FABLELIKE `ARCTIC CIRCLE' FOR LOVERS OF ROMANCE.Byline: Frank Scheck Hollywood Reporter Spanish director Julio Medem's feature is a would-be haunting tale of star-crossed lovers. From its title on down, ``Lovers of the Arctic Circle'' tries so hard for a fablelike effect that its straining effort lessens whatever charm it might have possessed. The film is visually gorgeous and beautifully put together, but only the most susceptible will be swept away by its intensity. Ana and Otto - both names are palindromes, the better to accentuate the film's exploration of the circular nature of life - are 8-year-olds whose lives intersect after Ana's father dies in a car crash and Ana decides that his spirit has entered Otto's body. Eventually Otto's father, who is separated, gets together with Ana's mother, and the two children find themselves living with each other part time. As the pair grow older, they fall in love and secretly consummate their relationship. But when Otto moves in with his father in order to be closer to Ana, his mother's resulting anguish kills her, and a grief-stricken Otto runs away. Ana and Otto thereafter lead separate lives; Ana becomes a schoolteacher and moves in with a man who was Otto's former teacher, while Otto, who has always been obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with airplanes, becomes a pilot for a company that flies courier planes between Spain and Finland, near the Arctic Circle Arctic Circle, imaginary circle on the surface of the earth at 66 1-2°N latitude, i.e., 23 1-2° south of the North Pole. It marks the northernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the winter solstice (about Dec. . The two don't meet for many years, though their parallel lives often intersect without the other knowing it. Ana, a fierce proponent of the redemptive powers of destiny, remains convinced that they will one day be together, even after she moves to Finland. There she meets a former German pilot who, through a plot contrivance far too complicated to go into, turns out to be the man for whom Otto was named. Otto and Ana eventually see each other again, under circumstances that will leave some in tears and others shaking their heads in bafflement baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. . Of course, as the curmudgeons in the audience will no doubt decide, these romantic travails could have been avoided if Otto hadn't run away. ``Arctic Circle'' is one of those symbolic, magical realism magical realism n. A chiefly literary style or genre originating in Latin America that combines fantastic or dreamlike elements with realism. tales that relies on an endless series of coincidences, near misses and pseudo-mystical events to propel its utterly implausible plot. Those with an appetite for such fare will find much to appreciate, especially since Medem has framed his intricately constructed story in a glossy visual manner that is gorgeous to look at, and Najwa Nimri Najwa Nimri (born February 14 1972 in Pamplona, Spain) is a Spanish actress and singer. Her mother is Basque and her father is Jordanian; his name is Karam Nimri. Her name means ecstasy in Arabic. When she was a child she moved to Bilbao and now lives in Madrid. , who plays the grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. Ana, delivers a performance of haunting intensity. THE FACTS The film: ``Lovers of the Arctic Circle'' (R; sexuality and brief language). In Spanish with subtitles. The stars: Fele Martinez, Najwa Nimri, Nancho Novo Nancho Novo (A Coruña, 17 September, 1958). He studied Medicine at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, but he stopped it at half to move to Madrid to study acting in the Real Escuela de Arte Dramático y Danza. , Maru Valdivielso, Peru Medem, Sara Valiente. Behind the scenes: Written and directed by Julio Medem. Released by Fine Line Features. Running time: One hour, 52 minutes. Playing: Laemmle's Town Center 5 in Encino, Laemmle's Monica in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , and Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. Our rating: Two stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Tragedy begins a relationship between Otto (Fele Martinez), left, and Ana (Najwa Nimri) in ``Lovers of the Arctic Circle.'' |
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