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. (more…)