La mémoire du coeur

Madchen Amick does an admirable job in this B late night movie. The plot is standard and predictable for this type of 90s mild thriller. The movie is reminiscent of The Giver and all other stolen organ, and organ transplant themed movies. Madchen is a bit prying at times in this movie, almost reversing her role as the movie's victim by circumstance. Although she never comes anywhere close to being two-faced as she was in Dreamlover. Personality change and duality is explored here, as well as personality change via body part change. At times it seems like a Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde set-up but it always lets in down and returns to the base line. The movie is not well scripted for major or unpredicted twists and turns, and has very few characters involved in the mystery aspect of it. In other words, the surprises aren't that surprising. Overall it has decent acting and a thinly veiled thriller plot which is not too bad for a made for TV movie. Just remember that the wine and the inviting acting of Madchen Amick may just be enough to keep you heartless.

That's a good question: if I get a good transplant of lungs, kidneys and livers, will I give up smoking? If I get a good brain transplant, will I suddenly become another Einstein? The heart is supposedly a conveyor of feelings, but really is only a muscle doing all the mechanical necessities to keep the rest of the body alive. Whether you have a Ferrari engine in a '56 Chevrolet or you put a 2 cylinder DKW engine in a Porsche, obviously different things will happen. But a change of heart in a person........?

So a deliciously rich woman gets shot and a lovely Mädchen Amick picks up her heart, which makes all her feelings for men go a bit astray. She just has to get to know the dead woman's husband. Interesting but improbable theory as a concept for giving us a lot of Ms. Amick, but not much else to go on. About the only reasonable sincere person in the whole film is Dr. Alice Morisaki who did the transplant. However, the film has its interest, I suppose, and is fit for those who love mysteriously suspenseful goings-on with a bit of sex thrown in for good measure.

The ending should have you in guffaws.......... Sorry, Ms. Vogelsang, this film got away from you, even though it was only for TV.