Love in the Time of Cholera: Review By Brokaw

The popular book is brought to the big screen in a magnificent story of love starring Javier Bardem as Florentino Ariza, a telegraph clerk who's life changes the moment he sees Fermina Daza (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). They begin to communicate via letters and soon decide to marry. Fermina's father Lorenzo (John Leguizamo) has other dreams for his daughter that involves her marrying a rich man with high status and whisks her away for a year. The two lovers still secretly communicate via telegrams, but upon her return she decides he is too young and calls off their relationship.

When Fermina lays ill, she is visited by Dr. Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt) who is taken with the beautiful woman. He sets his sights on her and after awhile they wed. The news sends Florentino on a journey encompassing intimate relations with as many women as possible. It is his "routine" to doc*ment all his escapades which end up being well over 600. However he still sees Fermina as the love of his life. She is "a splinter that cannot be pulled out." His heart will always belong to her. He is tormented by his love for her. "Love is the only thing that interests me," he says.

It is not until 51 years, 9 months and 4 days from their initial meeting that he again attempts to be with her. After Dr. Urbino dies he takes the opportunity to finally approach his love and ask for hers in return. He is now a wealthy businessman who has all the status of her late husband.


In the end they are "two older people about to be ambushed by death," and finally see that their hearts were meant to be together. This is a beautiful story of love and devotion, however it is a bit too long. At 2 hours 18 minutes, it is slow and drags at times. Otherwise it is a fine film.