Love In The Time Of Cholera Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
How long would you wait for love?
In Colombia just after the Great War, an old man falls from a ladder; dying, he professes great love for his wife. After the funeral, a man calls on the widow - she dismisses him angrily. Flash back more than 50 years to the day Florentino Ariza, a telegraph boy, falls in love with Fermina Daza, the daughter of a mule trader. Ariza is persistent, writing her constantly, serenading, speaking poetically of love. Her father tries to keep them apart, and then, one day, she sees this love as an illusion. She's soon married to Urbino, a cultured physician, and for years, Ariza carries a torch, finding solace in the arms of women, loving none. After Urbino's fall, are Ariza's hopes delusional?
| Benjamin Bratt | Dr. Juvenal Urbino |
| Gina Bernard Forbes | Digna Pardo |
| Giovanna Mezzogiorno | Fermina Urbino |
| Javier Bardem | Florentino Ariza |
| Marcela Mar | America Vicuña |
| Juan Ángel | Marco Aurelio |
| Liliana Gonzalez | Marco AurelioÂ’s Wife |
| Catalina Botero | Ofelia Urbino |
| Miguel Angel Pazos Galindo | OfeliaÂ’s Husband |
| Maria Cecilia Herrera | Urbino's Sweet Wife |
| Luis Fernando Hoyos | Urbino Urbino |
| Carlos Duplat | Mourner #1 |
| Francisco Raul Linero | Mourner #2 |
| Unax Ugalde | Florentino |
| Liev Schreiber | Lotario Thugut |
| Mike Newell |
6.20 out of 10 (3503 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Read the book if you want to enjoy this movie
posted on 14 Aug 2009This film relates accurately the main events that compose the story, but fails to reflect the ironies and motifs that make the novel so elaborate and engaging. Florentino's courtship of Fermina, the obstacles they face and the resolution of their love affair are clearly depicted in the film, but some of the emotions and reactions that the characters experience are not portrayed in the film and therefore the story lacks some of the meaning that the author implied in his writings. The writing style of García Márquez is very complex and therefore very difficult to capture in film; the use of a narrator could have helped to illustrate some of the highlights of the book that the film lacks. This film is worthwhile after having read the book; otherwise it is just a love story full of eccentric characters and fantasy worthy of Hollywood, with an intriguing but predictable series of events and a happy ending.
This movie is a crime to the book
posted on 14 Aug 2009This movie is a crime to the book, only someone who have read the book can understand how painful is to watch it.The movie starts with my favourite part of the book, one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written. The death of Dr Juvenal Urbino, this part in the book is only at the most 4 pages!!! and this director couldn't stick to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and decides to change how things really happened add things from his own imagination??? Why? Why? Why? All he had to do was stick to the book!!!! This is really the most disappointing movie I'm ever going to see in my whole life.Thanks very much Mike Newell and Ronald Harwood for this crime to literature.All i wonder is if you ever read the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enchanting and lovely. Focus is on emotion not action. if you like French films you will like this.
posted on 02 Aug 2009This so reminded me of many French films i have seen in that it focuses on the delicate emotions. For the first time in a long time i sat there and simply lost myself in the movie. Usually I am distracted by hackneyed plots, or heavy handed director technique.It is different, and has a different focus. Set in an area and time of the world i was not familiar with, made it all the better.Like some French films, it focuses on emotions and love - not action. The sparks of humor were unexpected and funny. It just took me away from real life and that to me is a good movie.I liked that there was no right or wrong in this movie. It is just a story of several people and how they lived. Of course on a higher level there is a lot to think about in terms of love and its various aspects which are examined in this movie.The sound editing could have been better, i had difficulty hearing the dialog at times. Most actors and actresses were great.If you enjoy movies that are more about emotion, where there is no clear "hero" you will like this movie.
Movie is worth it, the book is incredible
posted on 23 Jul 2009The movie richly presents the visuals of the setting of the film and of the characters from the book.Important scenes and direct quotes from the book are included in the movie.However having read the book, there is a much, much deeper understanding of the characters, their motivations and other things that have gone on in their lives. The book also has characters that are not included in the movie.People should see this movie because it's a unique story and extremely moving. It is a movie that's entertaining visually, emotionally, and intellectually. However to get the most out of the movie, be sure to read the book either before or after watching the movie, and then watch the movie again.
