Gloria-2012
Director Sebastián Lelio
Starring Paulina García
Scott’s Review #167
Reviewed September 10, 2014
Grade: B+
The subject matter of Gloria (2012) is so unusual in this day-and-age, clichéd, youth-obsessed world of Hollywood that it is incredibly refreshing and pleasing to watch.
Gloria tells the story of the title character, a middle-aged (50s) divorced woman living in Chile, who lives life to the fullest.
She loves and embraces new experiences. She tries smoking pot, sings along to disco songs, and dances the nights away.
Gloria is looking for love, but she is not a depressed or dowdy woman. She is stable, attractive, intelligent, and funny.
She lives!!
Gloria meets and begins a relationship with Rodolfo, a similar-aged divorced man with a family full of baggage, whom she meets in a nightclub. His ex-wife and two daughters live with him and depend on him.
The film wisely doesn’t feature Rodolfo’s family until the very end, which adds to the character’s mystique. Gloria and Rodolfo begin a series of trials and tribulations involving both of their families.
Gloria introduces Rodolfo to her family at a birthday party, where her ex-husband and his current wife are in attendance.
Her family is very close, including her relationship with her ex-husband and his new wife. They take a wine-induced trip down memory lane.
This is too much for Rodolfo, and he bails. He is constantly barraged with phone calls from his family during alone time with Gloria.
They continue to have ups and downs.
The audience wonders: will they find their way to a happily ever after? Is Rodolfo really a cad? Does Gloria want to settle down? An event ruins a moment of bliss at an expensive hotel, and the audience’s heart breaks for Gloria.
How wonderful that this film dares to feature more than one explicit nude scene between these two middle-aged people in a classy, tender style.
This is not common in American films, so happily, foreign-language films are not as rigid or prudish in their sexuality.
Unfortunately, Paulina Garcia received little recognition for this role. She deserved an Oscar nomination as she relays an enormous level of complex emotions- she feels the loss, she is betrayed, she is giddy, she is silly, and the list goes on and on.
Gloria (2012) is admittedly slow-paced at times, but the film and story are a breath of fresh air.
The film is a character-driven, tender tale centering on mature, intelligent people.
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film
