Love in the Time of Cholera, based on the book written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, is a breath of fresh air in the modern era of picture perfect media romances. In many cinematic versions of romance, there is the perfect ending for the physically beautiful couple in a world faced against all odds standing in opposition to them.

Unlike those movies, the actors in Love in the Time of Cholera are made to seem ordinary, even mundane in character and appearance. There is a complexity that belies the story, of things we face through out life that we create such as our demons and losses. There is never a sweet moment through out without a moment of sadness that only stands to increase the sweetness and appreciation of the characters' circumstances.

At times a viewer is torn between who is the offender, the victim, the villain and the hero. It is all uncertain throughout the move as the characters seem to evade any traditional definitions or parts. Like a fine choreographed dance, they interchange and intricately weave the story web tighter.

The filming of the movie is equally as engrossing. The wide panoramic views of spectacular areas, rich costumes yet not overstated to appear contrived and gorgeous filming capturing the architecture of old Spanish houses of the settler days, this movie is dream like yet ground well in a touch of something familiar.

For those who read the book, you may find it interesting to compare the characters you found in your interpretation of the book with the ones in this movie, but never will you feel let down or disappointed as the rhythm of the movie overcomes the simplest of slights to the integrity of the original piece. Naturally no movie can create the story as well as the fine workings of the mind but this version of Love in the Time of Cholera is sure to please.

Finally there is a light yet bitter air to the entire film that leave one aching for love, a chance to live in a time where life was simple and passion could indeed rule a man. The perfect date movie. The perfect rainy day movie. Sure to be a classic and talked about for years to come as the books was preceding.