A movie that will have you longing for it to end...
posted on 23 Jul 2009Am absolutely amazed that anyone actually liked this movie. It's the kind of film that has you searching IMDb for other movies directed by Mike Newell just so you can avoid them.The casting was horrendous. Fermina, played by Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno, does not resemble her swarthy, dark complected father in the least. He actually looks more like her boyfriend-- and at one point actually looks at her as if she is his girlfriend. The make-up was Halloweenish. When the movie starts, Fermina is supposed to be an old woman. The first reaction is to question why they simply didn't get an older woman to play the part. Then you quickly realize you're being set up for a flash-back. The mascara masquerade only aggravates the casting chaos when an elderly-again Fermina has an anti-climatic argument with her "daughter" who looks old enough to be her mother.The acting by many looked like the earnest efforts of a half-rate high school play. Specifically, there is one scene in which Dr. Urbino's domineering mother holds high tea with three women desperate to impress her. Her evident disgust for her new daughter-in-law and the tittering fan-waving of the three hangers-on are comedic in their lack of impact.Even the unquestionable talents of Javier Bardem and Fernanda Montenegro were not able to redeem this evisceration of a classic novel. Just a shame this flick will now be a part of their repertoire.It's difficult to not long for the return of public flogging in order to adequately punish the screenwriter for butchering this novel. If Gabriel Garcia Marquez has not seem the movie, please, if you know him, and you're his friend, don't let him.
Fabulous
posted on 17 Jul 2009The makers of this movie stayed true to the author's intentions. Excellent acting, scenery, and special effects as the actors aged over a life time during the film. I hope this picture helps shine a favorable light on the beautiful country of Colombia and the historical and exciting city of Cartagena. Unfortunately the title leaves most people scratching their heads and since there is very little hype or promotion, I doubt it will ever get the audience it deserves. But this is a jewel of a book and movie. The author has an incredible sense of humor which for the most part comes out in the movie. Best love story you will see for some time. Great book and fabulous movie**********
A Nutshell Review: Love in the Time of Cholera
posted on 17 Jul 2009Now we all know the horror stories that come with long distance relationships, and sometimes absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder. For Florentina's case, efforts by his mother (Fernanda Montenegro) to make him forget and move on were to no avail, as he degenerates into a sobbing wreck. It seems that to overcome love once was, and to move on, has to come from within. How long can one wait? In my case, it might be around 5 years before you realize you're a dumb fool, and you'll probably find some means to channel your energies and keep yourself distracted.All 51 years, 9 months and 4 days! Of course this is fiction, so the longer the duration, the spicier his life for a story becomes. In his effort to try and distract himself, he becomes the quintessential Don Juan Casanova, when he discovers the joy to bodily explosions to drown his sorrows. Yes you heard me right, that's why this movie garners an M18 rating here. And his character provides interesting insights to those who can probably identify with the pain of having being let go and rejected by his first love on the fly, without explanation, without seeing it coming. Spurned by love, his infatuation brings him to want to compete and upgrade himself socially as well, to want to be the best, and liken himself to be that catch that got away.However this is not only a story about Florentina, but also about his love Fermina. For reasons somewhat unexplained, her moving on and marriage to a doctor (played by Benjamin Bratt) seem to be constant fuel for Florentina as he resorts to having a stalker tendency, curious to find out how the love of his life once is up to now. Little glances around town, without her reciprocation, seem to be sufficient. While he had wished in all earnestness that she has a happy/happier life without him, Fermina's portion of the story dwells on the fact that all is not as smooth as one would expect, bringing about a little sense of that probable regret in making the wrong move, and some nagging "what-ifs".Director Mike Newell's movie is rich in its sets, and no effort spared in the technical aspects of it, recreating some really wonderful moments of the era of steamboats together with an emotive score. The movie also marks original song contributions by Shakira, but unfortunately the few contributions were reduced to mere scattered portions, not a complete song. The makeup was also stunning in making the youthful actors age (we're talking about 50 years, so what do you expect?), which lend some accentuation to the actor's performance.I thought Javier Bardem was pitch perfect as the Romeo turned Casanova, a pained man who seeks immediate short term pleasure, consistently, while we know that beneath his playboy facade is a man who's been terribly hurt, and is somewhat still yearning for any moment where he can be together with his true love. However, the plot and his character toward the final act made him seemed too vengeful despite his sincerity, in having a sole objective of wanting to put his banana into the fruit bowl. Giovanna Mezzogiomo started off quite plainly, but as the story developed, so could we watch her character grow from strength to strength given limited screen time.Love in the Time of Cholera is a love story with an epic scale, a tale of two lovers who just could have been should circumstances allow, but had to take more than 50 years to make something out of it, starting very early with being apart even during their budding years. It might not be touching enough to warrant any tears, given the protagonist here is a jilted man rather than a woman who will probably deserve our sympathy, however, it serves to remind all those out there who are still holding candles, while you keep the memories you share, you should not forget to snuff out the flame, and move on for sanity's sake.
