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| Gabriel García Márquez |
Gabriel García Márquez was a literary giant, one of the greatest writers of his age, and no less so in the cinema. As a screenwriter he wrote 15 films (or parts of films) and as an author he saw 11 of his novels and 12 of his short stories adapted for the big screen. He also tried his hand at acting and even directed a short film. Now that he has passed away from illness at the age of 87, it's time to look back at some of the films through which his poetic visions will be remembered.
Chronicle Of A Death Foretold
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| Chronicle Of A Death Foretold |
An Italian-Colombian co-production set in Márquez's original Latin American village, this film tells of a man whose murder is expected, so taken for granted that few serious attempts are made to stop it. Filmed with aspects of documentary styling that reflect the author's journalistic prose, it digs deep into the complex of cultural expectations whose upset leads to the killing. The acting isn't uniformly perfect but assured pacing and vivid imagery give the film a spellbinding quality.
Memoria De Mis Putas Tristes
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| Memoria De Mis Putas Tristes |
Adapted from the book translated in English as Memories Of My Melancholy Whores, this film centres on a memorable performance by Emilio Echevarría as the 90 year old journalist who arranges to treat himself by taking the virginity of a sedated teenager (played by Olivia Molina) but finds himself so affected by her vulnerability that, instead, he begins to discover love, and his own humanity, for the first time. This remarkably faithful adaptation, celebrated a the Malaga Spanish Film Festival, also invites the viewer to fall in love.
No One Writes To The Colonel
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| No One Writes To The Colonel |
The Colonel waits every day on the dock for his pension, and, through it, for assurance that he has lived his life properly, for absolution regarding the death of his son. Played with quiet dignity by Fernando Luján, he is a man devoted to the fighting cock, a creature emblematic in the author's early screen work, strutting around like the South American version of the proud bird loved by French surrealist filmmakers. This film was shown at Cannes and was Mexico's 2000 Oscar submission.
Of Love And Other Demons
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| Of Love And Other Demons |
One of the finest screen adaptations of Márque's work, this film takes a very different approach from the others, concentrating on the poetry and letting other aspects of the narrative fall away. It focuses on a young priest (Pablo Derqui) so taken with red-haired adolescent girl (Eliza Triana) that he is willing to damn his eternal soul just to be near her, whilst the fury of the local people at her intemperate beauty leads to her imprisonment and increasing degradation. It's little-known outside Colombia, but its fine performances and breathtaking cinematography make it well worth seeking out.
Farewell To The Ark
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| Farewell To The Ark |
Adapted from the author's acclaimed novel 100 Years Of Solitude and based on director Shûji Terayama own earlier video adaptation, this is a film that demonstrates the universal appeal of Márquez's insights into human behaviour. Premièred at Cannes, it tells a story of forbidden love between cousins and the social approbation (made manifest by a mandated chastity belt) that results in slowly building fury and ultimately in murder, but where it makes most impact is in its depiction of what happens afterwards and the complex emotions the killer experiences. In common with several other Márquez adaptations, it is rmembered partly because of its remarkable visual beauty. Sadly, Terayama died before it was released.
