A Silent Love (2004)

Truly Dreadful Film

Simply Perfect

Perfect cast and a good story

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I wholeheartedly concur with the previous comments about this movie. It's an excellent dramatization of human emotions told in a compelling way. I especially liked the non-interference of the mother-in-law.However, towards the end there was a scene that made me laugh out loud and prompted me to write that the moral of this movie should be "Never leave an angry woman alone in your apartment"! Apart from that I felt a curious emptiness as the credits rolled. The story is left in mid-flow. We never get to know what happens to each person - do they work it out? I haven't seen anything else by this director so it might be his fingerprint but I was left wanting to know more.

A professor of silent films from Montreal heads to Mexico after a year of correspondence with a potential bride. After meeting for the first time at her doorstep, she stipulates the only way she'll return to Canada with him is if her mother joins them - so her mother can see where she will be living. From then ensues the possible diminishment of the computerized statistical evaluation of their marriage provided by their translator, rated as having "a 61% chance of success".After Gladys (Vanessa Bauche)& Norman (Noel Burton) marry, Gladys edges her way into urban life in Montreal. She takes dance classes & begins to work in a restaurant, all while attempting to see if the intimacy that was present in Norman's letters, also exists in their daily lives together. Gladys' mother, although does not intentionally interfere, does become a distraction for Norman, by providing such simple things for him such as cutting his hair & pouring his morning cup of coffee while she reflects that her life is now a leisure one with rest & walks. The mother's loneliness is apparent to both Norman & the film viewers, as she clutches photographs during a sleepless night. From then on marks twists that effect their relationships with each other within their bizarre love triangle.A Silent Love, though with its different languages & cultures, is actually quite universal showing human emotions. The film is funny & amusing at times, but also is a simple, heart-felt film about the nature of relationships. How loneliness can exist within them & that what one might expect & need, may be different than what is truly there.

I had the opportunity to watch the film here previous to the Latin American Film Festival Vancouver which starts on September 12 at the Pacific Cinematheque in van. with the debut and premiere of A Silent Love in this city. The film is very elegant, a love triangle with cultural references. Excellent co-production. Vanesssa Bauche is incredible in the film, the cultural differences are evident and the shock that many of us have to endure when leaving for another country. The film also features Susana Salazar who doesn't speak English by the way and it is the first feature of th4e Argentinian living in Montreal Federico Hidalgo, very talented director. Aguados if you want to see a nice film with a modern twist in relationships don't miss this one.