How long would you wait for love?

Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) spends his lifetime to wait for the woman of his life, Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). At a very young age, the telegraph operator has set his heart for the beautiful young maiden. They have even agreed to marry, until Fermina’s father sends her to live in the village far from City of Cartagena. Living apart, Fermina realises that this love is just an illusion which blinded her heart. She agrees to marry Dr Urbino (Benjamin Bratt), who’s handsome, well-educated and a highly-respected person.

Rejected by Fermina after waiting for so long doesn’t make Ariza changes his heart. He tries even harder to make himself a ‘better person’. He vows to stay pure for her. When he finally breaks the vow to some 600 women in his lifetime, his heart never shift its devotion from Fermina.

The movie is an adaption work from a masterpiece novel of the same title written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Although I’ve never read the novel, I wouldn’t be surprised if people despise the movie. I, for example, couldn’t see the relation between cholera and love from this movie. If I should refer about this only from Ariza’s mother’s statement who mistakenly remembered her son falling blindly in love for Fermina with a cholera, I think that’s very shallow and insignificant way of making the connection.

For a Don Juan, Ariza seems growing far too old than the other main characters in the movie. I understand he carries a huge burden and desire all of his life, but I would expect him to look at least similarly old with Fermina & Urbino (not older) after some 50 years later and so many women! He even looks older than his own uncle.

Nonetheless, this is an excellent and inspirational love story. A so-so movie with great settings, though.

My rating: 3/6