Love in the Time of Cholera

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Love in the Time of Cholera

R

2007

2h 18m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

25%

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110 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) sees Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) through a villa window, it is love at first sight. Though a man of modest means, Florentino's skill as a poet awakens a similar passion within Fermina. But Fermina's father disapproves of the affair and vows to keep the lovers apart. Fermina eventually marries an aristocratic doctor (Benjamin Bratt), and they move to Paris. Florentino, however, still loves Fermina and patiently waits for a chance to be with her again.

Critics Consensus

Though beautifully filmed, the makers of Love in the Time of Cholera fail to transfer the novel's magic to the screen.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

05/29/2008

3/5

Though Cartagena in the late 19th Century is beautifully evoked in director Mike Newell's visually sumptuous film, there's something missing at the core of this love story.

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Evan Williams

The Australian

05/25/2008

2.5/5

If further proof were needed of my dispiriting theory that the best novels rarely make the best films, it is to be found, richly scented and sumptuously packaged, in Love in the Time of Cholera.

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Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

03/20/2008

2/5

A valiant attempt to turn a complex novel into a compelling movie is hamstrung by a conventional literary sensibility, an uneven tone and, crucially, a failure to establish a moving, meaningful connection between its two major players.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

07/10/2024

C+

By any measuring stick, the book is clearly better than the film.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/26/2020

7/10

The story is vibrantly painted with wit and vivacity - even if it doesn't tread new ground.

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Javier Ocaña

Cinemanía (Spain)

10/28/2020

3/5

Succeeds in its essence. [Full review in Spanish]

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Justin S

@RT75964167 12/30/2024

One of the greatest books ever written. Almost impossible to do it justice on the big screen. With such a beautiful setting it is a feast for the eyes.

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Dominic Z

@RT08023387 09/18/2024

Great Story And Acting, Must See

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Bill N

@RT96531520 04/08/2024

beautiful love story and good production

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david a

@RT75393186 09/06/2021

The book was better. The book was better. The book was better. This actually was a decent movie, but they omitted what was clearly the best part of the book. This guy has waited a lifetime to be with the woman he loves, he finally gets to visit her, and... [no book spoilers]... ARG! How could they remove the culmination of the whole book from the movie?!?!? The acting was good. The production value was ok. I thought Javier Bardem was an amazing old man. Some of the other characters just didn't look old, and still moved about like young actors. It's like they just put some white powder in their hair and said. "You're old now."

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dave s

@RT68722908 02/22/2021

By no stretch of the imagination is Love in the Time of Cholera a great movie, but it's certainly not as bad as its reputation. Based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez' wonderful novel, the story follows Florentino (Javier Bardem) and his life long unrequited love of Fermina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). The lyrical writing style found in the book created a mystical and magical atmosphere which is totally lost in the screen adaptation. There is some beautiful scenery and a few memorable moments, but the film generally has a drab feel to it and often resorts to lurid melodrama to show Florentino's anguish and frustration. In general, it's probably safe to say that Gabriel Garcia Marquez' complex literary works don't translate well to the screen.

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10/27/2018

Music and acting and the visceral sense of deeply touching love the movie is suffused with make it worth watching again and again and again. Perhaps my first when I completely disagree with the critics' low rating.

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Mike Newell

Director

Javier Bardem

Florentino Ariza

Giovanna Mezzogiorno

Fermina Daza

Benjamin Bratt

Juvenal Urbino

John Leguizamo

Lorenzo Daza

Catalina Sandino Moreno

Hildebranda Sanchez

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Synopsis

When Florentino Ariza (Javier Bardem) sees Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) through a villa window, it is love at first sight. Though a man of modest means, Florentino's skill as a poet awakens a similar passion within Fermina. But Fermina's father disapproves of the affair and vows to keep the lovers apart. Fermina eventually marries an aristocratic doctor (Benjamin Bratt), and they move to Paris. Florentino, however, still loves Fermina and patiently waits for a chance to be with her again.

Director: Mike Newell
Producer: Scott Steindorff
Screenwriter: Ronald Harwood
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Stone Village Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content/Nudity|Brief Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.6M
Runtime: 2h 18m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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