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Light romance shaded
with tenderness, passion
By KEVIN THOMAS, Los Angeles Times
When Sofia Milos first appears in "Passionada," a charming love
story for adults, she has the impact of a goddess. Extraordinarily
beautiful, with an aquiline nose, a full mouth and long black hair,
Milos is ideally cast as Celia Amonte, a widow in her mid-30s who
lives in the Portuguese American community of New Bedford, Mass.
We meet her at a ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of the
sinking of a fishing vessel in which the lives of many men were
lost, including Celia's handsome husband who was so beloved by her
that she has decided to stay in deep mourning for life. She supports
herself and her pretty, headstrong teenage daughter, Vicky (Emmy
Rossum), as a seamstress in a clothing factory and as an impressive
fado singer in a local restaurant. (Fado is the traditional soulful
folk music of the Portuguese working people.) She and Vicky live in
a pleasant downstairs flat. Living above them is Angelica (Lupe
Ontiveros), her strong, supportive and no-nonsense mother-in-law who
lost her husband to the sea 35 years earlier.
Arriving in New Bedford about the time of the memorial ceremony is
Charlie Beck (Jason Isaacs), a 40-ish, nice-looking, English-born
cardsharp who has come to visit his old friend and one-time
colleague Daniel Vargas (Seymour Cassel) and his wife, Lois (Theresa
Russell), and to try his luck at a local casino. Unlike Daniel, who
was able to parlay his gambling into a life of considerable luxury
and who clearly knew when to quit, Charlie is a chronic loser, and
it soon becomes obvious that Daniel and Lois, who are as caring as
they are sophisticated, have been supporting Charlie for years and
not minding it because he is simply so pleasant to have around.
Writers Jim and Stephen Jermanok intricately yet briskly bring Celia
and Charlie together. Not surprisingly, Charlie is dazzled when he
watches Celia perform but true to form she rebuffs his attentions.
He persists, abetted first by Vicky and ultimately by Angelica, and
ever so gradually a tentative romance commences. The con man in
Charlie, however, surfaces when he insists on passing himself off as
the owner of Daniel's splendid estate and yacht.
Director Dan Ireland and the Jermanoks strive for and achieve a
light romantic comedy with some humorous, fanciful plotting yet
shaded by genuine tenderness and passion. As played by Milos and
Isaacs with perception and imagination, Celia and Charlie are a
beguiling couple, and the film attains depth through Celia's
conflicting emotions and the complexity of Charlie's appealing yet
flawed character.
In the way in which "Passionada" plays out, the filmmakers provide
Ontiveros, Rossum, Russell and Cassel roles more substantial than is
often the case with supporting players in love stories. Ontiveros'
warm authority allows Angelica to command attention with a few
well-chosen words; Rossum adds a lively, youthful spirit to the
story; and Russell, as witty and sensual as ever, and Cassel lend
the film style and wisdom.
Ireland's own style is graceful and unpretentious, and he clearly
cares deeply for his people, which gives the film added resonance.
No small amount of the film's pleasure derives from the inspired use
of New Bedford, a historic and picturesque town, as the setting for
"Passionada."
This story appeared on Page C1 of The Standard-Times
on August 16, 2003.
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