6.9/10
18,599
86 user 26 critic

The House of the Spirits (1993)

R | | Drama, Romance | 1 April 1994 (USA)
The House of the Spirits Poster
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A rancher, his clairvoyant wife and their family face turbulent years in South America in this adaptation of Isabel Allende's best-seller.

Director:

Writers:

(novel),

Stars:

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Clara
... Esteban Trueba
... Blanca
... Pedro
... Tránsito
... Esteban Garcia
... Segundo (as Joaquin Martinez)
... Pancha
... Ferula
... Nana
António Assunção ... Man at Cattlemarket (as António Assumpção)
Julie Balloo ... Young Lady
Frank Baker ... Intelligence Officer
João Cabral ... Soldier
Carlos César ... Ambassador's Driver
See full cast »
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Storyline

Chile, second half of the 20th century. The poor Esteban marries Clara and they get a daughter, Blanca. Esteban works hard and eventually gets money to buy a hacienda, eventually to become a local patriarch. He becomes very conservative and is feared by his workers. When Blanca grows up, she falls in love with a young revolutionary, Pedro, who urges the workers to fight for socialism. It is unavoidable that Pedro and Esteban are pitted against each other. Esteban tries to stop the love affair between Pedro and his daughter by all means possible but soon Blanca becomes pregnant and has a daughter. The void between father and daughter seems unbridgeable when Blanca moves in with Pedro. Written by Mattias Thuresson

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

patriarch | chilean coup d'etat | family saga | class conflict | watching tv | See All (184) »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| | | |

Language:

|

Release Date:

1 April 1994 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

La casa de los espíritus  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,265,311
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close previously appeared in Reversal of Fortune (1990), where they played a married couple. In this film, they play brother and sister. See more »

Goofs

Alba is eating KFC, but the KFC name/logo wasn't adopted until the 1990s (it was formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken), it's in a basket instead of a box, and the chain wasn't franchised in South America in the 1970s anyway. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Esteban Trueba: It's good to be back.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Heaven Sent (1994) See more »

Soundtracks

La Paloma
Written by Sebastián Yradier (as Sebastian De Yradier)/Michael Jary
Performed by Rosita Serrano
Published by Edition Cinema
Courtesy of Eastwest Records GmbH
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Excellent cast, photography, music, but........
1 May 2004 | by – See all my reviews

I just do not get very inspired in this treatment of Isabel Allende's novel. The worst thing is that I cannot even identify exactly what it is that does not succeed in really drawing me into the story. Evidently the film is well made, beautiful filming, and the cast is really extraordinary, with some magnificent interpretations. The make-up department did excellent work on the aging process of the players. This is the second time I have seen this film, but the story's continuity did not get me really sympathising with and feeling for the characters. There is something missing: however, no way can either Meryl Streep or Jeremy Irons, among the other leading actors, be blamed for this. There is something abstract here which I cannot explain. It may be arguable that this film is better than `Missing' (1982) (qv), however `Missing' pulled me much more into the story.

Certainly, in no way should you pass up this film if you get a chance to see it: there are very good interpretations, at times even wondrous, combining with very intelligent photography and Hans Zimmer doing some of his best work.
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