I remembered being transfixed as a callow youth by this study of the lost generation energetically going about the business of slow self-destruction, so when I noticed a rare showing on some obscure satellite channel I decided to see whether my memory of it was really so at odds with most of the reviewers on this site. Well, as far as Hemingway adaptations go it's a complete clunker, no doubt about it, injecting soap opera elements into his classic first novel with such disregard for the source material that you feel like wincing at times.
But as an entertainment in its own right it's fair to say it stands its ground thanks to some extremely atmospheric location shooting. Like a party guest trying to appear more interesting than they know they really are, it boasts a faux sophistication that almost has you fooled at times, only to blow the disguise by inserting some incredibly dull piece of dialogue or a dumb plot twist. Hemingway's book is more about a condition of life than a narrative, so in one respect it's virtually unfilmable – but if you're going to have a go you should at least stay faithful to the author's vision.
Having said that, watching this TV movie all those years ago did prompt me to seek out and read the book, so it has some value as far as I'm concerned.
