Vicky Cristina Barcelona

‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ Woody Allen’s new film is (in brief) about two American girls spending their summer in Barcelona.

They go for different reasons. Vicky is taking a break from her impending, conventional marriage and is a student of Catalan culture. Cristina is a free spirit searching for love, a purpose to her life and experience.

They stay with Vicky’s cousin, an establish American family, living in the city, who take them to an art opening where Cristina spies and eyes up the gorgeous local painter Juan Antonio played stunningly by Javier Bardem. Juan notices them too. How could it be otherwise?

He oozes a sort of bohemian sex appeal. Watching him chat up both the girls (he is equally taken by both of them) it is impossible to imagine him as the sociopathic killer, Anton Chigurh, in ‘No Country for Old Men’. Both sociopath and seducer are wonderful performances and equally believable.

The story moves along with Vicky being faithful to her fiancée back in the states but she accompanies Cristina on a weekend away with Juan.

There is no way either girl could resist his charms? The three become romantically and sexually entangled and then they are joined by Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) Juan’s mentally-unstable -ex-wife who is reported to have tried to knife him afact that intrigues Cristina. For me this is probably the best part of the film – the interaction between Juan and Maria Elena is funny, slick and taught with tension.

The film is funny, beautiful and sensuous. The skies are blue; the sun is golden and the weather balmy. It’s thought provoking about love, duty and our own happiness and fulfillment.

I fell in love with Barcelona, the sensuous laidback painter, Juan Antonio and the beautiful Maria Elena- Penelope Cruz - who was superb in her part.

Go to the movie – it’s a good experience and the ending gives us all a moment when we look at ourselves and reflect and wonder what decision we would have made.

This dramatic photo is of Maria Elena posing for Cristina who is finding her creativity in photography.