movie premiere attracts celebreties and visitors to havana

The version for the big screen of the novel "El amor en los tiempos del colera" (Love in Times of Cholera) by Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1982 Nobel Literature Prize, attracts the attention of film buffs in Havana. "El amor en los tiempos del colera" was filmed in 2007, mainly in the city of Cartagena de Indias, under the direction of Mike Newell and having in the main role Academy Awards winner the Spanish actor Javier Bardem. Cast also include actor Benjamin Bratt in one of the main roles. The film was released on November of the same year in the United States and was nominated for The Golden Globe Awards. Colombian singer and song writer Shakira was invited to participate in the sound track of the film for which she wrote two songs, in which she worked together with Argentine musician Pedro Aznar with the songs titled "Hay amores" (There are Loves) and "Despedida" (Farewell). Based on the Garcia Marquez's homonym novel, the film is about the story of Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) who waited 51 years, nine months and four days to confess his love to Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). The setting of this story occurs at the end of 19th century and the beginning of the 20th in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, in times of civil wars in that country. A Cholera epidemic is also present in the cities along the coast. The novel's title has been interpreted in many ways. One equates the "time of cholera" with the time of romantic love, thus suggesting that love in this novel is a disease that plagues the body. Also, an expression in Spanish, "tener un arranque de colera," when literally translated means to have an attack of cholera, but figuratively means to be very angry. In this sense, the novel could refer to the feelings of anger that love brings. However, this may have been lost in translation. The title may also be a metaphor for the disease of social irresponsibility. This interpretation describes Ariza and Urbino as oblivious to the realities of society and as characters whose selfishness harms themselves and others According to the story, Florentino, who was rejected by the beautiful Fermina at a young age, devotes much of his adult life to carnal affairs as a desperate attempt to heal his broken heart. Florentino falls in love with Fermina but social differences separate them. Fermina marries Doctor Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt), however Florentino continues living her for the rest of her life, doping an opportunity to conquer her. The novel then flashes back and relates the intertwining stories of Daza, Ariza, and Urbino, following the first two from childhood to old age. As young adults, they had had a short and intense epistolary romance. After Fermina returns from a trip to her hometown, she recognizes her relationship with Florentino as nave and is filled with disenchantment. If you want to know more, please come to the movies.

Prensa Latina, Cubarte News posted on 5/28/2008 12:17:30 PM

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