A los que aman

TO THOSE WHO LOVE explores the secret and deep amorous passion that marks the life of a young doctor, and of those around him. This doctor is love with Matilde, who gives herself blindly to the wrong man. Her little sister Armancia, full of cruel innocence, and Valeria, a beautiful and mysterious fencing mistress, interfere further in the lives of the Doctor and Matilde. The result is a beautifully filmed story of unrequited love, fencing and life along the French/Spanish border in the early 19th century.

Based on a story by Marie Henry Beyle, otherwise known as 'Stendhal', this period-piece film is exquisite in many senses. Isabel Coixet seems to have been not only inspired by the story itself, but also by the team she had working for her. Not only were the actors magnificent contributors in the making of the film, but also the superb photography and the sublimal music combined so gratifyingly as to be inseparable.

The result is a an artistic visual poem.

Stendhal himself, somewhat given to falling so hopelessly in and out of love at frequent intervals, nicely befitting that 19th Century romanticism we are accustomed to in works so evident by Dumas and Hugo, for example, was for a time in love with a young lady called Mathilde, and thus one likes to think that maybe this story was inspired by his feelings for her, which, as usual, were unrequitted. Olalla Moreno redeems both herself and Stendhal's 'Mathilde' in this poetic fantasy drama, posing what must be considered a unique counterpoint to Monica Bellucci: both actresses offer much more than mere stunning beauty. Their interpretations border perfection, so captivating they are, deeply accessing the innermost feelings of their respective characters. Thus it is but logical that Christopher Thompson and Patxi Freytez were similarly inspired and both offer resounding performances. In all cases Isabel Coixet manages the almost impossible: directing firmly but with exquisite sensitivity.

Paco Femenia's photography beautifully captures the essence of Galician countryside; the early morning summer mists, the golden evenings, poetic images of darkened figures against transparent skies, such that even the clouds take part in the telling of the story. Yes, the film was made in Galicia, in the extreme north west of Spain, mainly in the province of Lugo, not far from Sarria, famed for being on 'El Camino de Santiago'. The original story, however, is based on the Catalan frontier between France and Spain.

Alfonso Vilallonga's musical contribution goes way beyond being mere accompaniment: his music forms an indispensable part in the making of the film, such that at times his richly scored partiture forms perfect harmony with the brilliant photography and the unfolding scenes. The whole takes on the aura of something visually symphonic, from an enacted Te Deum to a romantic fantasy, rather as if a mezzo-soprano were singing her trysts to the tones of a mellow cello.

Isabel Coixet and Joan Potau intelligently used Stendhal's work ("De l'amour") to create a worthy script: maintaining a clearly literary style, the dialogues are simply beautiful, including even extracts from Dante's Divine Comedy. The result gives the film a slightly theatral touch which only succeeds in enhancing the delicate glamorous tapestry of the scenes.

This film appeared here only a short time after seeing the British production of Stendhal's Scarlet and Black ('Rouge et Negre')(qv) which is also highly recommendable.

This unknown piece of craftsmanship is perhaps one of the half-dozen or so best films made in Spain: and I am not one given to making such statements. As Alberto Fijo says in filasiete.com: Coixet has sown a legend, and legends last a long time. Amen.

Enjoyable and feeling drama about a secret and deep love passion for a young woman, Matilde (Olalla Moreno), that will mark the life of a young doctor (Patxi Freytez) who adores her and will shake the existence of everyone around him. There are other interesting roles: Armancia (Amanda García), a ruthless girl who in her terrible innocence, acts cruelly, precipitating her sister's wrong move. Jonah (Albert Pla), a madman who crosses the hills reciting Dante, he's the doctor's brother, is out of his mind, driven mad by another tragic love story. Finally, there are Valeria (Monica Belucci) , and her father, the former is a beautiful and mysterious fencing master who blindly gives herself to the wrong man (Christopher Thompson), they live in the doctor's family's fencing pavilion, where she and originally her father only gave fencing lessons, and engaged in other activities.

A thought-provoking and slow-moving film in which chance, silence and loving passion become an incurable disease that hovers over the lives of all these characters and leads them to their respective existential crossroads. This story is told by the doctor himself in flashbacks, as one of the main characters lies dying. Set in a Galicia on the margins of time, Isabel Coixet's film shows the story of a loving passion with pain, jealousy, and longing, which the director combines with characters full of secrets and internal turmoil, who move on the verge of madness and doom. The film, nominated for the Goyas for best costume design, stars Italian model and actress Monica Belucci (Shoot'em up, Under suspicion) as Valeria the mysterious and beautiful woman who lives with her father in the fencing hall, the Spanish Patxi Freytez (Comisario series) as a young doctor suffering a deep passion that marks and threatens the existence of those around him, Olalla Moreno (El Ministerio del tiempo, Perdona si te llamo amor) Julio Nuñez (Prohibido Enamorase) and Gary Piquer (Holmes and Watson Madrid days).

Special mention for the brilliant and luxurious cinematography by Paco Femenia who carries out a photography with juicy atmosphere ,. Cameraman Paco Femenia is deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameraman with a long and prestigious artistic career. Spotless pictorial cinematography was shot on location in Boveda,Ferreria de Incio, Lancara, Laxe, Mondriz, Trascastro, Outara ,Lugo and Monasterio de San Estevo, Ourense, Galicia, España. As well as agreeable and evocative musical score by Alfonso de Villalonga . The motion picture was competently directed by the Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet following her ordinary feeling style . Coixet e is a fine professional , and she is usually the camera operator of her movies. Isabel is a nice craftsman who has made thoughtful and heartful films , such as : A los que Aman , Map of Sounds of Tokyo , Another me, The Secret Life of Words , Things I Never Told You , Endless Night , Learning to Drive, Elisa and Mariela . And his greatest hits were Another Me , Bookshop. She also has made some documentary and shorts as Proyecto Tiempo , Sea Aral, Espíritu de la Pintura , Marea Blanca , Marlango, Spain in a Day and a segment of París Je taim , among others . ¨A los que aman¨ rating : 7/ 10. Well worth watching . Better than average .