Cristian, Manolo, and Tatiana, what a trio of performances, all in a foreign film, and in a story that takes place in a small village no one has ever heard of, but its themes of acceptance, love, tolerance, and compassion should appeal to every single member of the audience. The film doesn't break any new grounds, but its execution, mostly with the help of these three actors will touch you and move you to tears.
In a nutshell, two lovers must confront their doomed love, as one finds himself in purgatory and tries to find a solution to their dilemma. From the beginning it's obvious that Santiago and Miguel have a relationship that is special and goes beyond their physical attraction. Throughout the film, we discover, they have a history, and, like "Brokeback Mountain", things don't quite work out. To make things more complicated, there is a pregnant and lovely wife, and there is true affection in the marriage, but it's a small place, minds are not open, and there is the little marriage of jealousy, sexual attraction, and local gossip.
Miguel, eventually must choose the best possible path; this might mean complete repudiation by his community and the end of his marriage. However, this sacrifice might be necessary in order to save the soul of his beloved. Yes, it sounds complicated and a bit far fetched in paper, but the beautiful script uses simple exchanges to deliver the message, to show us what tortures the souls of the trio, and how the community copes with the drama.
Living in a small community usually means everyone knows your name and your business. There is no isolation from anything or anybody, and rumours usually are based or shaded by truth and/or a strong dose of envy. Soon, we have the local wench spreading gossip, and things become even more problematic for the married couple.
Eventually, the film reaches its conclusion, and there are plenty of satisfying, heart wrenching moments as everyone must face the harsh understanding of what is coming. There are moments of pure love and hope, as Miguel makes his decision. It is not over, but a chapter is closed, and hopefully everyone has learned a lesson that will make them become much better beings.
In a nutshell, two lovers must confront their doomed love, as one finds himself in purgatory and tries to find a solution to their dilemma. From the beginning it's obvious that Santiago and Miguel have a relationship that is special and goes beyond their physical attraction. Throughout the film, we discover, they have a history, and, like "Brokeback Mountain", things don't quite work out. To make things more complicated, there is a pregnant and lovely wife, and there is true affection in the marriage, but it's a small place, minds are not open, and there is the little marriage of jealousy, sexual attraction, and local gossip.
Miguel, eventually must choose the best possible path; this might mean complete repudiation by his community and the end of his marriage. However, this sacrifice might be necessary in order to save the soul of his beloved. Yes, it sounds complicated and a bit far fetched in paper, but the beautiful script uses simple exchanges to deliver the message, to show us what tortures the souls of the trio, and how the community copes with the drama.
Living in a small community usually means everyone knows your name and your business. There is no isolation from anything or anybody, and rumours usually are based or shaded by truth and/or a strong dose of envy. Soon, we have the local wench spreading gossip, and things become even more problematic for the married couple.
Eventually, the film reaches its conclusion, and there are plenty of satisfying, heart wrenching moments as everyone must face the harsh understanding of what is coming. There are moments of pure love and hope, as Miguel makes his decision. It is not over, but a chapter is closed, and hopefully everyone has learned a lesson that will make them become much better beings.