Excelente!
posted on 27 Jun 2009How good can a film about Latin America be when the cast is well stocked with Latins and Gringos of Latin descent? Very good, is my response! This film is a gem. Sure, Javier Bardem is a Spaniard but his dark good looks and retiring demeanor is splendid. OK, so Giovanna Mezzogiorno is an Italian, but she's a doggone beautiful one who understands the role of a Latin-American woman of the 19th century thoroughly. Benjamin Bratt's mother is a Serrana from Peru and he understands his role. Hector Elizondo is a Basque and when you look at the whole cast, this film lights up. First, you got a great story by one of our great South American authors, and a superb screenplay by Ron Harwood. Second, you excellent direction by Mike Newell, and then you get great performances by everybody. In the final analysis, it all comes together into a wonderful love story that exceeds the conventional. The leading trio, Bratt, Bardem and Mezzogiorno create a chemistry that lights an unquenchable fire. The rejected suitor who's lost his love to someone above his station becomes the object of women's affection and lust, as it were. If you read the novel, one of the great ironies is that Florentino is not a predator and his abiding tristesse and melancholy is the attraction that drive women into having affairs with him. The consummation of his love with his long desired Fermina is Garcia Marquez's statement that true love conquers mere carnal desire. The book offers a beautiful, exciting story and this film gives us a tender and masterful presentation of love in the time of cholera.
A huge disappointment
posted on 27 Jun 2009I had such high hopes on this movie as the book is so beautiful, enchanted and well written. I am always resistant to watch films based on books that are very good and moved, because the adaptation can be difficult. It as not just difficult they literally slaughtered the book. Mr. Ronald Harwood turned a beautiful love story in to a burlesque, vulgar and despised movie. I would also like to ask Mr. Ronald Harwood what was he thinking when he wrote the screenplay? How can you do this to a book? How dare you? How would you feel if someone did that to your work? What do you think Gabriel García Márquez would say to you? Thank good he can not watch it!!! The film has such good actors that with the correct screenplay it could have been a great hit.
The incredible power of love....
posted on 25 Jun 2009First of all, i watched this movie by chance and before watch it i asked myself what kind of movie it could be....for my surprise i enjoyed this movie very much. I just realized this film was made by people in love to people in love...thus, if you are in love YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!!! The songs and the atmosphere created by feelings and the context itself can present to you more than a movie about love, so much as, a movie about the beauty of pure feelings in life....what include, of course, LOVE!!!I think this movie can really show you the purity of love and the capacity to support several disappointments improved by society. After all the strength necessary to wait for your love more than fifty years is a really proof of compromise and honor to love which, in my personal opinion, should be transmitted across generations, because that is love, nothing else!
A Pleasure to watch
posted on 25 Jun 2009I loved the film and it triggered in me a lot of emotions. The book is definitely more resourceful but it is only fair to evaluate the film separately. The acting and the directing were exceptional.The work done by Mike Newell kept the sense of humor of Gabriel García Márquez alive. They never stop surprising you with the events and the sense of humor when you don't see it coming. The portrayal of the second part of the film is remarkable and very inspiring in showing the couple's love in old age.The film captured the spirit of Márquez's style in a romantic yet tragic love story with the sort of relief only Márquez is capable of nesting and which was understood and was beautifully portrayed by the sense of Mike Newell.It was a pleasure to watch.
