Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Its amorous and likeable!

28-September-09 at 05:20:59 AM   •   177 Views   •   1 Comments

Posted By : himanshusinghal   in Category : Book Reviews | Movie Reviews

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, before this abrupt film name obscure you, let me make things simpler. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (the stunningly beautiful Scarlett Johansson) are two American friends who come to Barcelona (Spain) to spend their summers with Vickys' aunt. The two friends are like minded on most aspects of life except love, where it will be difficult to find two more dissimilar view points. Vicky is practical and more traditional in her approach who believes in the beauty of commitment and is engaged to Doug (Chris Messina). Cristina on the other hand has a history of failed relationships and is always unsure of what she wants in her life.

One day, the two friends were enjoying dinner in a restaurant when a hunky Spanish artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) approached them and invited the girls to accompany him to the town of Oviedo, where they will sight-see, drink wine and, hopefully, make love (bizzare but bang on!..I loved the flair). Vicky, who is sensible, scoffs at the proposal. Cristina, on the other hand, always up for adventure, jumps at it. Eventually a skeptical Vicky agrees to accompany the two only for Cristina's sake. Antonio plays a good host and take his guests to show beautiful Spanish Churches and Architecture. At the end of the day, after some sight-seeing and a good deal of wine Antonio invites Cristina to his room and she agrees
instantly. Vicky, however preferred sleeping alone. The next day Cristina due to some food-poisoning stays at the hotel and Vicky and Juan Antonio are forced to sight-see alone. After more wine over dinner and a guitar concert in a park, Vicky fails eluding Antonio anymore and succumbs to his charms leading the two of them to make love. The next day, Juan takes them back to Barcelona. Vicky, feeling guilty, does not confess the incident to Cristina.

In the course of the events Vicky marries Doug in a civil ceremony and Cristina moves with Antonio to his place. Juan spend his time painting while Cristina started exploring poetry and photography. Suddenly one night, Juan Antonio receives a call that his ex-wife, Maria Elena(Penelope Cruz), attempted to kill herself and since she has nowhere else to go, he brings her home. Maria turns out to be eccentric and excitingly insane. Her occasional fights with Antonio is a treat to watch (no wonder Penelope won an Oscar earlier this year for her performance in this film). Maria Elena confides to Cristina that her relationship with Antonio was always loving but unstable because they were missing something, a mystery element which neither of them figured out. After initial distrusts Maria starts liking Cristina and she along with Antonio indulge in extremely cooperative sexual relationships ( I call it a threesome!). When Cristina discloses this to Vicky she secretly envies her friend's freedom and starts to doubt whether she is really happy with her conventional married life. She has also not forgotten her one night stand with Juan Antonio in Oviedo and quite often thinks to move out of her marriage and move with Antonio. Meanwhile, Cristina realizes that she can't live in a threesome for the rest of her life and decides to leave Juan Antonio and Maria Elena. She is again dissatisfied with her life not knowing what she wants, but clearly knowing what she doesn't. Cristina chooses to live with no plans for life and Vicky too controls her emotions for Antonio and chooses to live her planned, perceived ideal married life. They end where they begin.

Written and directed by Woody Allen, the film is held together by crisp dialogues and a witty script which throws some complex permutations of turmoils in a relationship.

My rating is 3/5.

PS: The film has arrived in India one year after its International release and it is screened at selected theatres  in Mumbai. The Delhi audience can watch it on a DVD or simply download the movie.

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