6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Challenges, changes and discoveries occuring before, during and after marriage, June 21, 2007
This review is from: Maria's Lovers (DVD)
MARIA'S LOVERS (1984), was a hit, and frequently shown in the
theatres, back in the day of its release. Comprising famous stars
from that time, Nastassja Kinski, Robert Mitchum and John Savage,
the reputations of all 3 was extremely merited, considering the
outstanding job the actors did in bringing this work to life. Anita
Morris also packs a tremendous presence, as well, to the screen,
with dancing action and intense looks, interacting very well, too,
with the others, alternating between a hysterical, artificial call
girl of sorts, with a more serious, affectionate conduct.
Clearly, not all people in an audience finds a sentimental,
romantic movie appealing, that underlines the ephemeral nature of
various stages in one's life, (death, birth, the crossing from a
youthful maturity into married adulthood, and the need to make the
right choice for the relationship to work.)
The author shows an extreme skill in crafting a story about a
relationship between a man and a woman, before and after the
marriage, the challenges, changes and discoveries occuring
thereafter among the partners. It also tells how old habits
sometimes die hard, such as the urge for spontaneous romantic
relationships between other men and/or women even after the formal
union is made. As before, this show the character oscillating one
and another partner depending on which brings the most excitement
at the time, etc.
We see Kinski plaging a girl who easily infatuates, and captures
the sentimental imaginations of men, who are on the same wave
length as her own, that she projects unknowingly or not. At the
same time, Savage is the husband, who is unable to move beyond or
even cope with, those 2 feelings, both before, during and after
their marriage.
Unable to progress to a deeper, more meaningful emotional and
mental rapport with Kinski, Savage, reaching for immediate answers
and relief (like for an Aspirin), finds the solution in simple
girls of his own socio-economic background with which he was raised
and is comfortable in all aspects.
While all this is happening, isolated between her aging mother, her
career as a maternity ward nurse and as a neglected married woman,
Kinsky turns to casual romantic encounters with a handful of men
who can read her situation instinctively, and can satisfy her
artistic and other impulses.
The cinematography is impeccable, with a sharp, clear transfer to
DVD, even after 20 years, the movie doesn't seem to have aged at
all, on screen, especially from the timeless, idyllic tiny rural US
town depicted. The automobiles, homes, clothes worn, layout of the
town all convincingly shows that these are the 1950's or early
60s.
With Savage playing a veteran of the Second World War, released
from a Japanese POW camp, the movie wisely refrains from touching
upon the military life for more than only a few brief moments, to
avoid opening up a Pandora's box of pre-judgements, experiences,
struggles, hazings, isolation, stress, or memories of overcrowded
conditions of such a canp experience, that otherwise would distract
from the story.
Keith Carradine plays a ambulant musician, bringing some accoustic
guitar numbers, and a bit of humor and outside perspective to the
story, that otherwise would have obviously been more introverted,
intensely personal, occuring between Kinsky and Savage.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
