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Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, Antonio Banderas ... see more see more... , Maria Conchita Alonso , Vincent Gallo , Jan Niklas , Joaquín Martínez , Sarita Choudhury , Teri Polo , Miriam Colon , Armin Mueller-Stahl , Vanessa Redgrave , Pedro Efe , Denys Hawthorne , Lone Lindorff , Vivian Reis , Carlos Rodríguez , Jaime Tirelli , Martin Umbach , Fran Fullenwider , Miguel Guilherme , Steve Mason , Frank Baker , Mamie Gummer

Bille August directed this film version of the Isabel Allende novel, featuring a cast that includes Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close. The story is a sweeping and brooding melodrama, spannin... read more read more...g generations and filled with violence, revenge, and telekinesis. The tale begins in South America in 1926, when a young man, Esteban (Jeremy Irons), falls in love with the daughter of a rich man, Rosa Del Valle (Teri Polo). He vows to become rich enough to make her his wife and spends months of toil in the gold fields to earn enough money to do just that. Before the two marry, however, Rosa is killed by poison meant for her father. After the tragedy, Esteban moves to Trés Marias, an abandoned ranch, and spends 20 years of his life turning the ranch into a thriving estate, exploiting the labor of the poor who live off the land. When he returns to the city, he comes across Rosa's younger sister Clara (Meryl Streep), now a woman with telekinetic abilities. Clara took a vow of silence years before, but upon the arrival of Esteban, she speaks for the first time in years -- "You have come to propose marriage to me," she says. Esteban and Clara marry, and Esteban takes her back to the ranch, where they have a daughter, Blanca (Winona Ryder). Their daughter falls in love with the son of one of Esteban's foremen, a hot-headed revolutionary named Pedro (Antonio Banderas). Now, the country is in the throes of revolution. Esteban banishes his sister Ferula (Glenn Close) from the ranch, beats his wife, and rapes a peasant woman. The product of Esteban's rape (Joaquin Martinez) grows into an angry young man who convinces Esteban to send him away to military school. When there is a military coup, the illegitimate son returns to Trés Marias with revenge and torture on his mind. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

8,829 ratings

Critics

44% liked it

16 critics

R, 2 hr. 12 min.

Directed by: Bille August

Release Date: April 1, 1994

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DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

Stats: 419 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (419)

  • deano
    June 10, 2009
    deano
    Even a high-powered cast cannot save this sketchy depiction of 70 years in the history of an unnamed country (reportedly Chile) as seen by three generations of aristocracy. Not quite an all-out embarrassment, but close.
  • lesleyanorton
    April 10, 2011
    lesleyanorton
    Shit film, good book.
  • SunilJawahir
    June 2, 2008
    SunilJawahir
    Wow. I get the feeling the book was not nearly as crappy as this.
  • ileo
    December 20, 2007
    ileo
    Fantastic!
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 9, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    Jeremy Irons Plays a Selfish Cruel Man, he leaves the Care of their equally selfish Mother to his Sister & she becomes a resentful Spinster & then the Plot Thickens! Pretty Good
  • rinkadink
    March 11, 2009
    rinkadink
    I don't get the point of this movie....deals with racism, sexual relationships, ummm that's all I can remember. I hate this movie.
  • dgogirlie
    October 2, 2008
    dgogirlie
    I never get tired of this movie. Meryl Streep is great (shocking!) as well as the rest of a very strong cast. Excellent story.
  • ptrcdckrsn
    August 13, 2007
    ptrcdckrsn
    Great movie! History, all star cast. A must see for those that appreciate a little history added to their imagination

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Critic Reviews

Prairie Miller
April 30, 2011
Prairie Miller, WBAI Radio

Antonio Banderas invigorates this glum gothic family saga as a defiant young Chilean revolutionary. And without her idea for The House of The Spirits, Isabel Allende insists she would not be a writer ... Full Review

Emanuel Levy
October 27, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

A total misfire, from conception to execution to casting. With the exception of Banderas, all the leads are played by American and British actors.

James Sanford
November 22, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Sterling cast, but a thoroughly mundane movie

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Todd McCarthy
September 26, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Joe Brown
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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