OF LOVE AND SHADOWS
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
To fully appreciate OF LOVE AND SHADOWS, it helps to be familiar with Isabel Allende, on whose books the movie is based. Back in 1973, her uncle, Salvador Allende, a Socialist who had been elected President of Chile, was assassinated. in a coup with the assistance of the U.S. This was followed by a military dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet. He was condemned by the United Nations Human Rights Commission for his imprisonment and torture of dissidents.
Isabel Allende, who now lives in California, has said of the assassination, "I think I have divided my life into Before that day and After that day." She has been, among other things, a journalist, a columnist, and a teacher but she is best known for her fascinating books, The House of Spirits, The Stories of Eva Luna, and Of Love and Shadows. In each of the books she brings in the world of Chile after the coup. Her books make easy and fascinating reading and knowing that although they are novels, they are based on real stories make them even more interesting.
The movie is a thriller about the underground that tries to help the prisoners. Francisco (Antonio Banderas) and his brother, Jose (Diego Wallruff) pretend to be priests as, dressed in clerical garb, they evade the guards to visit with the victims of the government. The brothers, and their friends, live metaphorically in the shadows of the real life going on in Chile. They are aided by the beautiful Irene (Jennifer Connelly) who comes from a rich family Living in her mother's mansion, she could easily have ignored the world outside the estate. Instead, it has been turned into a home for the aged where she looks upon the elderly as if they were her relatives.
Gustavo (Camilo Gallardo) is the handsome army captain to whom she is engaged. She thought she was in love with him . . . until she meets up with Francisco, and her world changes. As in all of Isabel Allende' s stories, there is a touch of the mystical. This is true of much of the literature of South America. In this film, Irene goes with Francisco to visit a young woman who may have psychic powers. The woman is lying on a bed when she is suddenly seized with a frantic shaking and making fires erupt outside the house. She even manages to make the armed guard that has arrived look foolish.
But why tell you more? See the film for yourself and witness the humor and the horror that make up the wonderful film. And remember, it is based on the truth.
Directed by Betty Kaplan
Rating: 3.5 Bytes 4 Bytes = Superb 3 Bytes = Too good to miss 2 Bytes = Average 1 Byte = Save your money
Ben Hoffman
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