Aficionada

I went to the movie theater prepared to be disappointed because I love the book and also have fond memories of the 1967 film version. Instead, I was slowly drawn into the film and found myself totally absorbed and enchanted with it by the end. Yes, this is a literary adaptation of a 19th century novel, so it's slow paced (compared to action films) and you have to surrender to the way it leisurely unwinds. If you can enjoy the beautiful cinematography and fine acting, the subtle character development and the recreation of a distant time and place, you won't be bored. I already knew the story line and was glad to see that it followed the novel pretty closely. it's more than a love story. The central conflict is Bathsheba's desire to be independent versus a need to find someone who knows her, loves her and accepts her as she is. She comes across as a strong-minded young woman, but not as vain and frivolous as the character Julie Christie portrayed in the earlier version. At first I thought Mulligan wasn't going to be convincing as this complex woman, but I was wrong. She did a superb job of creating a character who was beautiful, bright, warm, funny, and touchingly vulnerable, a very contemporary and modern character but still completely convincing as a young woman from 1870s rural England. She conveys innocence without being silly, and reveals a core of inner strength that makes you want to cheer her on. I couldn't imagine Matthias Schoenaerts in the role of Gabriel Oak because to me Gabriel Oak was Alan Bates. Schoenaerts is as far from Bates as you can get. Yet, he did a brilliant job. He went from being a rather wooden, one-dimensional character in the early scenes to being a totally convincing romantic hero by the end of the film. The story would not make sense if Bathsheba (and we) saw him from the beginning as the best of the three suitors. His qualities need to emerge slowly so that we can appreciate not just his good looks but his strong moral character. His pride matches hers. Neither wants to give into the other. This creates a lot of sexual tension (and romance) in the film, because it's obvious that they belong together and yet they both resist the pull. Oak isn't a man of words, so it takes time for her to learn how to read him, and to recognize that his strength won't diminish her own. Michael Sheen was outstanding as Mr. Boldwood. He reminded me of a younger Anthony Hopkins in his ability to portray complex emotions. The pent up loneliness and obsession with Bathsheba made him both scary and vulnerable. He came across initially as stern and in control, but underneath he was sad and even pathetic at times. Unlike Peter Finch in the earlier version, Sheen showed real warmth at times. He so badly wanted her to love him, and yet the more desperate he became, the more she would pull away. His love was smothering her, but he couldn't see it. This made him a more sympathetic character because in the end his "crime of passion" truly did seem motivated by feelings he couldn't control. The weakest part of the film for me was Tom Sturridge as Sergeant Troy. He was the most one-dimensional character. His charm was so hollow, I found nothing attractive about him. It was hard to understand why Bathsheba would fall for a man like him. It made it seem like momentary insanity on her part. I found him thoroughly unlikeable, and couldn't wait for him to disappear. Overall, set in the lushness of rural England, with beautiful costumes and sets, excellent acting, gorgeous cinematography and fine direction, the film is a success. The end is predictable, yes, but still moving and beautiful. You feel like you've seen the characters grow up before your eyes, and you come to admire them, not just because they are a romantic couple but because they're strong individuals who respect each other and work well together as a team. The hard work of running a farm is always in the background of the film, and the scenes of Gabriel and Bathsheba working side by side in the fields are just as touching as the ending where they walk off into the sunset. Their relationship isn't just based on physical attraction but on shared values and goals. I think it captures the message of the Hardy novel better than the earlier film version does, and also comes across as a less sunny film. It's uplifting but doesn't gloss over the difficulties of life.

Latin American films often look different from Hollywood films, they might appear a bit amateurish by comparison because they are low budget, or don't have the technical perfection of Hollywood films. There's a different sensibility too, which is reflected in the acting style, which might seem a little stiff or artificial to someone not used to it, and there's more tolerance for non- narrative poetic sequences, unlikely plot twists, sentimental music, etc. If you're looking for a Hollywood type film, this isn't it. It has a more leisurely pace and not all the loose ends are tied up. But if you want to see a movie about contemporary Cuba, it's worth a look. It captures the complex emotions of people who go back to Cuba looking for roots and feel confused about their identity. I appreciate seeing different points of view, and the scenery is beautiful. I agree it's not the best film ever made, but I like that it emphasizes the human side of things and tries to break down some of the barriers that separate Cuban Americans from Cubans who stayed on the island.

Although the two main characters in the film are 12-year old boys, I wouldn't say this is a movie aimed mainly at kids. I don't normally like movies with child actors, but I found this one charming. I've been to Cuba many times and think that this film does a good job of showing the current situation with social and economic class differences growing larger all the time. It was touching to see how the boy from the poor neighborhood was so self-reliant, hard-working, willing to share whatever he had, it felt real to me, I've known people like that in Cuba, thank God not everyone is motivated by self-interest. It didn't feel preachy at all, it developed naturally and had some interesting and amusing moments. I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in contemporary Cuba. Good acting, good direction, it leaves you with something to think about. To me, a welcome change from some of the dark, brooding, depressing films coming out of Cuba in recent years.