Love in the Time of Cholera

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EPIC LOVE STORY:Love in the Time of Cholera is the big screen adaptation of the Much-loved novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

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Adaptations of much-loved novels are always tricky - billed as one of the greatest love stories ever told Love in the Time of Cholera has big shoes to fill.

The Mike Newell film tells the tale of Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem), a telegraph clerk with the heart of a poet - who falls head over heels with Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) the moment he sets eyes on her.

He woos her with a series of letters - but alas the path of true love never runs smoothly - particularly as Fermina's father (John Leguizamo) vows the pair will never be together.

The movie was filmed on location in the city of Cartagena, Colombia where the story is set - lending an air of authenticity to the film.

Visually Love in the time of Cholera is very true to the Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel with rich layered cinematography and slow languorous camera shots.

The pace is a little choppy at first  - as if director Mike Newell felt the need to cram as much of the epic love story (which spans half a century) in as possible.

It took me a while to warm to the characters and it isn't until midway through the film that it really finds its pace.

The film is peppered with humour - as Florentino embarks on a series of affairs while he waits for his true love to find her way back to him.

The main actors - Spain's Javier Bardem and young Italian star Giovanna Mezzogiorno - play the characters from the first blossom of youth through to old age, with the aid of some nifty prosthetics and wobbly walks.

As an old man Javier Bardem is thoroughly convincing and it's easy to see why he won the best actor Oscar at this years ceremony by contrast Giovanna Mezzogiorno doesn't always manage to fully inhabit the complex role of Fermina.

There are some memorable performances from the truly international supporting cast - Colombian actor John Leguizamo is in parts both tragic and terrifying as he does everything in his power to keep the lovers apart and tries to control his daughter's destiny.

Brazilian stage star Fernanda Montenegro as Florentino's ever-supportive mother puts in a heart-wrenching performance as a woman battling dementia.

This is the type of movie that draws you in slowly, and transports you to another time, another era, that will have you leaving the theatre with a smile on your face, safe in the knowledge that no matter what, true love conquers all.

The verdict: A quirky, charming unconventional love story.

Love in the Time of Cholera
Director: Mike Newell
Starring: Javier Bardem, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Liev Schreiber
Running Time: 139 minutes
Rated: M
Trailer: Flicks.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News