Customer Reviews

The Fencing Master (El Maestro de Esgrima) [VHS]

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This is a stylish, shadowed mystery set in 19th century Spain and built around the relationship between the aging fencing virtuoso Don Jaime de Astarloa (Omero Antonutti) and his intruiging, beautiful pupil, Adela de Otero (the lovely and talented Assumpta Serna). Although the plot drags at times and is not particularly unpredictable, the quality of the acting, cinematography (full of shadows, mist and opulent period rooms) and fencing scenes set it well apart from the average Blockbuster fare. And, at a curt 88 minutes, it can provide a swift, bittersweet diversion in even the busiest week or weekend. Que bueno.

Excellent adaptation of the book, but the book was better. The content of the letter is not revealed in the movie, but one can assume the content from the conversation. Probably rated PG-13. At times, it is slow. The English subtitles are generally OK, but it's best appreciated in Spanish. There were several fencing bouts and some of them were well done. Overall, a good fiction drama placed in Madrid during mid 1860s. The scenography is realistic for the time. The main character does not seem as strong and anticuated as in the book. If you like fencing, this is an excellent movie.

THE FENCING MASTER (1992) Produced, Written and Directed by Pedro Olea.
Cinematography by Alfredo Mayo.

Starring Omero Antonutti and Assumpta Serna.

Spain. 1868. The Glorious Revolution when the country, under the
leadership of General Juan Prim, rose up to drive Queen Isabella ll
from the throne.

While this is going on in the background, an aging apolitical fencing
master whose profession and old style sense of honor are fast becoming
obsolete takes on a beautiful new female student. Much against his
better judgement, the fencing master finds himself falling in love.
Very much against his will, he finds himself being drawn into the
political turmoil and intrigue convulsing his country. Will his skill
with the blade and his outdated ideas of honor enable him to survive?

With cgi cartooning and kung fu acrobatics making the classic screen
duel ala Basil Rathbone, Erroll Flynn and Tyrone Power a thing of the
past........at the time of this film the last great sword fight film
was THE FOUR MUSKETEERS in the early 70s and there has been none since
this picture........this wonderful film must mark the finis of what was
once a cinematic joy and art form all its own. And in the figure of
the aging obsolete fencing master, this film is exactly that....a
glorious final bow and salute to a relic of the Golden and Silver ages
of the movies. That it is a Spanish rather than a Hollywood
production makes it more remarkable and more than a bit sad. Hollywood
could not even say goodbye.

The sword fights---which this film has aplenty---will be discussed
momentarily but first it must be stressed just how excellent this film
is in every other possible respect. The plot and script are literate,
mature and expect some intelligence on the part of the audience. The
history and period feel are accurate. While Hollywood churns endless
and awful remakes of Robin Hood, Zorro, Elizabeth l, the three
musketeers and Henry Xlll, this production fulfills a main criteria of
a great historical film. It is original covering a moment in Spanish
history that very likely has not been dramatized before and certainly
will be completely new to American audiences.

Interestingly enough however the film can be viewed as a sort of
footnote sequel to Steven Spielberg's AMISTAD(another---though atypical
for that director-- superb original historical film) where Queen
Isabella ll is played as a child by Anna Paquin where one can see the
flaws in the Spanish govt that lead to the events in this production.
It might be worthwhile--though not required-- to see that film before
watching this one.

The acting is amazingly fine and very much old school. One could
easily imagine this film being made in the 30s or 40s with a Lionel
Atwill or C Aubrey Smith as the fencing master and Greta Garbo or
Marlene Dietrich or Joan Crawford as his new student. This viewer has
never encountered Antonutti before......and probably never will again
but he will always be remembered for his work here. Many may recognize
Serna from her role in the Sharpe films(about the Napoleonic wars in
Spain) but those efforts---made just as the BBC was collapsing into
leftist propagandic rubble---do not truly reveal her greatness as an
actress as does this film. In another time, she would have been a
major international star on the level of the actresses listed above.
Her facial expressions alone....especially around her mouth....are
incredibly well done and give a role that could have been very one note
a great deal of complexity and symbolic meaning. Her final scene with
her dressed all in black with only a her pale face radiating from the
shadows is something right out of Sternberg or Lewton.

And then there are the duels. If someone is an enthusiast of the old
time screen sword fight then this film is for you. There are none of
the leaping and bouncing around intending to "spice up" what one
imagines most filmmakers today think of as a dreary old duel. These
are sword fights in the style of Power vs Rathbone in THE MARK OF ZORRO
or Granger vs Ferrer in SCARAMOUCHE or Flynn vs Douglas in THE
ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN and the final duel in this film is a classic
right up with the above mentioned ones. It is THAT good.

So.

To thrust home the points of this review.

This is film, in spite of being Spanish, is a glorious throwback to
the Golden Age of the movies and will be best appreciated by
enthusiasts of that type of film.

This film is a must for fans of the Classic Golden age swashbuckler.

This film is a treat for those who like their films enlightening,
ennobling and entertaining.

It is a superb informed historical drama.

This is the best film period of the year 1992.

It is a classic.

Highly recommended.