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.

This is a magical movie. Even if you turn off the sound and just watch it, it is beautiful. Of course, if you turned off the sound, you would miss the beautiful music. As for the story, it is a fairy tale, totally unrealistic. But it is a very, very romantic fairy tale. I'm an overage, overweight, cynical old lady, but I still cried through half the movie. If you watch this movie, have a big box of tissues, a big box of chocolates, and a large dose of the willing suspension of disbelief. If you have even one romantic bone in your body, you'll love it. If you can't suspend your disbelief, skip it - you will just be irritated.

This film in one word, "beautiful." Keanu Reeves and the rest of the cast make this film enjoyable. I am not a big fan of romance pictures, but this has to be one of the more enjoyable ones. The acting is superb and the story is excellent.

A young woman heading back home meets up with a chocolate salesman. She is pregnant (but not married) and cannot bare to face her father. Keanu's character hides his true identity to play the role as her husband.

This picture is worth seeing and I advise anyone to see it. Whether they are into romance films or not. People who bad-mouth this film are too dense to realize you don't need action and bloodshed to have a good 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.