10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rare opportunity to watch a great Venezuelan Film, April 29, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Manuela Saenz (DVD)
Very few films from Venezuela get the opportunity to be issued in the foreing market. But with "Manuela Saenz" finally we get the chance to see the refined work of director Diego Risquez in collaboration with the cinematography of Cezary Jaworski, who made the movie to be remarkably beautiful by his use of light. Another important element of this film is the use of accurate customs and locations, which helps the audience submerge immediately into the passionate and tragic atmosphere of nineteenth century Venezuela.
Mariano Alvarez portrays "Simon Bolivar" - a troubled and passionate man - with great naturality, which contrast with the sometimes force acting of Beatriz Valdez as "Manuela Saenz". This is not to say that she did not made a good job in playing a very difficult role as a strong woman who lives between her glorious past and her sad present, but because the movie is clearly apologetic her acting can get over the top sometimes.
The DVD includes a very interesting "Behind the Cameras" documentary (only in Spanish) which made me realize that, taking into account the small budget they had, it is a miracle how good this movie looks and sounds.
A final note to the Spanish speakers, somehow this DVD edition does not allow the subtitles to be eliminated from the screen, which means that the DVD contains the international version of the film.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
great latinoamerican film, March 22, 2007
This review is from: Manuela Saenz (DVD)
the difficulty of making films in venezuela is overwhelming. this was a movie done with a lot of love and effort. the theme, worth noticing, historical venezuela and the presence of a woman that is important as well as bolivar in the psyche of latinoamerica. excellent!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Manuelita, February 3, 2006
This review is from: Manuela Saenz (DVD)
Una muy buena pelicula que presenta a Manuelita durante sus ultimos anos en el norte de Peru y tambien incluye recuerdos de su tiempo con Simon Bolivar. Hubiera sido interesante ver algo de la ninez de Manuelita en el Ecuador o su tiempo en un convento antes de casarse con un ingles. La pelicula es fiel a los datos de su vida e incluye la visita de Herman Melville y Simon Rodriquez a su casa en Peru.
Los colores varian segun el escenario -- colores amarillos cuando ella ya es una senora vieja y tormentada en un pueblo pobre de Peru contra colores mas brillantes en Gran Colombia cuando ella era una mujer elegante, audaz y joven (aunque estas escenas generalmente son de noche).
Los prejuicios tradicionales contra Manuelita -- que no era fiel a su esposo, que no se portaba como una senora digna, etc. -- no deben ocultar la energia y contribucion de una de las mujeres mas extraordinarias en la historia de America Latina. Con el exito de la obra de Garcia Marquez ("el general en su laberinto") y peliculas como esta, el mundo por fin esta valorando a esta gran mujer ecuatoriana.
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