After Words

A simple story beautifully told. My warmest congrats to all who created it (oh and... don't take this review to anticipate the end - A beautiful story well told can end in many ways).

This is a lovely small film. It was very satisfying. I woke up thinking about it. Marcia Gay Harden gives a GREAT performance. If you are her fan you need to see After Words just to see her.

She plays a curmudgeonly librarian who is depressed and lonely. And that is before she loses her job. Her life is isolated, sad, and pathetic in the huge city of L.A. After being laid off she takes a dream vacation to Costa Rica. In this tropical paradise the beauty of nature, and sincere friendship are healing.

There are three wonderful performances. The cinematography is lovely. Lots of nature shots, beautiful beaches, and jungles. Plenty of native culture, some Spanish, and just enough humor.

The story line is not trite. If you are a Marcia Gay Harden fan then you MUST see this film. It will be a lovely treat for you. The relationship she develops with her tour guide is not a cliché. It is a friendship which she desperately needs. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. The little girl is an adorable actress.

I love this movie. I laughed and cried. It deserves to be seen twice and I will recommend it to family and friends. This is a film I would see with my husband on a date, with girl friends, or with my mother.

There is a very small amount of sex - so you might not see it with your young child. But then, it is not really a film which would interest most children or young teens. This is a film for someone mature who loves stories set in nature, relationships, books, and the possibility of finding new purpose in life when you are past the half way mark. I love this movie. It is a gem.

When Jane's library job closes down, she takes a trip to Costa Rica to get away. There, she immediately meets tour guide "Juan", who has decided he will take advantage of her, for money, and maybe even for more. Marcia Harden is Jane, who has always been closed in and private, so getting used to the ways of this new country will take some time. They visit one of the parks, where we get to see some beautiful exotic animals. Juan tracks her down at her hotel at an in-opportune time, and convinces her to explore the countryside with him. Hanging out with Juan and seeing the beauty of this foreign land may change her outlook on life. Plain, simple script. Great performances by the (two) actors. There is a dark, moody, brooding, airy side to Jane, which hangs over the entire story. Juan spends the film cheering her up, and kind of forcing her to enjoy herself. Cute story. It has a small, indie feel to it. Good first full length film by Feldman. My one complaint would be the subtitles... they are white, and frequently they can't be seen, when the background is white, yellow, or even light. and when they ARE visible, there are some mistakes here and there. Overall very enjoyable film. Currently showing on Showtime channel.

Written, directed, produced, and edited by Juan Feldman. I see the production company was mano a mano films, which only has one other U.S. film, "The Prey".... which also happens to be a Juan Feldman production.

I watched it yesterday and find myself thinking about it today. What a great little film. After reading the other reviews I realize what a superb actress Marcia Gay Harden is. I often have a strong reaction when I see her in films and now I understand that it's her performance that causes the reaction. I had thought that it's her, but it's not her as a person, it's the characters she's portraying, such as Jane in this film, Lee Krasner in Pollock, and others. She was so convincing as a depressed, reclusive introvert and then, even though the plot was predictable, it was delicious to watch. Oscar Jaenada playing the male lead was perfect as a total opposite from Harden's character. And then, the scenery: gorgeous! Ending the film with a quote from Ann Frank was unexpected and moving. I'd suggest if you or someone you know is depressed, watch After Words. And even if you're not.

Stunning movie at their own pace. Marcia Gay Harden is awesome in this role; while Oscar Jaenada is a big surprise, and he will be soon a great actor. Costa Rica, its beauty, and its leitmotiv "pura vida", works as the third character of the story. A movie to think. To slow down our vertiginous lives. At first you may think "things are happening very slow", but then you get in the story, understanding what is all about. Very poetic, not just in the script but in the cinematography. I think it's a film that "book people" will love, and the rest will want to start reading. A film to think about life, loneliness and personal achievements.