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Vicky Cristina Barcelona, this
Valentine's must see movie for
lovebirds and free spirits alike, hits UK cinemas nationwide on 13th
February 2009.
Woody Allen's latest film marks
both a return to form and a return to the themes of impulsive
romance at which he excels, this time transposed to an appropriately
seductive Barcelona.
Just as New York City was the
backdrop in Woody Allen's "Manhattan," the stunning city of
Barcelona is the setting for the romantic adventures of Vicky and
Cristina.
Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina
(Scarlett Johansson) are best friends, but have completely different
attitudes towards love. Vicky is sensible and engaged to a
respectable young man. Cristina is sexually and emotionally
uninhibited, perpetually searching for a passion that will sweep her
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When Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and Mark (Kevin Dunn), distant
relatives of Vicky, offer to host them for a summer in Barcelona,
the two of them eagerly accept: Vicky wants to spend her last months
as a single woman doing research for her Masters, and Cristina is
looking for a change of scenery to flee the psychic wreckage of her
last breakup.
One night at an art gallery,
Cristina, true to form, instantly locks eyes on the most intense and
provocative man in the room, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a
handsome painter. Cristina is only more intrigued when Judy whispers
that Juan Antonio had such an explosive relationship with his
ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz) that one of them tried to kill
the other. Later that night, when Vicky and Cristina are having
dinner, Juan Antonio approaches their table with a brazen
proposition: fly with him for a weekend trip to the provincial town
of Oviedo, where he suggests they explore the cultural wonders,
drink fine wine, and make love together. Vicky finds his proposal
obnoxious, but Cristina is enchanted by his directness and charisma,
and persuades Vicky to accompany her.
During a day of sightseeing and
fine dining in Oviedo, Juan Antonio speaks in reverential terms
about the magnificent Maria Elena, the great love of his life.
Despite their profound connection, their passions ran too high for
them to be together. Once, things got so cataclysmic that Maria
Elena stabbed him in a mad fit of jealousy.
That night, Juan Antonio invites
the girls to his room—an offer Vicky adamantly refuses and Cristina
willingly consents to. But just as Cristina and Juan Antonio are
about to fall into bed, Cristina becomes ill, and it’s Vicky who
spends the remainder of the weekend alone with him. Juan Antonio
takes Vicky to meet his father and opens his heart about his
childhood hopes and his turbulent relationship with Maria Elena.
Perceiving a deeper side to him, Vicky gradually sheds her
misgivings, and during the romantic night before they leave Oviedo,
Vicky and Juan Antonio make love.
After returning to Barcelona, Vicky
can’t stop thinking about Juan Antonio. Meanwhile he directs his
romantic attentions to the available and willing Cristina, who soon
moves in with him. When Vicky expresses her disappointment, he
points out that as she’s engaged, it would cause needless pain for
everyone if they continued.
Indeed, Vicky’s fiancé Doug (Chris
Messina) arrives in Barcelona early, and the two are soon married.
As Cristina and Juan Antonio settle into a dreamy life together, one
night he is awakened by an alarming phone call—Juan Antonio’s
ex-wife Maria Elena is at the hospital after a suicide attempt.
Returning home with the dazzlingly beautiful and tempestuous Maria
Elena, Juan Antonio explains to a stunned Cristina that his she will
have to stay with them for a few months, as she has nowhere else to
go.
Jealous and suspicious, and subject
to wild mood swings, Maria Elena misses no opportunity to bicker
with Juan Antonio and put Cristina down. In time, she becomes more
relaxed and settles into a warmer relationship with Juan Antonio and
even mentors Cristina’s pursuit of photography. Maria Elena tells
Cristina that she is the “missing ingredient” that allows her to
live happily with Juan Antonio. In a transition that is tranquil and
natural, the three of them become lovers.
By chance at a party sometime
later, Vicky sees Judy kissing Mark’s business partner. After Judy
tells Vicky that she hasn’t been in love with Mark for years, Vicky
reveals her feelings for Juan Antonio. Determined to rescue Vicky
from her own fate, Judy tries to bring Vicky and Juan Antonio
together. Meanwhile, Cristina, as always, is starting to get
restless. As the summer draws to a close, Vicky and Cristina learn
some hard lessons about love—and about themselves.
Set against the luscious
Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is
Woody Allen’s funny and wise meditation on love, in all its romance,
exhilaration, heartache, and elusive mystery.
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