purebeetroot

There aren't many movies that would get a 10 from me, but this is one of them. Totally addictive, subtle, tender, full of twists, with beautiful costumes and heart-grabbing music by Ivan Palomares... so glad I found this masterpiece. Even the excesses are justified: at first the amount of nudity and sex feel repulsive, but you soon understand that it brings into contrast the purity and beauty of the main characters, so I feel the excesses are there for good reason.

Now, the acting. Roberto Enriquez as Don Diego is world class, and the way they aged him for the show, with battle scars etc feels right. Michelle Jenner (Clara) delivers a classy performance as a woman ahead of her time, I did feel the costume robbed Clara of some of her natural beauty, however it does fit her role in the house. The supporting cast are all very well chosen. My personal favourite is Oscar Rabadan (Melquiades), what a brilliant actor. This show will be on the binge list for a while, and I owe The Cook my renewed Spanish lessons. If you understand the language even a tiny bit I encourage to watch the show in Spanish with or without subtitles, you'll love it even more.

I have no idea how on earth I missed this film. It threatens to become a new favourite Timothy Dalton appearance. Simply put, this 1990 gem is one of the best movies I've seen about the power of true love. What an epic example of acting magnificence from Timothy Dalton! With another 7 years of acting under his belt after Jane Eyre, his portrayal of the King is authentic, magnetic, deep, raw, with hints of Jane's Eyre's Rochester only more powerful. He makes no mis-steps in this piece, plus he has a sword and oh boy can he use it! So if you're a fan of Timothy Dalton, find this film and enjoy the treat. And if you're not a fan, you are about to discover a top performance by one of the finest actors of our time. You're welcome.