Eggs, Planting
posted on 21 Jun 2009I think it is possible to make a film that has this book's richnesses, story, metaphors and style. But it would have to depart as much from ordinary Masterpiece TeeVee as this cleaves to it.The book, if you do not know it, relies on an already deep tradition of Spanish-speaking writers that brings metaphor to life by mixing illusion and reality. This is a third generation writer in this tradition, and he counts on you knowing the previous generations so that you can appreciate the subtle craft in placing both in a "reality."The centerpiece of course is how to fabricate a perfect love, suspend it in earnest imagination and make it real through writing. That last bit is the third generation bit, the idea that the writing of illusion makes it real. Students of narrative folding as a device to engage will recognize this trick as one designed to put the reader in the story. Everyone in the story is a "reader" of what Florentino writes. His passion in writing is immediately accessible to every other woman he meets and allows him to enter 622 of them.That number of course is the number of menstrual cycles he waits for his love while engaged in maintaining the passion. This links to one of the two main metaphors, also partly illusory: the boats on the river. The other metaphor is love as a disease and the triangle established by the doctor dedicated to eradicate it. The structure is rather clinical, made attractive by the same passion in its writer as the writer character has. It matters that it is written in Spanish, a language that allows a connected flow of phrases and a tradition that assumes romantic fever.I think Ruiz could have done this. Newell has no idea what to do with this, and is left with simply trying lush shots and reading passionate text.Here's an indication of his general ignorance: for practical commercial reasons the language must be English. But instead of having his characters speak English naturally and with passion, he has them adopt an accent which we will recognize as Hispanic speaking English as a second language. This is characterized by hypervigilance to the consonants separating words where the primary language centers of the brain are telling the speaker that they should flow with sonances. An astute listener (and if you are not, you do not deserve to have passion in reading) will know people with this, whose words flow in their mind, but become discrete pebbles in the mouth, breaking the flow of liquid life this whole story exploits.Here's an indication of his cinematic ignorance: It matters what is shown, how and in what way, for how long and in what order. He films this as if every element that plays a role in the plot deserves equal weight. Thus, if we have a telegraph key that does something, or a boat people are on, or a ladder that slips, why we see those. All exist with equal weight. All are shown with the same reality and perspective. All have the same frame. But this manner of narrative is all about color and weight, all about the rhythms of love in reality. Some things should be sharp, magnetic, bright. Others foggy or not even touched. Some seemingly full and sensual but allowed to be discovered not so in a way that never informs the next lust.Its all about rivers and inconsistent flows. All the sex is denoted by displayed breasts. This again is a commercial necessity, but the material is vaginal in focus. Such intense mysteries must always be. All of the mechanics of the story begin and end there, even in mention of the food.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
As time flies by ...
posted on 09 Jun 2009I'll divide my comment into three sections, story, actors and cinematography. Story-wise I won't be telling anything that will spoiler anything, but about the structure. The movie begins then with the "present" (not our present mind you) and looks back on how it came to this day. It's nothing you haven't seen already, but a nice touch to keep us on our toes. Although don't get too excited, because the pace of the movie is rather slow.The actors are great, with one small exception: John Leguiazamo. I like him and I think he's a great (underrated) actor, but in this particular movie he's borderline to annoying. Even if it is a bit part of his role, there is a fine line to portray his character and he seems to have passed that line many miles, making him look a bit like a caricature. The rest of the cast is pretty good.I'm not going to go into the lighting, but into the framing. Even if you might want the story to move faster, you can't help but love those "pictures" the movie gives you. With a good soundtrack to accompany it, it's in a few details that this movie is missing out on being even better than it is :o)
Remarkable adaptation. Give it a chance.
posted on 20 May 2009A very good adaptation of a classic book. In more than two hours the movie manages to make fit all the important events of the movie (even small roles) and it does not gets boring.The pace is fast and again manages to complete the atmosphere and events that the book does.Fans of the book could be disappointed because the whole "Love" message is present but in a quick manner and the relationship between the main couple could apparently seem as superficial and exaggerated. But no, if you have read the book you will completely understand that the movie does a fantastic job in fitting the best aspects of the book.Really good soundtrack mainly performed by the sexy-talented Shakira. Her song "Pienso en ti" appears in the PERFECT moment in the movie.Congratulations for this movie that has everything for everyone: humor, drama, romance, passion, and best of all, an excellent plot.Watch it with regular expectations and don't think about "how the book could be better".
