5/10
My old life
10 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This Argentine melodrama seems to have been a vehicle created to bring together two strong personalities of the Spanish speaking cinema, namely, for Cecilia Roth and Ana Belen. Both actresses had done much better before. The screenplay is by Angeles Gonzalez Sinde, Spain's former minister of culture, the author of a controversial law in her country that bears her name that has been a thorny issue. Alberto Macias also collaborated on the script, based on a novel by Marcela Serrano. Hector Olivera directed.

The premise is pure, unadulterated soap opera. Violeta, an Argentine woman, had seen her mother gone into exile in Guatemala, where she eventually died, away from her daughter. Josefa, is Violeta's best friend. She is a Spaniard who had a long career in the music industry, now living in Buenos Aires with her wealthy lawyer husband. Josefa is undergoing a low point in her career; being the composer of her songs, she cannot get it together anymore.

Violeta, who had a long list of men in her life, meets and falls in love with Eduardo, a writer, trying to write a novel, but he is stuck. In that state, he beats Violeta at times, something that appalls Josefa. When Violeta receives news from some people in Antigua, Guatemala, about her dead mother, she decides to go. Meeting Emilio Palma, in Antigua, turns out to be a key element in the development of the melodrama by being the one that helps Violeta find peace knowing where her mother is buried.

When Violeta gets back, she realizes she is pregnant, something that was denied to her. Eduardo, upon learning of the fact, becomes enraged. He has a potent reason to be. Eduardo begins beating Violeta but she gets a gun and kills him. Josefa comes to her rescue, pressing her husband Andres to get leniency. The motive for the murder is only revealed to Josefa as the story ends.

Cecilia Roth is a good actress, no matter how bad the movie is. She deserved better. Ana Belen also has been more effective in other films. As Josefa, she plays second fiddle to her co-star. Jorge Marrale is seen as Andres and Juan Leyrado plays Eduardo.
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