From Spain comes a free adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's classic of universal literature "The Sorrows of Young Werther". Pilar Miró
makes an interesting take about the great dramatic romance, moving not only the 18th century Germany setting to the 1980's Spain but also transforming the
doomed young lovers to more mature characters - and the relationship dynamic feels more positive, less heavier and relevant to its time rather than the
several emotional letters that Werther writes to his friend (absent in the film story). Both passionate works about unrequited love, the torment and anguish
of a man and his heart's desire for an already committed woman. If you read the novel you know how different this tale goes; the unfamiliar folks will see
a lot of surprises with this story.
Simply
titled "Werther", the tragically romantic title character is transformed into a middle-aged school teacher (played by Eusebio Poncela) who moves to a coastal
town where his deceased relatives left him a property. He teaches Greek at a private school and he's adored by his students, life goes all too well until
the parents of a pupil hire him to provide private lessons to their son who's got bad grades. The father, Alberto (Feódor Atkine) is a wealthy lawyer, and the
mother, Carlota (Mercedes Sampietro) is also a teacher and colleague of Werther. Due to the couple being separated and as Werther and Carlota get to know each
other well in their many encounters while discussing the kid, the man grows infatuated and doesn't know how to resist showing his love for the wife of his
now best friend Alberto. Unlike what Goethe created - based on two real accounts, one being about himself - here the romance blossoms from both parties as
Carlota's marriage was on a halt rather than the woman being promised to marry Albert(o), so Werther stands a chance until the inevitable happen. You can really
sense that Carlotta loves Werther back, but the circumstances prevents her from going along.
Of the film versions of same basis story that I've seen, this one was the best (Ophuls made the 1938 version, close to the novel's setting; and a
Canadian 2024 film was turned into a fine romantic comedy that somehow succeeds it). It's not exactly Goethe, neither intended to be, but it certainly brings
the sentiment and ideals close to what the author wrote. It's romantic, melancholic and it's really close to real-life situations,
you can believe in a story like this, despite the use of some cliches. Morose yet compelling, the dommed affair is punctuated with the opera "Werther" as
part of the soundtrack, performed by José Carreras and Frederica von Stade, which turns this heartbreaking story into something to be remembered. Poncela
is phenomenal, just as Mercedes, and one can easily feel the hurt, the passion, the tenderness and the extremities faced by both characters. I couldn't get
them out of my mind. 8/10.
