The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004)

Director:

Mary McGuckian

Writers:

Mary McGuckian (writer)
Thornton Wilder (novel)

Release Date:

22 December 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Five Lives Bound By One Fate.

Plot:

Five people are killed in a freak accident when a lofty rope bridge collapses. The film details a priest's...

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Pulitzer Prize Source | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win

Cast

F. Murray Abraham	...	Viceroy of Peru
Kathy Bates	...	The Marquesa
Gabriel Byrne	...	Brother Juniper
Geraldine Chaplin	...	The Abbess
Robert De Niro	...	Archbishop of Peru
Émilie Dequenne	...	Doña Clara
Adriana Domínguez	...	Pepita
Harvey Keitel	...	Uncle Pio
Samuel Le Bihan	...	Dona Clara's Husband
Pilar López de Ayala	...	Camila Villegas (La Perichola)
John Lynch	...	Captain Alvarado
Dominique Pinon	...	His Excellency's Fop
Mark Polish	...	Manuel
Michael Polish	...	Esteban
Jim Sheridan	...	The King of Spain

Also Known As:

Pont du roi Saint-Louis, Le (France)
Puente de San Luis Rey, El (Spain)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some disturbing images and some sensuality.

Runtime:

Argentina:120 min | USA:120 min

Country:

Spain | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Hungary:14 | Spain:13 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Davis-Films

Movie Connections:

References Périchole, la chanteuse et le dictateur, La (2000) (TV)

A Disappointment

Now here is potential for a great, intellectually stimulating movie. Based on the book by Thornton Wilder, a respected American novelist, and exploring the philosophical problem of evil - namely, why did God permit the demise of five people in the collapse of the Bridge of San Luis Rey? The priest investigating the question, the Archbishop accusing his research findings as heresy, the cast of characters with their human strengths and failings; all of this could have made the movie a really rewarding watch. Instead, I fell asleep about two-thirds of the way through, only to wake up just before the end for the credits! I can hardly believe it myself, because I was definitely intrigued by the central question, but for me it was a frustrating, incomprehensible viewing experience with only the scenery, costumes and famous cast as its redeeming features. My disadvantage as a critic is that I haven't read the book, so I can't say if Wilder had done a better job exploring this crucial human issue. Certainly the film was a disappointment. When you want to know the meaning of life, the last thing you wish to be shown is a group of gallivanting fools and hysterics with whom you are unable to engage. At times it really felt like a baroque farce of some sort. Maybe I just didn't get it, but surely much more can be made of the problem of evil on screen. Two out of ten for the costumes, but I'm thinking of reading the book just to avoid nurturing the impression I was left with: that Thornton Wilder lacked substance.