Customer Reviews

The Triumph of Love [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The silly, dopey, and terrifically fun "Triumph of Love" is the latest point on Mira Sorvino's bizarre career trajectory. A sweet treatise on the power of love to transform and enlarge us, the film features gorgeous visuals, sumptuous costumes, and the
hopelessly beautiful Jay Rodan as Sorvino's love interest. The supporting cast includes the always welcome Ben Kingsley as a stoic philosopher, Fiona Shaw as his buttoned down sister, and a stunning European Villa where our story unfolds.

The plot concerns the machinations of a young princess (Sorvino), who, anxious to right a family wrong, tracks down the sole survivor of the previously disposed royal family. She finds him, he looks like Rodan, and she crashes head first into love. The problem, though, is this; he has been raised to hate all women in general, and the princess in particular, by his guardians, the aforementioned Kingsley and Shaw. Naturally, then, the only thing for Sorvino to do is soften them both up by making them fall in love with her (while disguised as a boy!). That way, she gets to stay near her prince, while simultaneously wrecking her revenge on them for poisioning his heart.

Of course, everything goes completely awry, feelings are hurt, hearts are broken and souls are opened up before love does indeed triumph in the end. The message here is that it does not matter so much who you love as that you open yourself up to the experience, and that even love thwarted carries the rewards of joy and inspiration. It is a beautiful message for a beautiful looking film, and Sorvino in particular simply glows with the idea of it.

A well-made movie, perfect for a rainy Saturday afternoon, "The Triumph of Love" is an unexpected treat and well worth seeking out.

I, frankly, had never heard of this movie, despite the stellar cast and director. My wife brought it home from Blockbuster, and I sat down with low expectations -- here would be yet another stiff period piece, a la Howard's End, I thought. Boy, was I wrong. This risque farce is barrels of sweet fun. I laughed harder than I have in a long time, and just fell for the sweet, sultry performance of Mira Sorvino. She lights up the screen.

Bravo!

I thought Triumph of Love was simply one of the best DVDs I've seen in awhile. The style of the film is unique, and it has many fun twists and playful turns. The cast is outstanding. Very funny, romantic, classic.

"Triumph of Love" is a lighthearted romp, a farce, very sweetly presented in this production of Marivaux's 1732 play. Clare Peploe, wife of producer Bernardo Bertolucci, directs this zany cast through its labyrinthine plot. Mira Sorvino is enchanting as the beautiful princess going to great lengths to secure her throne and fall in love. Her maid Hermidas is intelligently played by Rachael Stirling, Diana Rigg's daughter. Ben Kingsley as Hermocrates does a great job of moving from stoic philosopher to melting schoolboy in love. Aunt Petunia -- or excuse me -- Irish actress Fiona Shaw, who may have a hard time overcoming the recognition from her Harry Potter appearances, positively shines as the uptight Leontine who falls for the romantic murmurings of Phocion, who is really the princess disguised as a man. Newcomer Jay Rodan plays Agis whose bare derriere sends the princess' heart aflutter. Completing the cast are Ignazio Oliva as Harlequin and Luis Molteni as Dimas, the two servants who are comically bribed. I didn't quite know what to make of seeing the modern day audience flash in and out of frame or the modern day curtain call at the end. It seemed a bit artsy and jarring for me. But I found the film to be quite endearing and well-performed. Enjoy!

Let me begin by saying this. This is not a serious work of intellectual gravity, the rights of the individual, correct social behaviour or the importance of being honest.

It is a comedy of the 18th century, beautifully and comically performed by very able actors indeed. That this made it into film is an unexpected delight for those who love this style, because there is certainly very little that's similar to this material otherwise available!

The plot should be clear enough - previous reviewers have mentioned the details. Put simply, a ravishing young princess is stricken with love at beholding a beautiful young man "as nature intended him". When she realises that this is the prince who is the rightful ruler of the region, who was dispossessed by her own father (and to make things worse, the parents of the rightful prince were, of course, murdered by this same sterling father), she is only momentarily daunted.

