Driven by a desire for total dominance rather than religious piety, Rodrigo treats his children as political pawns to solidify the family's grip on Rome:
The story of the Borgia family is one of the most enduring sagas in European history—a tale of ruthless ambition, unimaginable wealth, religious corruption, and shocking scandals. While this infamous dynasty has been depicted in numerous TV shows and films, the , directed by Antonio Hernández , stands out as a gritty, fast-paced exploration of the "first criminal family of history".
Why remember a one-year-wonder from 2006? Because occupies a fascinating niche in TV history. It was the first serious, multi-episode drama about the Borgia family produced in the 21st century. It walked so that The Borgias (Showtime) and Borgia (Canal+/Netflix) could run.
The film follows Rodrigo's efforts to consolidate power through his four illegitimate children. His eldest son, Cesare (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), finds himself trapped in a cardinal's robes when his true nature longs for military glory and ruthless action. Meanwhile, his beautiful daughter Lucrezia (María Valverde) is treated as a political bargaining chip, forced into strategic marriages designed to forge alliances with rival families. Another son, Juan (Sergio Múñiz), serves as captain of the Vatican army until a violent confrontation with Cesare alters the family's trajectory permanently. The youngest, Jofré (Eloy Azorín), drifts passively through the family's machinations, more a spectator than participant. The Borgia -2006-2006
Rather than relying on theatrical villainy, the film leans heavily on a character-driven approach to humanize its central figures. Rodrigo Borgia (Lluís Homar)
The ambitious and intense eldest son, seen as a model for Machiavelli's The Prince , struggling to transition from a reluctant cardinal to a military leader.
Produced by Ensueño Films and DAP Italy, the film is noted for its high production values: The Borgia (2006) - IMDb Driven by a desire for total dominance rather
The ensemble features prominent Spanish and international actors who bring a grounded realism to characters traditionally flattened by historical myth. Los Borgia (2006) - Phoenix Cinema
The 2006 Spanish-Italian film Los Borgia provides a dramatic portrayal of the infamous Renaissance family, focusing on their rise to power and Cesare Borgia's calculated ruthlessness as inspiration for Machiavelli’s The Prince
Portrays the patriarch as a cunning, strategic, and often ruthless schemer. Because occupies a fascinating niche in TV history
While the film is a "deep piece" on their 15th-century reign, it grapples with the historical truth of the family:
Costume designer (who worked on The Name of the Rose ) created a palette of deep crimsons, tarnished golds, and muddy browns. This is not the glittering, polished Vatican of Jeremy Irons’ The Borgias . Instead, the 2006 version shows a Renaissance Rome that is cramped, filthy, and politically claustrophobic.
brings a nuanced innocence to Lucrezia Borgia, portraying her as reluctant participant in the family's schemes rather than the legendary femme fatale of popular myth. The actress herself described the film as having "everything—action, intrigue, love, lust"—a fitting encapsulation of the Borgia saga.
Rodrigo Borgia’s rise to the papacy was the culmination of decades of strategic maneuvering within the Catholic Church. A Spaniard by birth, his election was viewed with suspicion by the established Italian noble families. To secure his position and expand the influence of the Borgia name, Rodrigo utilized every tool at his disposal, including nepotism, simony, and strategic alliances. His papacy was characterized by a relentless drive to centralize papal authority and reclaim territories in the Romagna region, which had fallen under the control of local petty tyrants. This mission was largely entrusted to his son, Cesare Borgia.
The Borgia television series received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of the cast, particularly Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI. However, the show was not without its flaws, and some critics felt that it took too many creative liberties with historical facts.