Les vaisseaux du coeur

Greta Scacchi plays a famous feminist activist, while Vincent D'Onofrio portrays a humble Scots fisherman in this film from director Andrew Birkin. Despite the obvious ideological chasm between them, the two fall in love. The couple spend the rest of the film running away from commitment, only to be reunited at every turn. Salt on Our Skin is also known under the title Desire....This films was released in French in Montreal (along with the other Vincent D'Onofrio film Naked Tango)......these two films were released together by C/FP Videoand are very hard to find in the French Version these days......Naked Tango was released in Quebec under the title "Tango Passion" and Desire was released in Quebec under the name "Abandoned Passion"......they did not sell very well as French Language versions and most have disappeared.

Released as "Desire" on DVD, this flick is a love story about an unlikely pair of star-crossed lovers; he a humble Scottish fisherman (D'Onofrio) and she a capricious intellectual (Sacchi). The difference between male and female scores on IMDB.com makes this film out to be the grandmother of all chick flicks even though the film gives no good reason why two such very different protagonists would even be able to get along much less love one another from afar sustained only by periodic trysts over a couple of decades. In spite of the tenuous and somewhat contrived plot, the film does have a story to tell about a woman who learns the meaning of true love while the film begs the question; is it too late? One for the ladies, not for the laddies. (B-)

I loved this movie, being a widow myself I related to the two characters. Most of the greatest love affairs are wrought with complications and never end in the happily ever after scenario. This was my first introduction to Vincent D'Onfrio and I loved him in this movie and The Whole Wide World but his other characters have been too harsh and I like to remember him by Salt On Our Skin. I think it is neat how this movie started a real life love affair between Vincent D'Onofrio and Greta Scacchi and they produced a daughter which they named after Greta's character in this movie (George).

I always wanted to watch this movie, but I never came around to it ... until earlier that is. Now as a teenager I surely was attracted to this because of the steamy theme it promised. But there is more to this than just a hot love affair. Two people who are different, but attracted to each other ... actually being "different" never stopped any love affair - it more often than not encouraged it.

As is the case here. And while you get hot and steamy sexy scenes every once in a while, you also get the psychological issues and strains it gives the characters ... one might say the problems are self induced ... and they wouldn't be wrong ... the question is, aren't we all different and therefor act weird ... or whatever others would call weird. Life would be simple and boring if things would go smoothly ... even if we would wish it sometimes ... or many times.

Great drama, great performances - it may be your desire ...

If you are looking for a movie with a prudent life lesson or just a "happy end/justice to all" thing or an ordinary chick flick, than you might want to go back to Maid In Manhattan's...

It takes some life experience to let the beauty of this movie sink in... and by that I mean - no judgment, simply going for the essence, which ultimately has to be love.

Why am I submitting this comment 13 years after the movie's release and 5 years since I've seen it first? Because they are timeless occasions in life, so common in this new internet/long distance dating era, in which this story reveals that you really don't need to always have it all, the socially acceptable and expected full packaged "life together" deal in order to feel the true love and happiness.

This love story gives hope to those, that haven't had the luck to spend their happily ever after with a person they love and respect the most. Why it didn't happen between the main protagonists, might be the discussion point to the crew that gets their answers by judging other people's choices.

For the rest of us that crave simply feeling alive, loving and loved, the storyline (not perfectly done and not perfectly acted) offers the wealth of thinking beyond the compromise and the white picket fence. Upliftng, hopeful, giving and enriching for what it is - a treasure that can happen in one's lifetime.