here is a plot summary from flixter:
Plot: An epic tale of an uncompromising artist and fighter for freedom, Domenicos Theotokopoulos, known to the world as "El Greco". Set in the 16th century, El Greco's search for freedom and love ranges from the courts of Crete and Venice to Toledo in Spain. Here he is confronted by his greatest adversary: the Holy Inquisition. Never backing down in his stand against the establishment of his day, El Greco's story is one of unusual heroism, betrayal, love, and the power of one man and his creative consciousness to stand up and overcome barbarity and ignorance. An inspiration which lives on to this day---flixter.com
during my prelaw college days in architecture, i never heard much of him(till the movie). i heard of michaelangelo( who hasn't?), with his paintings in the ceiling of sistene chapel (where pope's are elected) and being one of the several architects for st. peter's basilica in the vatican.
his personality is intriguing in the sense that he claimed "michaelangelo did not know how to paint." remember that he was a greek, resided(migrated -settled -died) in toledo, during the 'inquisition' period when spain was the only world power after the fall of the roman empire. he was in fact, commissioned to do some artworks for king philip's newly built palace.
somehow, his time affected him so much (tell me of an artist who is not) and found expression in his paintings. paintings where its figures are mis-proportioned to the point of monstrosity. a very telling sign of his time, his day and age where the religious acted as the world highest court of law. magistrates of the most high whose ulterior motives were murder and gain the wealth of jews as a result.
indeed, the illusions of religion created a separate illusion of enemy to justify its existence. however, that's an entirely different story.