The prince is being brought up in isolation by a dedicated philosopher and his scientific sister. The pair are played by the excellent Sir Ben Kingsley and Fiona Shaw, who both understand the element of wicked wit, French farce, a plot full of masked identities and the marvellous sense of fantasy that French comedy of the period conveyed.

Ms Sorvino as the princess is utterly charming, exerting all her wiles as, in order to gain her heart's desire (the love of the usurped prince), she dons masculine garments, flirts with both the sister and the philosopher, and uses her eyes and her ardent eloquence to slay all hearts. It will be no surprise that all ends happily.

For something that is romantic, delightful, funny and wonderfully elegant, sit back with a glass of French champagne and a bowl of bonbons while you enjoy this charming comedy.

Doubtless the title of this movie will ring a bell with those who remember the short-lived Broadway musical of the same name, which featured Susan Egan, F. Murray Abraham and Betty Buckley. Based on an early eighteenth century play by French playwright Marivaux, this work can quite easily be compared to Shakespeare in its plot. A young and beautiful princess (sometimes called Leonide, but not here) has fallen in love with the rightful heir to the throne--and her sworn mortal enemy--Agis. Agis has been kept secluded from the outside world by his aunt and uncle, both of whom are serious, strict philosophers who have no time or patience for anything that does not have to do with logic and thought. This, of course, includes love. In order to get close to her beloved, the princess must first get through to both of these characters. She does so by first posing as a young man called Phocion; she succeeds in seducing Agis's aunt, Leontine, but cannot fool her brother, Hermocrates. The Princess then passes herself off as a young woman named Aspasie and works her way into his heart, while still diligently pursuing Agis. As with all plays like this, things are bound to come out, and they do.

The casting in this film was all first-rate, particularly that of Mira Sorvino as the scheming Princess. The costumes, scenery, and music add a whimsical touch to an already whimsical story. One must applaud the creativity of the director/screenwriters, in choosing to make it appear as though this is not a movie, but a play performance captured on film. Highly recommended.

Another movie missed in the theatrical release, this DVD caught the eye because of the sterling cast and the fact that Bernardo Bertolucci was connected to it. Happy accident! TRIUMPH OF LOVE is a fine period piece which, though thoroughly cinematic, plays (before an occasionally glimpsed modern day dress audience in the garden)as a theater piece. The oft-used altered identity technique (woman dresses as man dresses as woman etc depending on the object of the game of courtship)is well traversed by Mira Sorvino who manages to stand tall (!) in the company of such fine British actors as Ben Kingsley (as a delicious fudd of a philosopher who can make a 180 degree turnaround of character a true acting feat), Fiona Shaw, Rachel Stirling, and Jay Rodan. The settings are beautiful, the costumes creatively correct and the music score is additive. The only flaws are in the rather glichy editing that makes the movie a bit broken at times. But overall, this is a fine outing courtesy of Bernardo Bertolucci. Highly recommended.

The scenery and costumes are delicious. The storyline is intriguing and the performances were just plain fun! The performances were believable by all. Miro Sorvino was delightful and Ben Kingsley was just plain hilarious. Jay Rodan is a treat for the eyes and Fiona Shaw was very entertaining. Just a terrific movie.

How funny! We rented this recently because we had just ordered the musical also adapted from the same play (which is also excellent, by the way). We couldn't stop laughing! The plot just kept getting thicker and thicker as the princess sunk deeper and deeper into these webs she was spinning, and the reactions of everyone around her just made for a very good story. The acting in this is superb by all involved. Ben Kingsley, as always, was brilliant, and I've never liked Fiona Shaw more! Sorvino was a new one for me, but she too did a wonderful job.
This movie does have the feel of a stage play, in the way it's filmed and the clips and angles chosen, but I do not think that it detracts from the film at all. On the contrary, it's nice to see a recent film made in this fashion - few films do a play justice anymore.
Highly recommend!

Mira Sorvino, tackling a role a la Gywneth Paltrow in Shakespearce in Love, proves that her Oscar for Supporting Actress in "Mighty Aphrodite" was well deserved. While the plot degenerates to silliness at times (especially the last 20-minute closing sequence), the movie is nonetheless acceptable for single viewing.