Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
"Love" wins out over maniacal murderer
This Friday, May 2 , the Rappahannnock Association for the Arts and Community (RAAC) will show the film adaptation of the 1985 classic "Love in the Time of Cholera" starring Javier Bardem. Originally scheduled for this week’s screening was "No Country for Old Men" also starring Javier Bardem in a role that won him an Academy award. What do you do when you have one screen, show only two films a month and your audience begs to see something other than extreme violence? You shift gears!.
As luck would have it my neighbors the Sullivans had a copy of "NCFOM" and "Love in the Time of Cholera". I borrowed both, watched them on the same night and agreed we needed to choose love over violence. (But please rent "NCFOM" yourself and see a great performance by Javier Bardem..amazing!)
I am sure everyone has already read Marquez’s novel which was roughly based on the love affair between his parents in Columbia at the turn of the last century. Fans of the book will surely understand the impossibility of trying to replicate the mysticism and passion that have made Marquez one of the most popular and celebrated writers of our time. Once you acknowledge that and just let the need to compare go you can settle in for a lush beautifully filmed movie.
The movie is filmed on location in a remote town almost untouched since the Colonial turn of the century period of Victorian dress, top hats and morning coats, beautiful lush gardens and great Colonial architecture. In today’s Columbia just as in the period the film depicts, civil wars then drug wars now; life is dangerous .While on location in the jungles and remote locations, the film crew was given security guards by the Columbian government to protect them from a myriad of possible unhealthy situations.(They obviously hadn’t seen Bardem in NCFOM). Beautiful riverboat trips through lush tropical vegetation and a trip through the picturesque highlands are breathtaking.
Serious film critics were not very receptive to the film. Expectations were so high that nothing could have satisfied the need for perfection. One called Benjamin Bratt, who plays Dr.Urbino, too lightweight to play the part. I thought he was perfectly suited to that time period and for the first time considered him in his element. Panning the make up, most critics laughed at the "Old Florentino" guise of Bardem, but he looks just like a member of the Marquez family( several of which were on the set to consult on the details ). It is hard to imagine that Bardem is the number one male star in Spain and considered a sex symbol. That is what I call good makeup.
For the one person who hasn’t read the book: It is a story covering a 50 year quest of one unrequited lover who waits until his rival dies to reclaim his love. He passes the time maintaining a journal of over 600 conquests (or at least one minute stands) some of whom he doesn’t bother to get their name. Some humorous, some sad.
The film is in English, but the Spanish speaking actors voiced regret at losing the fluidity of Marquez’s original language. It is rated R for sexual content, nudity and brief language. It runs 138 minutes. Films start at 8 p.m. in The Theatre in Little Washington. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students.
RAAC will show one more film in May (Charlie Wilson’s War) before taking the summer off. Please come help us wrap up the season!
You must be logged in to post a comment.