 |
Issue 6
Great Overlooked Movies
Vicky Christina Barcelona
If the film Vicky Christina Barcelona were to be summed up in to one word, it would be passion. It is not about love as in the strength or endurance of commitment. It’s about the part we all love in the beginning of a great relationship, the fear and excitement of something new and enticing. It is about falling in love, the overwhelming swell of emotion and the irrational actions we all experience.
Vicky Christina Barcelona begins with two American women who for their own separate reasons have decided to spend the summer in Barcelona. They are welcomed to stay with one of the girl’s relatives and spend most of their time eating at fine restaurants, enjoying the sights and going to art exhibits. It is at one particular exhibit where they inquire about a local artist (Juan Antonio, played by Javier Bardem). They are told he was once stabbed by his x-wife (Maria Elena, Penelope Cruz) in a fit of passion. Later that evening the Juan Antonio walks up to the women and propositions them to fly to the beautiful town of Oveido and spending the weekend together. Love affairs ensue, and things are a little shaken up when Juan Antonio’s fiery x-wife, Maria Elena, returns.
Ernest Hemingway quickly developed a large following simply because his books painted a vivid portrait of luxurious life styles and exotic paradises. By doing this, Hemingway helped the reader escape to a world which was inaccessible for the American audience. Woody Allen does the exact same, he creates a method of escape for movie goers today. You are shown incredible sights and are allowed to peek into a decadent reality which you may not be accustomed to. There is something about the beauty of the Spanish country side, the music and every work of art which transports you to a place where you are immersed in a culture which feels all to familiar. Woody Allen does an incredible job of displaying an exclusive artistic bohemian culture which is as welcoming as it is inviting. For the characters, you can tell that love is the reason they are alive and when it comes along they are all open to it. The chemistry between cast members is so believable you question whether they are acting at all.
Maria Elena’s passion and creative talents make her attractive in more than just beauty. The intensity of her character and the over-amplification of emotions we all tend to subdue, make her free. We envy her confidence and ability to be fearless. Yet, it is her frailty which makes her approachable and fills you with a sense that there is a possibility you could love her and she would not only love you back, but need you. Juan Antonio’s confidence and security in who he is as a person, gives him a “take it or leave it” approach when talking to women. There is something about Juan Antonio’s charm and openness to love which makes him a person you want to persue.
- Michael January
