LOVERS - A True Story [VHS]

LOVERS - A True Story [VHS]
by Vicente Aranda

LOVERS - A True Story [VHS]

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Product details

Actor: Enrique Cerro, Jorge Sanz, Mabel Esca?o, Maribel Verd?, Victoria Abril
Director: Vicente Aranda
Cinematographer: Jos? Luis Alcaine
Writer: Vicente Aranda
Editor: Teresa Font
Producer: Pedro Costa
Writer: Carlos P?rez Merinero
Writer: ?lvaro del Amo
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language), Analog; Spanish (Dubbed), Analog
Format: Color, NTSC
Running Time: 103 minutes
Release Date: 1996-03-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Publisher: Republic Pictures
Studio: Republic Pictures

VHS Movie Reviews of LOVERS - A True Story [VHS]

Movie Review: Obsession,passion,lust,greed,manipulation and death and stupidity in Madrid.
Summary: 3 Stars

In light of the recent "astronaut affairs" when one female astronaut alledgedly set out to kill her competition for the affections of a fellow male astronaut, LOVERS (AMANTHES),Vincente Aranda's Film Festival bombshell from 1992 reenacts the same kind of events that sent scandal sheets wagging in 1950's Madrid,Spain.

Simply put,Paco has been engaged to the virginal and quite observantly Catholic Trini for two years.Paco wants to consumate their sexual union before the marriage and Trini is positively resistant.Paco needs to find a place to board, and rents a room at Luisa's.Within no time at all,Luisa, an older and somewhat secretive landlady seduces Paco.Paco becomes positively and senselessly obsessed by Luisa.Trini suspects this attraction and wants to fight for Paco whom she has hopelessly fallen completely dependent to the point that without him death is preferable.Paco becomes stuck between his passionate obsession for Luisa and his promised engagement to Trini.When Luisa has fallen into deep financial trouble,she, knowing that Trini has saved money, asks Paco to kill Trini.

Frankly, if I didn't know that these kind of lustful and passion-filled triangles had existed down through the ages, I would been tempted to stop watching the film out of frustration at all three of the principle characters.Paco is young, horny and can't keep a job or his word; Trini works hard, goes to Church and seems to have no sense of her own worth apart from Paco; and Luisa is manipulative,needy and greedy as well as being a self-confessed murderer of her late husband. A therapist would have a field day with all three of them!The characters are all so unlikeable and fractured that no empathy or sympathy can be mustered for any of the dysfunctional three.What is interesting here is that I don't believe that we are supposed to find our allegiances in any camp.We simply watch this tale of lust,obsession,manipulation and low self esteem play out before us.I was reminded of the 2005 film MATCH POINT in some repects.

LOVERS never really rises to the ocassion.The dialogue is rather dry and uninteresting.The story never has the necessary compelling and propelling action or direction to get the viewer terribly interested or involved with this lover's triangle.There is no true rising action to get to a climax and denoument.Yes, there are numerous sex scenes, but even those don't seem to create any real tension and as a whole, this film stays static...very static!There is positively no shock value at all.Reading about this in a Tabloid paper would have given the same effect....detached and emotionless from a reporter's point of view. The ending is quite truncated with short epilogues that fill out what happened to these three, which only cheapened the film further.

Rated R for American release with readable English subtitles, even the Director's NC-17 version shown in the theatres is no better or more interesting unless seeing more skin is worth it to you.The latter version can be also purchased, but save your time and money.Nothing really can make this film any more insightful or interesting.

Movie Review: A MUST SEE FILM!!
Summary: 5 Stars

LOVERS IS A FILM THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE SEEN IT,
YOU JUST DON'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!

Movie Review: What a stunner!
Summary: 5 Stars

This is one of the most beautifully-crafted films I have ever seen, and definitely one of the most originally ROMANTIC, without the cheesy cliches and infantile corny-ness one usually associates with the word "romance." Worth repeated viewings.

It shows love not as some kitschy fairy-tale but as a totally random, irrational and unstoppable force of nature, an affliction both self-absorbed and self-transcendent, both gorgeous and monstrous. Flawless cast and dialogue, there isn't a false moment during the entire film. All the more powerful in that it's supposed to be based on a true story---very Spanish!

Movie Review: don't miss this one !
Summary: 5 Stars

Based on a true story set in Spain during the mid 50's, This is one of the very best films I've ever seen. It has everything: It's magnificently directed by Vicente Aranda, has a fabulous score (Jose Nieto) and cinematography (Jose Luis Alcaine), suspense, drama, obsession, a tasty bit of eroticism, a gorgeous cast (Victoria Abril & Jorge Sanz), great acting, and best of all, it's totally unpredictable. There's no way of guessing where it's leading you so I won't drop any clues.

Let this stupendous work of art surprise you. Film just doesn't get much better than this.

Movie Review: deceptively fascinating
Summary: 4 Stars

This is the type of film that starts off cute and cozy, but then makes you want to put your head between your legs and hurl in disgust and anger. But if you watch it through, you definately obtain just a little bit more insight into human nature. (By the way, if you like this emotional roller-coaster approach to cinema, check out the Chinese film "Xiu-Xiu")

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