“Love in the Time of Cholera,” review by Susan Granger

Few contemporary love stories have captured the public’s imagination as much as Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novel, set in the exotic port city of Cartagena at the dawn of the 20th century – and now Mike Newell brings this spellbinding epic to the screen.

Written by Oscar-winner Ronald Harwood (“The Pianist”), photographed by Alfonso Beato and directed with the deft lightness of Newell’s “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” it chronicles the passionate 50-year obsession that consumes Fiorentino Ariza (Javier Bardem).

The story begins with the accidental death of 80 year-old Dr. Juvenal Urbino (Benjamin Bratt). As family and friends comfort his grieving widow, Fermina, (Giovanna Mezzogiono), Fiorentino declares his unrelenting love for her – as their truncated yet intertwined relationship is revealed in flashbacks that are punctuated by a lustrous, anguished undercurrent of suspense – along with three songs by Shakira.

As a naive youth, Fiorentino fell for lovely Fermina at first sight, but her socially-conscious father (John Leguizamo) forbade his courtship, insisting that Fermina marry the highly respected Dr. Urbino. Distraught yet comforted by his devoted mother (Fernanda Montenegro) and given a promising job by his rich uncle (Hector Elizondo), Fiorentiono builds a good life for himself, becoming a wealthy shipowner, while conducting Casanova-like liaisons with 622 women. But he’s patiently biding his time until the now-72 year-old Fermina is, once again, single – and available.

The symbolism of the title is open to several interpretations, comparing the then-prevalent (and fatal) disease with lovesickness; indeed, it becomes pivotal to the symmetry of the metaphorical conclusion. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Love in the Time of Cholera” is a fantasy-filled, romantic 8. It’s a faithful adaptation, blessed with equal amounts of humor, pathos and compassion.