Customer Reviews

Solomon & Gaenor

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Some people say that love is without reason. For Solomon, the young and gentle Jewish packman, and Gaenor, the tender and obedient daughter of a Welsh miner family, the fated attraction between them began with a glimpse, a few words, and a red dress, which he was up all night and made for her. Some people say that love is innocent. Concealing his identity, he loved her no matter what gap might be in between them. Discovering his true self, she loved him for who he is. Some people say that love is transcendent. Their relationship was inevitably secularized by their religions and origins. At the end love was fulfilled beyond everything but life itself couldn't.

This is a beautiful and tragic love story. But more than just a love story with romance and sentimentality, this film is an authentic portrayal of the cruel realities of barriers and bias between two families, or two cultures, so to speak. Ioan Gruffaudd and Nia Robert are excellent as Solomon and Gaenor. As much as Solomon's light personality and charming manner appeals Gaenor, Gaenor's womanhood and demureness attracts Solomon. He is deeply attached to Gaenor, while at the same time, he struggles to choose between his family and his love. This time "Hornblower" reveals his softer side and delivers the complexity of Solomon vividly. Nia Robert, with her fine artistry, brings unique strength to the character, which can be felt just from the expression of her eyes and her face. The music is beautiful. The camera depicts the story with simplicity and yet striking effectiveness.

While the story of Solomon and Gaenor is sad, the sadder lies in the fact that nobody but their own families, people who loved them, was to blame for the tragedy. Although one may find the time and location of the story - 1911 Wales - remote, the story itself is but familiar even in the modern times. If only there were more understanding and respect among people no matter what they believe in and where they come from!

I love this film mainly because there is absolutely no sentimentality. It it very factual in its approach, and yet the angst is gut-wrenching, the scenery is incredible (the winter scenery was an amazingly good choice), and the warmth between Solomon and Gaenor is magic.

It seemed obvious to me that the fear that each of the two families had had grown out of lack of communication and understanding about each others background.

If I were looking for a moral to this tale, I'd say that it is that we need to learn to accept each other no matter what our background, and learn that love is something that transcends all and no laws or taboos should exclude those who are truly in love.

The story of "Solomon & Gaenor" revolves around a lower middle class area of Wales in 1911. World War I is merely three years away. Jews are barely tolerated by the marginally educated indigenous Protestant majority. The traditional Jewish values of hard work and intense love of learning increases their odds of upward mobility. This inevitably increases the bitterness and envy of the less than friendly fellow townspeople. Solomon (Ioan Gruffund) goes house to house selling fabric to the women folk. Eventually the young Semitic male knocks on the door of a miner family. Their daughter Gaenor (Nia Roberts) answers, and the couple are soon attracted to each other.

Solomon knows that his Jewishness will be held against him. He therefore lies to Gaenor and tells her that his name is Sam. The mild deception works, and soon the two are lovers. They begin to make plans for the future, but Gaenor senses something is wrong because "Sam" is reluctant to meet her family. Solomon is only too aware that neither the Jewish and Protestant cultures are inclined toward blessing their union. He eventually visits Gaenor's home, and is at least grudgingly accepted by her parents. Her brother is intimidated by "Sam's" ability to read and write. Furthermore, the blue color worker is not thrilled that his sister's beau does not earn his living in an allegedly more masculine manner. Alas, the couple's erotic romps in the hay ultimately culminates in Gaenor's pregnancy. This is where the situation gets out of control. Gaenor is with child without the benefit of marriage during a time when illegitimacy is severely condemned. Public humiliation is only part of the price to be paid for such non sanctioned physical coupling. The truth about Solomon's actual ethnic heritage is finally discovered. Also, the Jewish social leaders and Solomon's immediate family reject the very idea of his marrying a goy female. Solomon is even threatened with being ostracized from his roots. Everything further deteriorates and the story ends tragically.

One wonders how much has changed in 90 years. Are mixed marriages more accepted today in Wales? Was there ever a chance that the lovers could have found a more receptive secular sub-culture that would have embraced them as a couple? I'm glad the film's creators frankly confronted the bigotry on both sides of the ethnic chasm. The courage not to write in a happy ending must also be applauded. This is indeed not "Fiddler on the Roof!" It almost certainly cost them some ticket sales. "Solomon & Gaenor" is instead a beautiful work of art. I strongly urge you to see this movie, and allow it to challenge your possible hidden prejudices.

Although a far cry from his ever so honorable Horatio Hornblower, Ioan Gruffudd does not disappoint in this film either. The actress playing Gaenor was superior also, I felt her heartbreak and sadness. The use of Welsh and Yiddish throughout this movie lent an authentic air that was much appreciated.I had originally seen this on vhs and have now purchased the dvd. It is quite wonderful, am v. pleased with the quality.

