Directed by: Mike Newell; Written by: Ron Harwood; Distributor: New Line Cinema
Movie Synopsis: Love in the Time of Cholera traces the Job-like vigil of Florentino Ariza who waits for over half a century to claim the hand of Fermina Daza, the woman he loves.
The movie is inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel, Love In The Time Of Cholera. The action begins in Cartagena (Columbia) when a young boy Florentino Ariza (interpreted by Javier Bardem), experiences love at first sight with the young girl Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). They begin to write to each other until she comes of age to marry. The young man goes to her father, and gets refused because he’s just a clerk and a poet.
Her father takes her away, and the young boy’s absence makes her forget about their love. When she is introduced to Dr. Juvenal Urbino - a specialist in cholera (interpreted by Benjamin Bratt) she accepts his proposal and they go to Paris. She goes on with her life, but Florentino can’t cope with the fact that he lost the love of his life. After being seduced by another woman and discovers the pleasures of sex, he becomes addicted and starts a diary with each of his conquests. The movie even shows him getting to number 600 in an amusing moment. His poems and descriptions of each of his conquests are so detailed and exquisite that he starts to make money writing love letters for other people.
The movie does not disappoint, even if you’ve read the book. Love In The Time Of Cholera is a heartfelt, amusing, memorable movie.