Maria's Lovers (1985)

worth watching

I think Maria's lovers is a nice enjoyable film, A little slow paced at times, a little soap opera-ish but enjoyable. While not having a lot of characters( the streets seem almost empty) it develops personalities well. I thought it focused on internal conflicts after coming home from war/military service and re-intergrading back into a small town. It challenges you to rethink what love is, real love between a young couple and how our own demons affect this relationship. While it did attempt to show some cultural background in the characters they were a little generic. Nastassja is stunning and the scenery of this small Pennsylvania town is breath taking. Overall a very nice and underrated movie
August 13, 2007

Challenges, changes and discoveries occuring before, during and after marriage

MARIA'S LOVERS (1984), was a hit, and frequently shown in the
theatres, back in the day of its release. Comprising famous stars
from that time, Nastassja Kinski, Robert Mitchum and John Savage,
the reputations of all 3 was extremely merited, considering the
outstanding job the actors did in bringing this work to life. Anita
Morris also packs a tremendous presence, as well, to the screen,
with dancing action and intense looks, interacting very well, too,
with the others, alternating between a hysterical, artificial call
girl of sorts, with a more serious, affectionate conduct.

Clearly, not all people in an audience finds a sentimental,
romantic movie appealing, that underlines the ephemeral nature of
various stages in one's life, (death, birth, the crossing from a
youthful maturity into married adulthood, and the need to make the
right choice for the relationship to work.)

The author shows an extreme skill in crafting a story about a
relationship between a man and a woman, before and after the
marriage, the challenges, changes and discoveries occuring
thereafter among the partners. It also tells how old habits
sometimes die hard, such as the urge for spontaneous romantic
relationships between other men and/or women even after the formal
union is made. As before, this show the character oscillating one
and another partner depending on which brings the most excitement
at the time, etc.

We see Kinski plaging a girl who easily infatuates, and captures
the sentimental imaginations of men, who are on the same wave
length as her own, that she projects unknowingly or not. At the
same time, Savage is the husband, who is unable to move beyond or
even cope with, those 2 feelings, both before, during and after
their marriage.

Unable to progress to a deeper, more meaningful emotional and
mental rapport with Kinski, Savage, reaching for immediate answers
and relief (like for an Aspirin), finds the solution in simple
girls of his own socio-economic background with which he was raised
and is comfortable in all aspects.

While all this is happening, isolated between her aging mother, her
career as a maternity ward nurse and as a neglected married woman,
Kinsky turns to casual romantic encounters with a handful of men
who can read her situation instinctively, and can satisfy her
artistic and other impulses.

The cinematography is impeccable, with a sharp, clear transfer to
DVD, even after 20 years, the movie doesn't seem to have aged at
all, on screen, especially from the timeless, idyllic tiny rural US
town depicted. The automobiles, homes, clothes worn, layout of the
town all convincingly shows that these are the 1950's or early
60s.

With Savage playing a veteran of the Second World War, released
from a Japanese POW camp, the movie wisely refrains from touching
upon the military life for more than only a few brief moments, to
avoid opening up a Pandora's box of pre-judgements, experiences,
struggles, hazings, isolation, stress, or memories of overcrowded
conditions of such a canp experience, that otherwise would distract
from the story.

Keith Carradine plays a ambulant musician, bringing some accoustic
guitar numbers, and a bit of humor and outside perspective to the
story, that otherwise would have obviously been more introverted,
intensely personal, occuring between Kinsky and Savage. June 22, 2007

Jaw dropping performance by Nastassja Kinski

She's a goddess I can't imagine another actress playing the role of Maria, and its nice to see the late Robert Mitchum in a very good film like this. Perhaps a very intimate film, a very good one to keep your relationship strong with your love one. August 12, 2006

simply great

Perhaps a very underated movie, but the story is unpredictable, Keith Carradine is very Hilarious here, And I just love the song Maria's eyes December 18, 2005

Kinski's best performace

Ive always admire Nastassja as an actress, but of all of her movies that I've saw, this is difinitely her best performace to date. Great movie esp. if you like European films in general, John Savage also plays the perfect role of Ivan Bibic, Maria's husband who struggles to fight his demons. The story is very realistic, it can happen to anyone......... December 18, 2005

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