The Queen of Spain (2016)

In the vibrant landscape of the 1950s, the political shadows of Spain are momentarily brightened as the illustrious Hollywood star, Macarena Granada, returns to her home ground. Having tasted the intoxicating allure of success in Hollywood, she is back to enact the inspiring life of Queen Isabella I of Castile in an ambitious US blockbuster, The Queen of Spain. This dazzling cinematic venture, however, is a cleverly veiled attempt by the Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, to manipulate art into propaganda and mend his tarnished image. Eighteen years have ripened since the making of La niña de tus ojos (1998), and now the once-familiar sets are teeming with faces from the past - her co-stars, her companions, and the supposedly long-gone director, Blas Fontiveros. As Macarena reunites with her old comrades, they find themselves pitted against not just the pressures of replicating their prior success, but also the iron-fisted rule of Franco's regime. The Queen of Spain is more than just a film, it's a testament to resolve, a dance on the tightrope of politics and art, where the stakes are high and the echo of the past is omnipresent. Will the troupe be able to navigate through this complex maze and recreate their magic? The spotlight is on, and the stage is set for a mesmerizing saga that seamlessly merges past and present, reality and illusion.

The Queen of Spain is a comedy movie featuring Penélope Cruz and directed by Fernando Trueba.

The Queen of Spain is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on DIRECTV, FilmBox+, Hoopla, Starz, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV Channel and Starz Roku Premium Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Queen of Spain on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.