After Words

This is a lovely small film. It was very satisfying. I woke up thinking about it. Marcia Gay Harden gives a GREAT performance. If you are her fan you need to see After Words just to see her.

She plays a curmudgeonly librarian who is depressed and lonely. And that is before she loses her job. Her life is isolated, sad, and pathetic in the huge city of L.A. After being laid off she takes a dream vacation to Costa Rica. In this tropical paradise the beauty of nature, and sincere friendship are healing.

There are three wonderful performances. The cinematography is lovely. Lots of nature shots, beautiful beaches, and jungles. Plenty of native culture, some Spanish, and just enough humor.

The story line is not trite. If you are a Marcia Gay Harden fan then you MUST see this film. It will be a lovely treat for you. The relationship she develops with her tour guide is not a cliché. It is a friendship which she desperately needs. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. The little girl is an adorable actress.

I love this movie. I laughed and cried. It deserves to be seen twice and I will recommend it to family and friends. This is a film I would see with my husband on a date, with girl friends, or with my mother.

There is a very small amount of sex - so you might not see it with your young child. But then, it is not really a film which would interest most children or young teens. This is a film for someone mature who loves stories set in nature, relationships, books, and the possibility of finding new purpose in life when you are past the half way mark. I love this movie. It is a gem.

Although she's not one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood today, I do think Marcia Gay Harden is possibly the most interesting. Despite some A-list pictures to her credit, Ms. Harden also has a real knack for appearing in low-budgeted but very high quality films--films that emphasize her exceptional acting talents and are films about people. So while you might not have heard about her movies like "Canvas" or "Elsa & Fred" or "If I Were You", these are amazingly good films about people...people you could easily believe are real.

The latest offering featuring the actress is "After Words"--a terrific little film that features, once again, complex characters and a really unique performance. It begins with a librarian, Jane (Harden) leaving for a trip to Costa Rica. She's vaguely dissatisfied with life and has no one with which to share it. She also is contemplating taking this exotic trip and at its conclusion, killing herself!

When she arrives in the country, a handsome young guide, Juan (Óscar Jaenada) offers to show her around this tropical paradise. He is strapped for cash and the viewer is led to expect that he's just a womanizer out to take advantage of yet another middle-aged woman. But, in a nice twist, there is far, far more to their relationship. Through the course of their time together, they form a nice bond and learn from each other. He learns about her love for books and she learns about his love for life. What's going to happen to them as well as he plans of suicide? See the film and watch their relationship slowly unfold.

There's so much to like about this movie. The best thing is the acting. Harden is still that same terrific actress you'd expect but Jaenada is also terrific and an excellent choice for the film. While this Spanish actor isn't famous throughout the world, I loved him in the recent film about the famous Mexican comic, Cantinflas. His impersonation of Mario Mareno was captivating. I'd sure love to see more of these two. Apart from the great writing, the script is unusual and enjoyable and it's a decent little film for couples to watch--especially couples were aren't necessarily young or hip. The film deserves kudos for featuring a 50-something actress who, down deep, is gorgeous, sensual and vital. The only thing I might mention is that there is a bit of nudity-- though it's tasteful and Harden looks marvelous. Well worth seeing and as of this week, this new film is available through Netflix. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

A delightful film about a woman who runs away from her problems in Los Angeles, only to find real meaning n the tropical paradise of Costa Rica.

Yes, the script is somewhat predictable and there are some plot holes, but the film doesn't try to be anything that it's not.

Marcia Gay Harden is terrific, but the actor who plays Juan steals the show.

A simple story beautifully told. My warmest congrats to all who created it (oh and... don't take this review to anticipate the end - A beautiful story well told can end in many ways).

I watched it yesterday and find myself thinking about it today. What a great little film. After reading the other reviews I realize what a superb actress Marcia Gay Harden is. I often have a strong reaction when I see her in films and now I understand that it's her performance that causes the reaction. I had thought that it's her, but it's not her as a person, it's the characters she's portraying, such as Jane in this film, Lee Krasner in Pollock, and others. She was so convincing as a depressed, reclusive introvert and then, even though the plot was predictable, it was delicious to watch. Oscar Jaenada playing the male lead was perfect as a total opposite from Harden's character. And then, the scenery: gorgeous! Ending the film with a quote from Ann Frank was unexpected and moving. I'd suggest if you or someone you know is depressed, watch After Words. And even if you're not.