The Body of Desire

What person over 50 or 60 hasn't fantasized about being young again with all his knowledge intact? EL CUERPO DEL DESEO is about that and more.

Just as LA MUJER EN EL ESPEJO explored issues of beauty, EL CUERPO DEL DESEO explores issues of age, wealth, and power. The wealthy but aged Pedro José Donoso marries a beautiful but greedy young woman who already has a lover on the side. He has dreams about a strong young man performing heavy farm work and every time he wakes from these dreams he feels even more intensely that he has experienced them. He dies suddenly in his study one night, and the young farmer also dies within hours. However, Pedro José's spirit refuses to give up and enters the young farmer's body as it is being carried to the cemetery. When he breaks out of the coffin and is brought to a medical facility no one can explain what happened… and he is more confused than the others. He freaks out the people around him by displaying knowledge and abilities the young farmer never had. He is greatly confused as to what has happened and why. He gradually learns that the reason for this strange phenomenon is to learn the truth about what has been going on under his nose and behind his back. He then has to make a decision about what to do about it all.

The studly Mario Cimarro of PASIÓN DE GAVILANES is more than worthy of this acting challenge as he explores what it is to be what to all intent and purposes is an impostor. The scene in which he strips in front of a mirror and sees his new handsome face and perfect body is priceless; he manages to convey the humor, the irony, and the apprehension all at once. We later see the dark side of his personality as he uncovers the deceptions and hypocrisies around him. The beautiful Lorena Rojas, who also sings the theme song, is flawless as the greedy "widow" Isabella, while Martin Karpan of TE VOY A ENSEÑAR A QUERER is increasingly sinister as her controlling lover.

I'm not going to try to predict where this is going, but the ride is exciting.

I'm sure you've seen many good Latin soaps, even some great ones. But have you ever seen one that takes your breath away with it's Passion scenes? That moves you with it's touching scenes? That makes you laugh like crazy with it's comical scenes? That you enjoy every minute of it and can't wait until the next day to see more? This is of that kind! It holds the record of the series with higher ratings in the history of telemundo and was a great hit in Spain, leaving behind the storm and Rubi. It's not just any series, it's one that had an impact in the world of Spanish TV, that is traveling the world and making telemundo popular just like Pasion de gavilanes the other telenovela of tha same writer that is Julio Jimenez. Julio is a very talented man who has written amazing telenovelas like Rauzan and La viuda de blanco, any telenovela of his is a big hit and that's because the man knows how to write!

As with any Telenovela, the story is pretty wild, some of the characters are really wild and emotions run high. Very high. (This is a Telemundo production, after all.) And while some of the secondary characters are over the top, the main characters are well-played by talented actors. None more so than MARIO CIMARRO, who plays the title role ("Body of Desire"! And how!) I discovered Mario with this series, and quickly tried to get my hands on anything else in which he's appeared. Unfortunately, that means only "Rockaway" and "Romeo and Juliet" (his only American films to date), as well as another Telenovela he made prior to Cuerpo ("Pasion De Gavilenes", not nearly as good; not nearly as much Mario.) None of these showcase Mario the way Cuerpo does. Even though there are many characters in this series, it ultimately is a star vehicle for Mario. He is an extremely charismatic, thoughtful actor. Although very low-key, you can't take your eyes off him; a true star. I haven't come across such an electric personality in some time. The only other actor around today with as much appeal is the French actor, Louis Garrel. (No American actors can compare to these two.) Anyway, I strongly advise anyone looking for a wildly entertaining ride (not to mention one very hot leading man), to check this set out.

This is such a beautifully made romantic drama and enjoyed it ... some of the scenes are pictured with so much emotion and poetic.... i love lorena rojas for her amazing performance(especially in romance and sentiment scenes) and her cuteness.. during her death scene in this film i was crying and when i heard in real life also she passed away at such young age ,i felt sad.. mario cimarro was the coolest actor perfect for the role .....Diana Osorio as valeria is so beautiful. watch it if you love sensitive love stories...with supernatural fantasy

You might be wondering why I'm giving a review with a minimum score. First of all, my heart ached at the last final episodes of El cuerpo del deseo (TV 2005). The soap opera was great, but the ending disappointed me. I would have liked Salvador, like Pedro, to end up with Valeria. I didn't like Cantalicia's character at all - although the actress plays well, her character leaves much to be desired.

The last episode was still emotional, because Salvador returned to his family. But it was sad that he didn't stay with Valeria. At least it's good that Valeria started a relationship with Simón. The rest of the episodes were magnificent , only the last episodes made me sad and even made me cry.