Les vendanges de feu

You often hear people lament:"they don't make them like they used to". This film is one of those magical examples where they really do. Alfonso Arau has given us one of the most poignant, old-fashioned romance films in many a year. Set in the Napa Valley shortly after the end of World War II, Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon play two people searching for their futures. Reeves as an ex-GI in a pointless job with a wife he hardly knows and Sanchez-Gijon as a pregnant and abandoned woman afraid to face the shame she will bring to her family. They agree to pose as a married couple in order for her to save face and placate the anticipated anger of her stern father. What follows is a lovingly realized story of family, love and understanding played out against the beauty of the northern California wine country. The vineyard owned by Sanchez-Gijon's family is pure fantasy created by some wonderful visual effects but it provides the perfect setting for the film. There are moments in this film of sensual beauty every bit as breathtaking as the vineyard itself. One of the great joys of this film is the performance of Anthony Quinn as Don Pedro, Sanchez-Gijon's grandfather. He steals every scene he's in. His performance is funny and charming and his character always has a knowing twinkle in his eye. A pure delight to watch. For those with unjaded hearts, settle down with the one you love and share a glass of wine as you watch this film and relish it's pure heart and the exquisite joy of it's touching romance.

This movie is for the romantics, not the cynics. It's for those who believe in treating a woman with honor and respect. It's for those who believe that love is about sacrifice and commitment, not consumption and convenience. It's for the ones who believe that there is someone out there for them.

A Walk In the Clouds talks about the importance of family, belonging, and love, love even for the imperfect parent who doesn't know how to show love back. And that is something no cynic dares confront seriously. I see a little bit of the characters in the people I know around me. That's the mark of a good movie.

What a revelation, a romance, pure and simple, with no sex, no violence, no foul language just pure and simple romance. While many modern romance films claim to be such they invariably end up with hero and heroine ending up in bed (sometimes with a little too much detail thanks very much). But here, in this visually stunning feast, we have a romance where the hero, out of honour and respect, doesn't bed the heroine. I am amazed that it has taken me five plus years to see this movie, and I am grateful to the family channel for screening it for me to tape. With a relatively simple story, set against beautiful scenery with cinematography to die for, we are swept into a world of the past, where honour meant something, where marriage vows, no matter how hastily taken were still to be respected, and where a single pregnant female was a family shame (not the norm as today unfortunately). I read one review where the reviewer said "in reality Paul would have said not my problem babe get an abortion" in whose reality? 2002 reality perhaps but not 1940s reality, abortions were for bad, nasty girls in back streets, by unlicensed doctors not for nice girls who had made a mistake (okay so some things have changed for the better.) I simply loved this film, while it gives a fairy tale view of the vinyards and the family running it, it is a feast for the eyes and the soul. The entire cast are superb, particularly Anthony Quinn who relished his role as the family patriarch and seemed to simply enjoy being in this delightful tale and of course Keanu whose performance is so beautifully low key and understated he reminded me of those wonderful hollywood leading men of old, strong, silent, gorgeous, Cary Grant would have played this role back in the day, who would have thought to put Keanu in the same role? Turn off your 2002 brain and just revel in the sheer delight of this wonderful film. I just know I will watch this again and again.

in the whole career of Keanu Reeves this is probably one of the mightiest movies ever ...probably anyone would envy him for working with the king himself "Anthony Quinn" in all the years Anthony Quinn whom has made many movies there wasn't a better interpretation on why people should break medication rules those doctors say Don Pedro no salt , Don Pedro no wine , Don Pedro no chocolates , Don Pedro no women ...they know about the needs of the body but what do they know about the needs of the soul .... He is one of the best actors to live in this Earth and I guess it was Earth's honor that he was in it ....this movie proves it with his noble decent yet lovely presence ...also the 1940 morals make the movie superb and Keanu's way of being so polite makes this movie more than just a classic...it makes it a " You Must Buy" kind of movie....

This is the third remake of a 1942 Italian film directed by Alessandro Blasetti. In fact, the new version, directed by the Mexican director, Alfonso Arau, doesn't bring anything new to the action, with the exception, perhaps, of the change of locale, from Italy to Napa Valley.

The premise is the same, as Mr. Arau follows the Italian model almost to a tee. We have the decent young GI who feels sorry about the situation the young single woman who reveals she is pregnant. He meets her on a train and wants to help her face her stern parents. At the beginning everything goes wrong, then the parents accept him. He goes back to his wife, who recognizes the mistake they made upon marrying so young and going to the war without knowing one another well. Then, the young GI returns to the vineyard and to the woman he has fallen in love with.

This is a film targeted to satisfy a romantic fan, who, judging by the many comments to this forum seem to have enjoyed it tremendously. While the film is not breaking new ground, it is pleasant to look at, but predictable.

Alfonso Arau working in Hollywood after his much better "Like Water for Chocolate" seems to be a natural in the way he makes his cast respond to his direction.