Maldeamores (2007)

A Disappointing Continuation

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

What we have here is a revelation. A dark little comedy from the island nation of Puerto Rico. 'Maldeamores' (or Lovesickness,as it's being called in the U.S.). Maldeamores is a smart little comedy with a dark centre to it. The film is directed by Carlitos Ruiz,and has Benicio Del Toro as it's executive producer (a good sign),and has a cast of familiars from the island (some of which are veterans). It concerns love, and it's effect on those who fall under it's spell. It reminded me a lot of the earthy comedy's from Italy (especially the ones from Lina Wertmuller). A bit of a search may be in order to see this film, as it's being distributed by a rather small U.S. distributor.

This film is a good example of how through media manipulation you can sell a film that is no more than a very unfunny TV sitcom. In Puerto Rico the daily newspaper with the widest circulation has continuously written about the marvels of this film, almost silencing all others. Coincidentally the newspaper with the second largest circulation belongs to the same owners. The weekly CLARIDAD is the only newspaper on the island that has analyzed the film's form and content, and pointed out all its flaws, clichés, and bad writing.Just because a film makes a portion of the audience laugh with easy and obvious jokes, and because one can recognize actors and scenery, does not make it an acceptable film.

This is definitely one of the best Puertorican movies ever made. I love it so much, I've seen it twice on theaters. It shows the worst in love but you can't help but enjoy it. I'm sure only a Puertorican can truly love this film but it's a movie for everyone, so don't miss out on it. Besides I'm curious about what a non Puertorican has to say about it.For those of you interested here is a link to the trailer(you'll have to copy/paste it):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqNGq1VVX4This film does have English subtitles, unlike the man of a previous review, I know see has been removed, said.

I had the enormous privilege of seeing this film at the Tribeca film festival this past Monday, April 30th 2007 and I cannot stress enough how wonderful this film is. The film itself centers on 3 story lines that focus on love as their central theme. Not just love, but love at different stages in a person's life. To say the least co-directors Carlitos Ruiz Ruiz and Mariem Perez Riera elaborate and handle all three stories with amazing ability. Being a puertorrican myself just recently "transplanted" from Puerto Rico to NYC I can say this is the best puertorrican film that has come out of my home country in years! I am not saying this just because this is a puertorrican film, but because it is truly great. I myself am not a big fan of puertorrican films because they tend to be too talkative and have a somewhat theatrical aesthetic to them. Its interesting to see how this aesthetic seems to be changing in recent films and especially this one. The dialogue is sharp and doesn't expose more than is necessary (which tends to be a problem of past films), and the camera work is eloquent and perfectly suited to the stories being told. The time the director spent away from Puerto Rico (recieved his BFA in Film Direction from the Art Institute in Chicago and is also an international commercial advertisement director) clearly shows through the movie, as he is able to present such a heartfelt slice of what it means to be a puertorrican born and raised on the island with the eloquence that not even Jacobo Morales could in his films. I guess you need to be away from your country for awhile in order to be able to create such a beautiful work that clearly feeds off the memories we take with us wherever our paths may take us. Carlitos y Mariem you have made Puerto Rico very proud! Pa'lante!