esquilache -originally Squillace- , who was born in Messina, de Gregorio was one of Enlightenment Spain's leading statesmen from the arrival of Charles III to the Marquis's death in 1785 . His ability as a military supplier for the Neapolitan army impressed the king and raised him to royal prominence. He was appointed "Marquis of Esquilache" in 1755 . His attempt to modernize the apparel of the average Spaniard resulted in the Esquilache Riots and in his dismissal . Charles was forced to make Esquilache ambassador to Venice. It was a move that both Charles and Esquilache lamented. Esquilache felt that his measures in Spain had deserved a statue, and would comment that he had cleaned and paved the city streets and had created boulevards, and had nevertheless been dismissed . He died in Venice.

This film concerns the Esquilache Riots, which took place in Madrid in March 1766.

Brought about mainly by a growing dissatisfaction among the populace of Spain's capital with the rising cost of bread and other staples, they were sparked off by a series of unpopular and impolitic measures affecting what clothes people might wear in public, enacted under the advise of the Marquis of Esquilache (in Italian: Squillacce) a Neapolitan whom King Charles III had made his Minister of Finance.

Charles III was Spain's chief exponent of what is called Eighteenth Century Enlightened Despotism. He brought public lighting and paving stones to Madrid. But measures tending to encourage a rational, modern, hygienic, peaceful mode of living were generally resented by the very conservative lower classes, under the influence, it was believed, of reactionary clerical elements, especially the Jesuits, who were said to oppose every attempt at modernisation. One of the results of the Esquilache riots was the eventual expulsion of the Jesuit order from Spain and her vast colonial Empire.

All these political and existential conflicts are made very clear in this beautifully produced and interesting semi-documentary, a model of what such films can be.

A very good portrait of Spain and its difficulties during the period of King Charles the Third, Major of Madrid, too. He was an exceptional Major and good king, but due to its Italian ascendency and his choice of an Italian Prime Minister, the people did not like its Govern.

The film is about Mr. Esquilache, the Prime Minister and tells us its troubles to maintain the peace due to its interest in getting a good government for the Spanish people.

Very good characterization, filmed in real places and excellent dresses. It maintains your attention from start to end.