Customer Reviews

Maria's Lovers

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky's "Maria's Lovers" is definitly my favorite film. There is nothing too flashy or groundbreaking about this film, in fact it is very subtle. However, it is one of the finest love stories I've ever seen, and John Savage's performance is in my opinion the best I've ever seen. I don't think a film has ever moved me so much. The story is very real and I think the themes and values behind this film are very important and are ones that contemporary Americans often forget about. If you have a taste for European movies and you don't mind a quiet serious drama, this film is really quite exceptional. In my opinion, it's one of the most overlooked and underated films of the 1980's (there aren't many good ones from that decade). I can't believe how low profile it was considering Nasstasia Kinski was the most popular film actress when it was released in 1984. In fact the most attention it has recieved is that is is being released on DVD, which I'm so grateful to MGM for. I hope the DVD market continues releasing unusual and /or conventional films.

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.

Sometimes you dont feel lust if you love a woman too purely like what happen to Ivan Bibic(John Savage)here, he cannot make love to her wife bec. of his love to Maria(Nastassja kisnki) is so pure.
its the greatest love story ive ever seen. Nastassja kinski and John Savage should have won Oscars or Golden in this one. What makes it so great is that its very unpredictable and diverse compare to most of the love stories in cinema which usually ends with a happy ending, nastassja is very beautiful here .
difinitely a movie with brain. Lots of moral lessons here to learn .
A must see if youre a big fan of nastassja.

I think Maria's lovers is a nice enjoyable film, A little slow paced at times, a little soap opera-ish but enjoyable. While not having a lot of characters( the streets seem almost empty) it develops personalities well. I thought it focused on internal conflicts after coming home from war/military service and re-intergrading back into a small town. It challenges you to rethink what love is, real love between a young couple and how our own demons affect this relationship. While it did attempt to show some cultural background in the characters they were a little generic. Nastassja is stunning and the scenery of this small Pennsylvania town is breath taking. Overall a very nice and underrated movie

She's a goddess I can't imagine another actress playing the role of Maria, and its nice to see the late Robert Mitchum in a very good film like this. Perhaps a very intimate film, a very good one to keep your relationship strong with your love one.

Ive always admire Nastassja as an actress, but of all of her movies that I've saw, this is difinitely her best performace to date. Great movie esp. if you like European films in general, John Savage also plays the perfect role of Ivan Bibic, Maria's husband who struggles to fight his demons. The story is very realistic, it can happen to anyone.........

Perhaps a very underated movie, but the story is unpredictable, Keith Carradine is very Hilarious here, And I just love the song Maria's eyes

When I see Maria's Lovers I get gose piples is that silly. This movie is over 20 years. Maria's Lovers is up there with Gone with the Wind!!! I like the part when Maria trys to have sex John Savage.

I rented "Maria's Lovers" because Robert Mitchum was in the cast. I've come to understand that his presence does not always guarantee a good movie and "Maria's Lovers" was a reminder of that fact. This movie had potential but it failed to deliver because things just didn't fit together well. For example, there wasn't any real purpose for Mitchum's role. He played a part that was bigger than necessary and I assume his expanded role was to draw more viewers (like myself). His role could have been easily played by a person like Maria's mother or grandmother or whomever that silent old woman in the house was. The different scenes did not flow together well. If our main character was disfunctional in certain areas was it necessary to have to say the same about the movie?

Keith Caradine was a "character" who served a purpose but even that was extraneous to my perception of the plot. It was that perception that gave me the sense of a good foundation for a movie while that same perception was my biggest diappointment since the film dropped the ball on delivering on that perceived plot. Consider; A WWII veteran comes home from the Pacific where, with several subtle hints, we discover that he had spent a good deal of time in a Japanese prison camp. While in that prison camp, his connection to reality was his blissfully imagined relationship with a girl he had met a few times back home. Once home his hopes were realized but he was unable to live out those dreams because the greatest terror he experienced was intricately woven together with the greatest desire he had ever felt. Love was victimized by its' origins and we spend pretty much the bulk of the movie watching his feeble attempts to resolve his dilemna. There's an ending but by that time I had lost interest.

I know it's not out yet, but ... this is a Christmas present to treasure, great ... movie, watch it, I love it and am shocked and extremely happy it got to DVD, there is a DVD God....watch the great John Savage in his best role and look for a great bit with an unknown John Goodman and Bud Cort....