Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Better Late Then Never

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The acting in this movie is really good.

it is not a great film. only a Bigas Luna. romantic, sexy, dramatic, cruel. victim of clichés , saved buy Eneida quote, it is a beautiful not surprising film.its key - Bigas Luna vision about a story who has basic mixture of salt and honey. the slices of soap drama, the nuances of acting, the love scenes makes entire plot not realistic but decent for many of viewers. only problem - the expectations. the impression than the story is the same like many others. but the real virtue is only its role of clean story. not extraordinary , not amazing. only as a form of remember of pink novels and essence of not happy love stories. so, just a Bigas Luna. and a silk story about love.

Bigas Luna is a Spanish director who has his own style (Jamón, jamón, Huevos de oro, Bámbola, Lumière et compagnie, La Femme de chambre du Titanic, etc) and his method of storytelling takes some adjustment on the part of the viewer. For those who treasure the magical mysteries of Latin dramas this film SON DE MAR (Sound of the Sea) will surely satisfy. Keeping with the title he has chosen (from Rafael Azcona's screenplay based on Manuel Vicent's novel) the presence of the complex sounds of water are ever present and the carriage that escorts the lovers to their ultimate destiny is a boat of the same name. It works.Ulises (Jordi Mollà) is a teacher brought in midterm to a little town's school. His obsession (and teaching assignment) is Virgil's Aeneid, and he constantly reads it, quotes it, coaxes his students to read aloud the poetry therein, and when he finds an apartment belonging to a couple whose daughter Martina (Leonor Watling) falls under Ulises spell, Ulises quotes from the book scenes involving serpents from the sea, words that make the young and very beautiful Martina awaken sexually. In rapid sequence they become pregnant and marry - though Martina's parents prefer the young wealthy Sierra (Eduard Fernández) as a suitable husband.Soon after their baby son is born the couple attend a party at Sierra's estate and Ulises eyes a beautiful woman while Sierra attempts to win Martina's heart. Ulises buys a fishing boat and sets out to fish for Martina but the boat is wrecked and thinking Ulises dead, a Requiem mass is held and Martina in time marries Sierra for his ability to provide for her infant son. Five years pass and the now steely Martina lives in luxury and receives a phone call from - Ulises! First enraged that Ulises left her for five years, Martina is quickly wooed to the strains of poetry from the Aeneid and hides Ulises in the top floor of one of Sierra's new buildings. Sierra discovers the reunited lovers' tryst and plans for their end. The lovers escape - to a destiny foretold by phrases from the Aeneid.Despite his greasy long hair and scruffy beard Jordi Mollà delivers a smoldering presence as Ulises. But it is the presence of Leonor Watling's Martina that makes this at times shaky film work. She is a powerhouse presence. The photography by José Luis Alcaine and the sensuous musical score by Glen Johnson enhance Bigas Luna's concept for the film. It is another satisfying work by a unique director who knows how to mold a story with fleshy means and make it work. In Spanish with English subtitles. Grady Harp

Ulises says that naming a boat after one's wife is a forerunner of bad luck. From the moment he names it "Martina" we know misfortune will overtake them. Like a Greek tragedy what follows is inevitable.The numerous sex scenes in this drama are given an original touch when Ulises, a teacher of classical literature, mesmerizes Martina by reciting an episode from Virgil's Aeneid. While this may sound rather silly, Ulises delivers the lines in a poetic way which tends to enliven the romantic mood. Indeed his story oft repeated ultimately becomes part of the sex act. When Martina says "Tell me that story again" it is an invitation to indulge in another session of sex.The character of Ulises is interesting. Not the usual clean cut hero, but long-haired, unshaven and with a generally unkempt look. An easy prey for the seductive Martina. Their scenes together are mainly convincing except when he cries with his head in her lap. I do not feel moved by this scene as I feel I should. Perhaps it is because he has just handled a tuna fish, and the smell of fish is still on his hands.The introduction of Alberto's crocodile into the story leads one to surmise what horrible part it may play, and who will suffer as a consequence. All your guesses will be wrong! The planned drowning of the lovers at sea by evil and underhand forces brings to a close so many romantic interludes. But wait! The director of this film has decided that love transcends death. In a symbolic way we see their bodies lying in utter nakedness on a cold slab move together and embrace as true lovers do. Strange isn't it, how so many films end with a kiss?

Bigas Luna's "Son de Mar" is a beautiful love story that is sexy, to boot.I knew nothing about this film when I rented it. I picked it solely because of its director. Although I am not a huge fan of "Jamón, jamón" (1992), there were moments I enjoyed.Am I ever glad that I rented this. It's a captivating love story that has two very good performances, including a gloriously sensual turn by Leonor Watling. The film also features some tremendously sexy love scenes, including one without any nudity.Watling's screen presence is positively hypnotic. She makes Martina utterly believable, a passionate woman who revels in her sexuality and is madly in love with Ulises. Their moments together are poignant and real. The characters are smart, funny, sexy, and we so believe the love between Ulises and Martina that we cannot help but root for them.Parts of this film might seem corny due to its soap opera-like plotting. Then again, that's something Luna enjoys doing. And somehow he and his actors make it work.There are some inexplicable, and perhaps unnecessary moments, including one with an alligator. But they don't detract from the charm of this film. And you've got to hand it to Luna - he knows how to make beautiful women truly sizzle on screen.This is a film for adults. Thank goodness Europeans still make romantic movies for grown-ups and don't dilute them by catering to the lowest common denominator by turning them into maudlin, conventional, predictable crap like many of Hollywood's romantic comedies.If you enjoy unconventional love stories, this one is most definitely worth a look.