"Solomon and Gaenor" attests to the universality of the theme of starcrossed lovers, rehashing the "Romeo and Juliet" story against the bleak backdrop of rural Wales in 1911. Welsh heartthrob Ioan Gruffudd ("Horatio Hornblower") is Solomon, a Jewish packman selling fabric door to door, and Nia Roberts is Gaenor, a Welsh chapel girl. They meet, fall in love, and then society intercedes, tearing them apart. Yes, we have heard this story before, but the film is imbued with a number of unique qualities that make it a worthwhile, if not completely original experience.

The acting, for one thing, is excellent. Gruffudd nails the complex role of Solomon. This one is more than just a pretty face, and he's got the acting chops to prove it, making Solomon a decidedly more complex and interesting character than any Romeo. Although his angelic good looks and gentle demeanor beguile Gaenor, it becomes apparent that he is much more than that. After their first tryst, Solomon realizes that he is not Gaenor's first lover, and becomes uncharacteristically angry, thus eschewing the typical sensitive-hero type, and creating what is ultimately a far more interesting character.

Nia Roberts is extremely adept at portraying Gaenor's progression from the obedient young daughter who dutifully attends chapel to a mature, strong woman who follows her heart instead. The scene in chapel in which Gaenor is publically reprimanded for being pregnant out of wedlock (ah! a plot twist!) is particularly wrenching, and Roberts' face portrays a fascinating mixture of anguish and fortitude. It is difficult to imagine today the inner turmoil Gaenor had to deal with in deciding whether to stay with her family or go with Solomon, and face banishment from family and community alike. She has more to lose, yet she still gives it all up for love.

The plot doesn't need summarization, although it doesn't follow the "Romeo and Juliet" story completely. The few twists are a refreshing change from what would have been a fairly standard story about unrequited love.

The movie is also notable for its usage of English, Welsh, and Yiddish, providing the actors with quite a feat of linguistics. Incidentally, a Welsh-language version was filmed simultaneously with the English version.

I never expected to see pain captured as well as in the final scene in this movie. This movie gets it right, and it was something I have never seen anyobody else do at this high of a level. The movie becomes eternal...

I would tend to believe that the people who do not give this movie favorable reviews, are not the people that you should be associating with in this life.

Absolutely lovely film reminiscent, as some others here havementioned, of "Romeo and Juliet". Set against the scenicbackdrop of the South Wales coal mining valleys in 1911, "Solomonand Gaenor" tells the tragic yet heartwarming story of a Jewishboy and miner's daughter. Wonderful acting with fantasticperformances turned in by Ioan Gruffudd and Nia Roberts. For lack of abetter way to phrase it, this is a movie that gets you right in thegut. It had me in tears. I highly recommend running out and seeing"Solomon and Gaenor" right now, but don't forget thetissues!

It takes a lot to make me cry. This was one of those films. Paul Morrison is an outstanding writer. You feel like you are there with Solomon & Gaenor. You feel their pain. You want Solomon to win out but you know it can only end one way. With Nia Roberts as Gaenor and Ioan Gruffudd as Solomon. Solomon is a change of pace for the Welsh actor after some of the other pieces he has done. He is more than up to the task, learning Yiddish for this role.

I'll be brief, 'cause I don't like to give too much away. This is superb filmaking. If you liked "Feast of July" then this one's for you.

The story: an amazing study of racial tension and industrial unrest set in the Welsh Valleys of 1911. Perfect direction from Paul Morrison. Nia Roberts as Gaenor, and Ioan Gruffudd as Solomon are flawless, and the rest of the cast are in top form. The cinematography is breathtaking. Other films you just sit and watch...this one you will experience!

Run, don't walk to see this excellent film. All else will pale by comparison.

This is a chick-flick supreme, one to put in the VCR on a rainy Sunday and have a good cry to. Gorgeously atmospheric, shot in blues and greys, with a superb soundtrack that ties in both Eastern European Jewish rifts (the composer is Hungarian) and Welsh folksongs, this is an art film in the tradition of Malik's "Days of Heaven". The film is low budget by Hollywood standards, but doesn't look it thanks to the cinematography and art direction.

Superb performances all around help put the piece in it's period setting. Ioan Gruffudd takes a break from the hero to show his softer side, and Nia Roberts is positively luminous as this plain old-fashioned girl. As Solomon crumbles under the weight of his own lies and weakness, Gaenor developes a magnificent motherly strength. Other notable performances are from David Horowitz and Maureen Lippman as Soloman's parents.

The script isn't perfect, nor or the characters. Some of the twists are hard to comprehend, but that dissapates under the force of this film's emotional heart. It feels like a true story. The last fifteen minutes have a delicious Brontian atmosphere, as Solomon stumbles in the snowy wilds in a desperate attempt to reach Gaenor and set his mistakes aright. The valleys of Wales evoke that 'love on the moors/Wuthering Heights' setting.

So if you're up for a tragic romance with themes of impossible love amid social unrest, this satisfing sleeper will speak to you.