O Amor nos Tempos de Cólera (2007)

Florentino, rejected by the beautiful Fermina at a young age, devotes much of his adult life to carnal affairs as a desperate attempt to heal his broken heart.

Director:

Mike Newell

Writers:

Ronald Harwood (screenplay), Gabriel García Márquez (novel)

Stars:

Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Benjamin Bratt

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 - 40's
Liliana Gonzalez	...	Marco Aurelio's Wife (as Liliana Alvarez Gonzalez)
Catalina Botero	...	Ofelia Urbino - 40's
Miguel Angel Pazos Galindo	...	Ofelia's Husband
Maria Cecilia Herrera	...	Urbino's Sweet Wife
Luis Fernando Hoyos	...	Urbino Urbino
Carlos Duplat	...	Mourner
Francisco Raul Linero	...	Mourner
Unax Ugalde	...	Florentino - Teen
Liev Schreiber	...	Lotario Thugut

Storyline

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?

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Plot Keywords:

caribbean sea | widow | marriage | old man | funeral | 

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Taglines:

How long would you wait for love?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

M/12

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was initially set to be filmed in Brazil because of security concerns in Colombia. In fact, director Mike Newell had already received all necessary inoculations for a stay in Brazil. Then, the Vice President of Colombia telephoned the producers, to insist that they make such a thoroughly Colombian story nowhere but Colombia. After two hours in Cartagena, and with many promises that the film company would be kept safe, the producer and director agreed to shoot there.

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Goofs

In the beginning when Florentino Ariza is lying with America and the Church bell rings, she says 'Its Pentecost' and then she puts her hand over his body. The same scene is repeated towards the end of the film and is shown from a different camera angle, but here America first puts her hand over Florentino and then says 'Its Pentecost' (not before).

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Quotes

Florentino Ariza: [closing scene, in bed together, but clothed] I love you, my crowned goddess. We're going to stay like this.
Fermina Urbino: You can't mean it.
Florentino Ariza: From the moment I was born, I have never said anything I did not mean.
Fermina Urbino: [exhales, almost trembling] And how long do you... you think we can... stay like this?
Fermina Urbino: Forever.
Fermina Urbino: Forever?
Florentino Ariza: [cut to view of the sun-lit boat anchored in the midst of the river] After 53 years, seven months and 11 days and night, my heart was at last fulfilled. And I discovered, to my joy, that it is life ...

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Beowulf/Margot at the Wedding/Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium/Enchanted/Southland Tales/Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)

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Soundtracks

O Soave Fasciulla - La Boheme
Written by Giacomo Puccini (as Puccini)/Giuseppe Giacosa (as Giacosa)/Luigi Illica (as Illica)
Published by G Ricordi & Co. (London) Ltd/BMG Music Publishing Ltd

User Reviews

Huge problems, however I guarantee you will enjoy it!

Well, first of all I truly enjoyed the movie. Even though it is not the best movie ever I still recommend to everyone. It is still a beautiful story which I think you would enjoy if you haven't read the book, and for those of you who have, it is very interesting to see how the director tries to capture Marquez's book in a movie.

The movie however has really big problems, the most important one, which is the main reason why I didn't think much of this movie is that it is in English. Its a huge mistake because all the language used in the book (which is beautiful) is just LOST, therefore the movie automatically looses most of its potential. Even worse than making the movie in English is making the main dialogs in English and the background dialogs in Spanish, it just doesn't make any sense. Its ridiculous. Finally, Giovanna Mezzogiorno's acting is not very good.

I have seen many comments and reviews that agree with what I just said; but as I said before, even if it isn't a really good film I still recommend it. You should see the movie, but most importantly, READ the book!!!

Details

Official Sites:

Official MySpace Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA Mexico UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 2008 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

O Amor nos Tempos de Cólera

Filming Locations:

Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,915,000, 18 November 2007

Gross USA:

$4,607,608

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,575,877

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Stone Village Pictures, Grosvenor Park Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1