From a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this film tells the story of a fifty year love affair that is finally realized when the two lovebirds are in their golden years. A moving film made even more so by the wonderful performances.
When Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) was a boy (about 1880) he worked for a telegraph office and delivered telegrams. On one such delivery he saw Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) and fell head over heels in love with her. The two share correspondence and appear to be in full bloom, but when Fermina’s father Lorenzo (John Leguizamo) finds out he thinks that Fermina shouldn’t be thinking of marrying a poor telegram boy.
He first threatens Florentino and then takes his daughter far into the countryside to separate the two. Years pass and Fermina finally returns, but she tells Florentino that she’s moved on. She then meets Dr. Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt) and the two begin to court and eventually marry.
Florentino asks his uncle Don Leo (Hector Elizondo) for a job that’s far away from the village so he can forget his love, but an encounter aboard the ship makes him decide to return to the village and drown his sorrows in sex with others women. Florentino decides that all he has to do is wait for Fermina’s husband to die and they can finally be together, but his plan is flawed in that Dr. Urbino seems like a very healthy man.
Although based on a novel by Nobel Prize winning Columbian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and set in the same country, it seemed like a Hollywood consolation that the film was shot in English but I digress. Time magazine was rather harsh in its assessment and basically said skip the movie, read the book.
I can’t say that I’m going to filet the film as they did, but could see that the movie was probably a condensation of what sounds like sprawling, epic romance. I thought the concept and interesting one in that it reflects back on a time of courtly love and the patience that one suitor puts into his pursuit.
However, Florentino doesn’t exactly keep his vow of chastity awaiting his lady love since he’s basically pulled into a cabin and raped by an unknown woman (not that he puts up much of a fight mind you). Love in the Time of Cholera may well pick up some more attention since Javier Bardem won the Oscar for his role in No Country for Old Men. The film is a bit let down by the old age makeup, which isn’t that convincing. Although an octogenarian nude scene has some rather effective makeup, but needless to say I really didn’t look at the screen long enough – ewwww.
If I wanted to see that much flab and wrinkles I’d take off my shirt and look in the mirror (and it wasn’t Javier that’s stripping off). The performances are good but again some of them feel abbreviated.
There’s a turn by Li ev Schrieber as the owner of the telegraph office that I think was probably more expanded in the book but comes off as a cameo in the film (as too I think John Leguizamo’s role as well).
The film does have a nice romantic feel to it, but modern audiences will be chanting that Florentino should’ve just pursued his married quarry instead of waiting the fifty years or so till her husband croaks.
Love in the Time of Cholera is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary by director Mike Newell. Next is a 30 minute “Making of” featurette and 18 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary by editor Mick Audsley. Finally there’s the 2 minute theatrical trailer and previews for other New Line/Warner DVDs.
Love in the Time of Cholera is a gentle, long-reaching romance that the kids today will probably pooh pooh. I found it a good movie, but wondered if the book might be more sweeping (sound so) and lovers of the book may well dislike the film.
Love in the Time of Cholera is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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