Bride of the Wind Reviews
Although it has great production values, set, and costumes, as well as a fairly decent cast, Sarah Wynter makes a rather boring Alma, a character who should be full of life and passion, and the script is bland as well, when the famous persons who are the characters were full romantic and eccentric quirks in real life.
"Bride of the Wind," 2001?s biopic of Alma Mahler, is an intriguing look into the life of one of music history's most polarizing characters. While the critics hated it, anybody with a decent knowledge of Gustav and/or Alma Mahler will enjoy seeing these historical figures brought to life. The entire first half of the film is Alma's relationship with Gustav, creating sympathy for Alma without making Gustav into a bad guy. It mostly portrays them as incompatible as Gustav is too preoccupied with his music to realize that Alma is struggling. The moment when Gustav confronts Alma with the letter written to her by lover Walter Gropius is chilling, as well as when Oskar Kokoschka reveals his famous intimate painting of Alma, "The Bride of the Wind." The film score is full of Mahler's greatest works, including the 3rd Symphony, 5th Symphony, 6th Symphony, and Kindertotenlieder amongst other pieces. While the acting isn't of "Shawshank" stature, Jonathan Pryce is an excellent Gustav and Sarah Wynter shows why men were so intrigued with the strong-willed Alma (a.k.a. she's hott). This movie has been buried by its horrific critical reception but it is a treasure to any person who takes interest in the lives of the Mahlers.
darn woman! I was not very impressed with the main role (the character and the actress). The only good thing was Vincent Perez, charming as always.
(* 1/2): [img]http://images.chrc4work.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I didn't expect to see something this awful. The story and acting (for the most part) is quite laughable and the film as a whole is really, really boring. The only really positive thing is that the film has some decent cinematography; some good substance to go with it would have (of course) helped! A major disappointment.
Sarah Wynter is a trifle gaunt in the modern manner to quite convey the physical appeal I discerned in the sensual photograph of Alma Maria Schindler on a bearskin taken in 1899 (she was 19), but she and the rest of the cast have been chosen with a keen eye for their physical resemblance. The screenplay, as sketchy as it is in compressing the times and the work of these men, still contains a satisfying number of true details. The sense of Alma's character is weak.
Great costumes, otherwise not worth it. The temptress is hardly tempting and you are left wondering what exactly drew Klimt and Mahler to her.
Filled with so many good intentions, but the film still falls short of success. I guess the tale of repressed expression and unsatisfactory marriages has gotten a bit stale. Nonetheless, I'm still thankful that Alma inspired "Bride of the Wind (The Tempest)." It's still my favorite painting of all time.
Interesting real-life story of a beautiful woman and her lot in life as a muse for some very famous artists (architects, compsors, artists...). Pleasantly not so tragic.
Rented and watched mainly for the intrinsic entertainment value in watching Hurricane Pryce ravage the Bay of Sarah Wynter's Face. The music is mostly Mahler, I believe, which is pleasant.