Maria's Lovers (1984)
Front Cover Actor
Nastassja Kinski Maria Bosic
John Savage Ivan Bibic
Robert Mitchum Mr. Bibic
Keith Carradine Clarence Butts
Anita Morris Mrs. Wynic
Bud Cort Harvey
Karen Young Rosie
Tracy Nelson Joanie
John Goodman Frank
Danton Stone Joe
Movie Details
Genre Drama; Romance
Director Andrei Konchalovsky
Producer Bosko Djordjevic
Writer Gérard Brach; Floyd Byars
Language English
Audience Rating R
Running Time 103 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
Splicing scenes featuring his protagonist, Ivan (John Savage, The Deer Hunter), among excerpted interviews with real soldiers from John Huston's landmark World War II documentary Let There Be Light, director Andrei Konchalovsky brilliantly sets the stage for a morally ambiguous tale of a war hero's return home to a small town. Disappointingly, the opening of Maria's Lovers promises much more than it ultimately delivers. Ivan has survived the tortures of a Japanese POW camp by continually dreaming of his childhood sweetheart Maria (Nastassja Kinski). When he returns to find her with a boyfriend and a grown-up libido, Ivan can't reconcile his guardian vision with the real Maria. Even as she declares her love for him and they hastily marry, Ivan's nightmares intervene. In short, Ivan can't perform. Minor roles for Robert Mitchum and Keith Carradine (as a ridiculous wandering minstrel who seduces Maria after Ivan flees in shame) seem wasted on a melodramatic script that often sounds as if it was poorly translated into English. The nostalgic scenery of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, (rolling fog, river ferries, careening factories) is compelling, as is Kinski (who is at her most seductive and downright breathtaking), but Konchalovsky's affection for his characters and their landscape cannot surpass his stilted vision of America. --Fionn Meade
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 626
In Collection Yes
Product Details
Format Divx
Region Any Region
UPC 027616869531
Release Date 2004
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Color Closed-captioned Widescreen
Links
Internet Movie Database