1792 in Spain by the Catholic master the highest rights to the revolutionary cause in neighboring France also caused riots in Spain. Catholic Spain decided to re-enable the dreaded Inquisition. The leader of the movement is highly unpredictable and witty monk Lorenzo (played by Javier Bardem), he managed to grasp the rights.
Lorenzo's friend is Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgård plays), he is Spain's most famous painter, portraits drawn specifically for the kings and queens. At that time one of his beautiful model Ines (Natalie Portman plays) unjustly imprisoned and tortured in the Inquisition. Goya to Lorenzo begging to save the life of that poor girl, when their friendship is also faced with the test. Lorenzo raped Ines and put her in the secret dungeon.
Nearly two decades later, French troops occupied Spain, Goya is a distinctive character. Almost complete loss of hearing, he turned into a dark, psychological disorders, and almost became a ghost. However, this period of his creative career in the peak period.
Lorenzo was the expulsion of the Spanish Church exiled to France, intent on returning to serve as the main prosecutor of Napoleon's puppet regime. So that he can revenge against those who put him out of Spain - which means that he used his position to persecute his former colleague in the Spanish Inquisition.
The abolition of religion in France, all prisoners be released, once young and beautiful Ines is one of them. Just most of her family died in the war. She only left in this world is crazy old Goya. And became her protector, and learned Ines in prison and gave birth to a girl. Later, Goya found Ines's daughter Aaliyah (also played by Natalie Portman), she is a prostitute.
The copyright of the map of Europe continues to change, when Wellington, New Zealand's powerful army invaded Spain, Spain once again into chaos. Lorenzo living in embattled desperation - was sentenced to death ...