Bad make-up ruined it for me
posted on 14 May 2009I didnot read the book so I don't know how much of the essence are captured in this movie. But I have to say that the make-up in the movie was so bad it ruined the whole experience for me.. And not only the make-up was bad but it also didn't seem to fit with the plot either. I mean we see Bardem s and Bratt s characters and are made to believe that they aged a lot. They look old and most interestingly they act old. They seem to have difficulty in walking or bending or even speaking. Then the movie makes us think some more years passed by and then we see them again however now it seems they had found an anti-aging clinic in colombia because not only they look younger or at least at the same age but also they seem to move in a much more dynamic fashion.. It is such a distracting flaw that after sometime you start to lose the ability to watch the movie without getting confused. And most interestingly some of the characters don't seem to age-like the mother and the uncle played by Eliozondo- The bottom line: If you think you can get past this flaw i think you may enjoy Love in the time of cholera. It is beautifully shot with a very good soundtrack and features a great actor in Javier Bardem.
Best film of the year, Oscar worthy
posted on 28 Apr 2009I caught a screening of this film in San Diego and I was blown away. I have never been so filled with emotion during a film, ever. I cried, laughed and my heart ached at times. I hope this movie wins the Oscar! The book is my favorite book of all time and I was so scared to see the film as I thought I would be disappointed, but I was not at all. I thought the book and the movie were so much a like and the movie didn't lose anything that the book had. Marquez is one of the best writers in the world, and Ronald Harwood took his words and turned them into magic. Everyone who has read the book or anyone who has ever been in love should see this movie the day it comes out!
The most romantic film of the year.
posted on 26 Apr 2009Despite its heavily melodramatic structure, the screen adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera is the most romantic film I have seen since Julie Christie swept me Away from Her earlier this year. Set in 1879 during the cholera in South America, a young Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) falls for Fermina Urbino (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), who spurns his love for 53 years until they finally connect again.Florentino's obsessive love for Fermina is not the destructive kind, but rather inflicts joy on over 600 women he courts perhaps in honor of his true love. While she marries up to the town's heroic doctor, Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt), she appears not to suffer the same withdrawal Florentino does for over half a century although she is never sure if she truly loves her husband.But I am getting too much into plot because I am drawn, as I have always been, to the vagaries and pains of love's longing, its painful fear of separation and death when one is deeply in love. This film captures these emotions and sprinkles humor around to let us know that life can go on, maybe even happily, but eventually love will conquer all, as Chaucer's Prioress reminds us.Director Mike Newell may have difficulty balancing the humor and pain, but so do we when we realize how impotent a cherubic baby with a bow and arrow can make us. I still don't know if this film is comedy or romance, but then I don't yet know if love is either.
Weak,very weak
posted on 26 Apr 2009I'm not a fan of the book Love in the Time of Cholera,but I appreciate the detailed story and the easy evoking of emotions.But,the adaptation of that book for the big screen,lacks of that two important elements.First of all,in the movie everything happens very fast and it has not got a good development of characters.Also,this film did not provoke me even one emotion.The performances are,mostly,pathetic.Javier Bardem is a brilliant actor but his performance in here is laughable.But,the worst performance of this movie is made by John Leguizamo.In movies like Summer of Sam and Crónicas,he brought excellent performances but,here,his performance is very exaggerated and all his scenes provoked me unintentional laughs.One of the few good elements in this movie is the spectacular cinematography.Love in the Time of Cholera is a weak adaptation which bored me pretty much.This movie gets a 5 out of 10 only for the cinematography.
Loved the book, couldn't stand the film
posted on 22 Apr 2009We had to stop watching after about an hour because we couldn't stand the wooden action and the contrived set piece scenes. Fermina's father was like something out of panto. The whole thing was ridiculous, and really isn't worth 10 lines, so I am at a loss as to how to fill the space up to the minimum. What about: the actors' ages were all wrong - the father looks about 30 in the opening scenes, the elderly Fermina, who is about 68-70, looks about 45 (if that), and Florentino's mother looks as if she was about 55 when he was born. Florentino ages about 30 years from Unax Ubalde to Xavier Bardem, while Fermina ages about a month in the same time. Thank goodness, that's 10 lines. Can I stop now?
A beautiful romance, that gives hope to those who are going through difficult relationships.
posted on 28 Aug 2009I have not read the book, but after watching this movie and being deeply moved by it, i intend to read it so as to continue savouring this beautiful romance. My only negative comment is the makeup. There was too much of it and it reminded me of the disastrous makeup in THORNBIRDS. The makers should have used a different actor to play the OLD Florentino, whilst the YOUNG Florentino could easily have played the MIDDLE-AGED Florentino. This would have required far less makeup and we would have seen more of this brilliant actor. As to the other "ageing" characters, they too could have been replaced by older actors. Despite this makeup hiccup, i found everything else about the movie, simply beautiful.