I recently rented and watched Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona, a classic Woody Allen film about people looking for fulfillment and living their dreams rather than settling. The movie takes place in Barcelona and highlights the adventures of two American women spending the summer in Barcelona. Vicky, a straight laced woman about to get married, and Cristina, played by Scarlett Johansson who portrays a sexually adventurous woman looking to find the artist she hopes to have in her. They encounter a suave painter, played by Javier Bardem who happens to be recovering from a scandalous divorce from an emotionally unstable beautiful painter, played by Penelope Cruz.
The story is eclectic and the chances of anyone actually living through this romance adventure is slim, at least in my circle. Threesomes, cheating mates, dysfunctional relationships, murder attempts, bisexuality, desperate housewives and all the classic Woody Allen plots. That is what I thought until the next day after I watched the movie.
You see the movie was about two basic concepts. Following your heart, and regrets. The movie was so successful in making me think about following my heart. It also made me want to go to Barcelona and drink tons of wine but that's not hard. It also reminded me of the time when I had hoped to have a creative genius inside me. Hoping everyday that I would discover my secret talent. May be I could paint, may be write, may be make films and just may be create something that people would react to and admire... Cristina, although nothing like me, was like me when I was younger. Beside searching for the Rodin or the Picasso in me, I also always knew one thing. What I didn't want! I always thought it would be so much easier if I knew the opposite... what I wanted.
Watch this movie. If for nothing do it for Mr. Bardem....
