Product Details

• Actors: Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Connelly, Stefania Sandrelli, Diego Wallraff, Camilo Gallardo
• Directors: Betty Kaplan
• Writers: Donald Freed, Isabel Allende
• Producers: Betty Kaplan, Aníbal Esmoris, Ernst Goldschmidt, Hervé Hachuel, Isidro Miguel
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: November 18, 1997
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304252145
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,143 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Of Love & Shadows [VHS]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If there is ever a Director's Cut -- Let me know!, June 17, 1999

By 

Eileen Gustafson (Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Of Love & Shadows [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a film that makes me want to go out and get the book because I felt as if I needed to know all of the story. I had the feeling that much of the performance was edited out in order to fit in a 104 minute format. Sad! The story is of a young, sheltered woman who is awakened to the reality of life in a military dictatorship. Along the way she also learns "about love between a man and a women, love of family" love of country. Her teacher, Francisco Leal, a man who "works in the shadows" is played to perfection by Antonio Banderas. Jennifer Connelly is wonderful as Irene. The downside to this film is the heavy-handed editing.

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A serious subject in a superficial movie, July 12, 2003

By 

J. P. Ferraz "Just do it!" (HOUSTON, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Of Love and Shadows (DVD)

Chile and Argentina have gone through tragic years during the 70's, and this movie attempted to tackle what happened - everyday at the time, in Chile. Two good actors (Banderas and Connelly) seem lost in a poor script and directorship, although Allende knew the subject from the inside (I did not read her book yet).
Banderas could not concentrate and acted quite bad, and you can see that the way his eyes wander in several scenes with Jennifer. She makes a big effort in her role, but this is not one of her good movies.
In Jennifer's attempt to bring the South American political disaster to the screen, a much better (remarkable) film is Waking the Dead. A must see!
Note: their love scene in Of Love and Shadows could produce a tender moment in this play, but was grossly produced and the director missed the chance, unfortunately.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In the Shadows, September 7, 2008

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Of Love and Shadows (DVD)

Betty Kaplan's "Of Love & Shadows" may not be quite as provocative as the cover suggests, but it is an interesting adaptation of Isabel Allende's book about the fascist politics of Chile under General Pinochet. This film was released in 1984. Jennifer Connelly who stars would win her Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2001 for A Beautiful Mind (Widescreen Awards Edition). As Irene becomes politically aware, we observe great changes. She moves from a superficial life of privilege to a dedicated freedom fighter. She is engaged to her cousin Gustavo played by Camillo Gallardo. The film sends out one signal as Gustavo disrobes and "presents arms" to his cousin then shifts as we see Gustavo as a hard government soldier. Meanwhile, Irene encounters Francisco played by Antonio Bandaras. Bandaras' performance was so real that I had a hard time hearing & even understanding him throughout the film. Mumbling aside, he's a serious worker "in the shadows" from the start and adds a layer of love as he falls for Irene. Why a guy with Antonio's looks was single in the first place was never explained. Diego Wallraff plays Jose, Francico's brother who is a priest and tries to get the Cardinal to help with releasing human rights information to the world. I found the backstory of the revolution in Chile to be interesting and the scenery as Irene & Francisco flee was breathtaking. While Betty Kaplan's direction seems to leave great holes in the story and sends out mixed signals between its romantic story & political intrigue, it is interesting for an evening's viewing. Enjoy!