Touches You

Absolutely brilliant

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

This is basically a film with no weaknesses. A couple of important points: First, I have seen a few reviews of the film complaining about the fire scene. Spoilers ahead: That scene is brilliant and necessary because Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) showed Alberto Aragon (Giancarlo Giannini), that he has what it takes to follow in his footsteps to not only run the winery, but to make it even better (Which is what the last scene in the film shows). The fire essentially was a cleansing agent, erasing most of the old and bringing in the new. Don Pedro (Anthony Quinn (Who did the best acting job in the film)), knew that Paul had what it takes to run things which is why he said to Paul "I have faith in you and my son." This point is critical because he knew Pedro Jr (Freddy Rodriguez), had no interest in running the business, thus, only Paul had what it took to keep the business going after Alberto passed on ( Alberto knew a way of life was ending, and finally admitted to Victoria he was " afraid of losing you and everything"). I also look at the scene, where Don Pedro talked to Paul and then he looked and found the root of the family tress and he lifted the roots out of the ground which reminded me of King Arthur and " Excalibur." Basically it was his destiny to save the vineyards, and one day take over for Alberto. So that the end, Alberto realizes what kind of man Paul is, and that indeed Don Pedro is correct, and Paul is not only up to the job, for one day taking over the vineyards, and caring for Victoria, but it is his destiny to do so. Which is why he said to Paul: "This is your family, and these are your roots." Paul honestly does not know what to do, but Alberto tells Victoria (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon (Who is a knockout to say the least)), to "Go to your husband." I have also seen critics complain about Paul leaving his wife Betty (Debra Sutton), for Victoria. If I came back from the War, and saw my wife in bed with another man, I would not want anything to do with her either. One more point about Paul he was perfect for Victoria, because of the way he carried himself: He was tortured by what happened to him in the war, then walks in his home to see what Betty did (And walks away, instead of hitting him, her, or both), yet was willing to help a total stranger (Victoria) who is terrified of her father, when they met on a bus. He finally learned to not only love Victoria, but the entire Aragon way of life, and essentially embraced being an Aragon. Which is a life far better than the world he came from (Including being raised in an orphanage, and coming back from World War II). It is interesting that it is something Pedro Jr and to a lesser extent, Victoria did not want. Next the scenery is incredible. Particularly the scene with the women crushing the grapes with their feet. There are so many themes in this film it is not funny: Love, honor, responsibility, decency, acceptance, change & renewal to name a few. Do I love this movie? You better believe it (Not to mention who would not want Victoria? (But that is another issue)). Flawless film and an easy 10/10 stars.

This film is a magical fairytale of love, struggle, and romance, directed by the brilliant Mexican director Alfonso Arau ('Like Water for Chocolate'). Keanu Reeves has never been better at being a 'good guy', here tormented by his origins as an orphan, betrayed by a frivolous young wife, returning from War with a head full of hopes only to meet with the apparent collapse of all of his prospects. But Fate intervenes, and he meets the amazingly, delicately beautiful Aitana Sanchez-Gijon. She is the half-Spanish, half-Italian actress who two years later was so brilliant in 'The Chambermaid of the Titanic' (see my review). She has all the freshness of a rose which has just opened in the morning dew. This is what Penelope Cruz was like before she went to Hollywood. The story concerns her family, the Aragons. Her mother is played radiantly by the Mexican actress Angelica Aragon, and her intense and domineering father by the Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini. One of the finest performances in the film is by Anthony Quinn. He was rarely better than this. It is little known that he was born in Mexico, half Irish, half Mexican. Since his middle name was Oaxaca, his mother must have been a Zapotec Indian. Here he is utterly in his element, since the story is of an ancient Spanish family with a vineyard in the Napa Valley of California. Whether such people still exist anymore, I doubt. But this is a fantasy, very similar to the wonderful series of three novels by Bret Harte, commencing with 'A Waif of the Plains'. Certainly these days, as Hispanics become more and more important in America, more films like this should be made exploring the early Spanish settler traditions. Much was made of this sort of thing in Hitchcock's 'Vertigo', but the lead was not followed up by subsequent mainstream directors. This film is a poignant story of how the lost and lonely orphan Keanu Reeves finds true love and acceptance at last in the bosom of a family and in the arms of one of the most delectable gals imaginable. But he only achieves this by being noble, generous, kind, unbelievably tolerant and patient, and by being tested in every conceivable way. Reeves could not possibly have played this character so well unless he had a lot of these qualities himself. The film is a wonderful achievement, the period costumes and sets are perfect, the buildings are authentic Spanish survivals from various places in the Napa Valley, apparently, the atmosphere is pure magic, the vicissitudes are harrowing, but love and devotion and goodness conquer all. This is actually a romantic film from an adult perspective which children can safely see, and that's saying something these days. No grunting in corners, as the emphasis is on love, - remember love? It used to exist. Maybe it will come back one day. We need more films like this to encourage us. We also need more Aitana Sanchez-Gijons, if we can remember and pronounce their names, that is. Etana was Sumerian for 'eagle'. I wonder if there is any connection with Aitana, as she has the same noble quality. This film is an eagle, it soars, it truly soars.

I was very eager to watch this movie and finally had the time to watch it this afternoon. What a disappointment! The setting is picturesque, the story romantic and the characters well cast, but the screenplay is flawed. The dialogs between Paul (Keanu Reeves) and Victoria (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) are lame and have a staccato effect which hampers the fluidity of expression. Furthermore I felt that Keanu Reeves was struggling to stay in character and match the passion exuded by Aitana. It is the minor characters who ultimately salvage the movie with their wit and colourful personalities.If you like romance with substance then this movie will disappoint you.However,the film is worth watching for its Keatsian setting oozing with passion and its few lovable minor characters.

A Walk in the clouds is based on a Italian story. This is about two strangers who are drawn towards each other despite the problems that came their way. Paul Shutton (KEanu Reaves) returns home from war only to find his wife Betty (Debra) totally indifferent towards him. Upon her insistence he leaves the town to sell chocolates and make fortune out of it. On the way, he met Victoria (Aitana Sanchez) who is returning back to her family.They become friends and Victoria tells him that she is pregnant from a man and hence scared to face her family as they are very conservative. Seeing her plight, Paul decides to enter her house as her husband and desert her the next morning that will spare her from a unmarried mother status and the wrath of her family. He enters their house and become the favorite of her grandpa though her father disliked him. When he tries to leave next morning, her grandpa asks him to wait till wine harvest. During this stay both became close to each other and understood their passion for each other.The cinematography is the real hero of the movie. Each landscape has been picturized with a painter's view in mind. Musics are too nice so as the flow of the story.