Customer Reviews

The Man Who Cried [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Upon seeing Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root in Persuasion I thought I'd like to see them together again. This story is very different and the characters they portray are very different. It is a beautifully shot picture. The story of seeking a better life and love for his son and himself prompts Abel to leave a cruel wife after a love affair goes awry. As he and his son take off for a better life, they are meet with hardships and temptations, always hiding the truth. Abel enters into an unlawful marriage with Hilda (Amanda Root) who loves him,provides his son with a loving home....unfortunately Abel doesn't love her...he loves her beautiful sister Florrie(who eventually becomes his lover and mother of his child after 9 years of quietly bearing life with Hilda) There are troubles ahead for all as his first wife discovers his whereabouts...The story of deceit/truth, cruelty/love, revenge/forgiveness, and unfolding tenderness as each character faces the truth, weaknesses and cruelty within themselves makes for a very touching movie. Truly upon seeing Ciaran and Amanda in very different characters makes one appreciate their talents and skill in acting. I was touched by the movie and my uneasiness in seeing the two Persuasion actors in a whole new way helped me to love even more their ability to tell human stories in these two movies. All the actors involved were very good and the moral questions and tragedies that occur will stir you. The courage to see one's own errors in character and to take responsibilty for it with a deep sense of humility, forgiveness and empathy for others not only transforms Hilda, but helps Abel to forgive himself....the touching ending is quite moving. The music is wonderful...so simple and beautiful a perfect reminder of how one wishes life would be...but is not due to the complexity of the human mind and heart.

I bought this video because it stars two of my favorites: Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root. The entire cast is wonderful. Those who see the human condition as black or white will not enjoy this story. But, those who recognize shades of gray, look for hope in dark places, and see forgiveness as a great human virtue will feel sympathy and affection for "The Man Who Cried." The story is set during the Great Depression and World War II. A bad marriage, the need for love and affection, responsibility for a young son, and financial woes push Abel Mason into a series of questionable decisions. It makes one wonder...what would I have done?

though it would seem that he is paired with Amanda Root (Persuasion) again... and in fact they do get married in this film, Hinds doesn't really heat up to his former sex appeal until the second half of the film. This is a twisted tail of the impossibility of a bad marriage and the impossibility of a man from a disadvantaged background taking care of his son and finding work during the 1930's in England. He uses his luck, but makes a deal with the devil. He is found out. Everyone is well cast and it is certainly a realistic story encased in the possibility of love and romance. Lovely settings.

This was an unusual tale about a man who is married to an abusive woman and who has an affair. When the evil wife discovers this, she writes a letter to his lover's husband which causes the irate man to shoot his wife and then himself. Distraught at the death of his lover, Abel flees with his young son. Eventually, he finds himself working for an elderly businessman, and embroils himself in a love triangle between the businessman's widow and the widow's sister.

In general I liked Cookson's work, but the hero in this one was just sort of bland. His facial expressions were very dour and I wish he'd taken the bull by its horns and divorced his nasty ex. His successive relationships and the love triangle, I was rather meh about. I did like his young son, and his relationship with the girl next door was rather cute. Overall I thought this was an average film, worth watching, but it didn't excite me.

The most stunning feature of this film is the "opera singing" of John Turturro! The dubbing (and it HAD to be dubbing) was completely seamless -- and utterly magnificent in its presentation. This film is quite stylish and serves as a great vehicle for the talents of Christina Ricci, Turturro, Johnny Depp and Kate Bleanchett (among others!) The cinematography, sets, music and screenplay are unforgettably superb. This is one of the better films of recent years and is probably a must-see.

this movie is a little quirky, but engrossing because of the actors, who are excellent