Film Bites

Florentino(Bardem) is a lowly telegraph operator living with his mother. Whilst delivering a message to Lorenzo Daza(Leguizamo) he catches the eye of Fermina(Mezzogiorno) and immediately falls head-over-heels for her. To capture her heart, he writes letters, addressed to ‘my crowned goddess’, professing his undying love. Soon, her feelings for him grow; blossoming into a mutual courtship. After Florentino proposes marriage, Fermina’s father finds out about their relationship and condemns it, declaring his daughter as too beautiful for a lowly telegraph operator. Fermina is swept away by her father into the deep jungles of Columbia to tear her from Florentino. In her absense, he vows to remain chaste in her honor.

Years pass before they meet again, only to have Fermina declare their feelings as an illusion. Devastated, Florentino stakes his love for her and declares he will have his one true love. Unbeknownst to him, Fermina is engaged to be married to another man. After years of waiting for his one true love, Florentino is devastated. In a desparate attempt to mend his broken heart, Florentino pursues lascivious affairs throughout his adult life. In the end, only waiting for his Fermina.

Too often, classic novels are turned into only mediocre movies. Not so with Love in the Time of Cholera. Firmly rooted in the culture of the late 19th early 20th century South America, this story is truly one for the ages. Love stories are only good when the characters are genuine and their love is true. Films based on love stories are great when they take the good and build into them an emotional current that carries you throughout the dramatic spectrum. Cholera does that.

The acting was superb. The direction was impecible. Even the cinematography built the scenes from the ground up using vibrant colors and dramatic angles. Especially notable was the soundtrack which combined an eclectic array of old-world spanish folk with modern talent. This film is definitely one of the best films of the year. Destined for greatness at the Academy Awards for sure, Love in The Time of Cholera is sure to be an instant romatic classic kin to Cleopatra, Ballad of a Soldier and possibly Gone with the Wind.