This is a story about wine making in France during the 19th Century. A common peasant who works on a chateau vineyard works his way to the top to become a Vintner with the help of a angel.
The film is directed by New Zealand director Niki Caro (Whale Rider). Based on a book by Elizabeth Knox, 'The Vintner's Luck' is a look at the life of Sorban (played by Jérémie Renier) and his love of and Angel, his wife and a Baroness.
The make up for Jeremie Renier as he grows old is brilliant. You can even see the sun spots appearing on his skin. However the same care to detail was not conveyed onto his wife (Keisha Castle-Hughes) who does not seem to age and at some points her children look older than she does!
My favourite scene was where the Baroness is smelling and describing Sorban's hands. How Niki Caro filmed it was very erotic for such an innocent act.
Although the Vintner's Luck seems to have continued 'bad reviews', I have to say that I found it (like any good wine) slow in maturing and after being out of the cinema now for several hours, I am still thinking about it and drinking quite a bit of wine. The acting from the two main male characters and the Baroness is brilliant. The pace of the film can be slow at times but isn't it the same with any life span portrait?
I LOVED this movie too...am still thinking about it as well. Glad to read your comment. The film's very quiet and thoughtful, which is perhaps not what people are expecting. But I found it unusual, compelling, like a meditation on the hard work of love. An adult story, which I'm really hungry for, And i like how rough it looks- authentic and handmade - like the wine Sobran makes. As for the pace, it felt true to the time the actual work involved, so I liked it. It surprised me. A lot of people I saw it with were very moved by it too. I hope more of us speak out and give it some love!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Personally I can't stop thinking about the hand snifffing! Also the whole operation scene :/
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that reviews have been so negative. It is worth a watch.
I agree. And I've seen several reviews now that are saying what you are-- it doesn't deserve such a bad rap. I'm telling all my friends to see it - I think we should all post on facebook and imdb, where ever, to give it support, cause it needs it. it's hard enough for a female filmmaker these days without all the haters on the web. Ms. Caro deserves better for her efforts. Usually when reviews are so personal it means somethings gotten under their skin. It's a very feminine movie, that hand scene! and that great scene when Sobran and Vera Farmiga's character make love, scars and all. Woah.
ReplyDeleteYeah, your right. Unless a guy has a interest in wine, this film is probably for the ladies. We have more patience. Maybe all those reviews were done by men?
ReplyDeleteThey are. Not that men can't appreciate it, but I think it's pretty sensitive for a Hollywood reporter to get behind anyway. My friend told me that at a screening in Wellington people were shouting out during the credits against the negative reviews!
ReplyDeleteAce! Go Wellingtonians!
ReplyDeleteThe book is a gay romance. The film is full of straight sex and has no gay sex. That has provoked fans of the book. The film got bad press in Toronto from people who had never read the book. It was judged as a film by people who wanted to like it like the Variety reviewer. In New Zealand it was going to meet up with fans of the book and they were going to be disappointed. The wonder is that Caro didn't foresee that happening.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Meers was hard on the film and she is a woman. Knox herself has said she was shocked to find the gay romance had been almost completely removed. Knox is a woman.
OK, my "this film is probably for the ladies" comment was a wide generalisation, I apologise.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book but I did enjoy the film.