Gloria (2014)

Age is just a number & you're never too old to stop following what the heart desires. Gloria centres on a divorced but free-spirited old woman who is trying to beat the loneliness & old age by going to singles' parties where she meets a former naval officer with whom she becomes romantically involved with & even dreams of a permanent relationship. But things aren't really as simple as they seem on the surface which later forces Gloria to confront her own secrets.This was the Chilean entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards & although it didn't impress me apart from a couple of things, there are many moments that'll make its viewers' smile. The best thing about Gloria is the character arc of Gloria herself, which is eminently illustrated on the screen by Paulina García in what is a scintillating & show- sweeping performance. The other thing I liked about it was the use of music.On an overall scale, Gloria can be viewed as a coming-of-age story set in old age & on a superficial level is simply about the celebration of life. Paulina García is definitely the best thing about this film but that doesn't mean its other aspects are a let-down by any means. The direction is fine, the script is intriguing but all these didn't really ring any bell like I was expecting it to but I do admire what it was trying to express.A good film that promises a fun ride but stumbles a little during its middle act, Gloria is by no means a great film but then by no means it's bad either. It didn't work for me but the story it has is pretty satisfactory for a mainstream audience.

I was enticed by the previews I had seen in Feb. - really wanted to see this movie. The good things - true portrayal of a lonely divorced woman seeking companionship and sex. A man who is looking for a caring woman but at the same time he is so tied with his family and not free to have a real relationship. the diagnosis of glaucoma did nothing for the movie except provide a reason for the eye drop scenes. The presentation of sex between the main characters was refreshing since it was real - and no body doubles. Cons: boring - slow - little joy - smoking (i know this is a foreign film but I really do not like smoking). I thought there would be more fun in this movie - mislead by the previews. However the scene towards the end where she returns his paint ball guns was priceless. I was disappointed by the film even thought it was true to life. It was not that entertaining.

If there is one film that defines the notion that 'no coming of age story can be depicted too late', it's Gloria. After getting divorced and watching her children's lives take exciting new turns, whether it be raising a family of their own or exploring new career opportunities, Gloria could have easily fallen into a sad life, alone and miserable. Instead, wise, beautiful and full of life, Gloria decides to live her life to the fullest by working hard and playing even harder. Whether it's dressing up to go out dancing, singing aloud to her car stereo, or doing yoga for the first time, Gloria gives new life and meaning to the 'coming of age narrative'. As the audience follows a character whom, at a much later age, still endures the 'coming of age' trials that we mostly see in preteens or young adults, Gloria brings to light many of the trials that countless women face today. Sadly however, Gloria becomes a very specific, dreary, and essentially uneventful character study intended for a very specific demographic with very little to offer larger audiences. As a film critic responsible for representing the voice of younger film enthusiasts and a new generation of film lovers, I have an appreciation and understanding of the opinions of others. With that said, I approach every film unbiased, informed and open-minded, as I would with any piece of art. Now, there are very few times where pieces of cinema actually become timeless pieces of art. I believe, that in order for a film to be timeless, it must reach leaps and bounds beyond it's key demographic and speak to people, regardless of it's time-frame or the age of it's characters/subjects. In many cases, films speak to the audiences they are targeted to, hence why most films are surveyed by demographics based on age. Films like Blue is the Warmest Colour, Something's Gotta Give and her, have very specific viewing audiences and are able to succeed (critically and financially) by marketing themselves appropriately among these demographics. Every so often, there comes a film that roots itself in certain time-frames using a specific age- centric voice/or place in history (fictional or non-fictional), and becomes a universal piece of cinematic language. Recently, films like The Social Network, The Past and Nebraska, not only become film pieces that are embedded within a specific time-frame understood by a few, but effortlessly speak volumes to many. Unfortunately, Gloria becomes a very specific tale of hope for divorced middle-aged men and women in search of love, sex, and meaning after the life they always thought they'd share with someone falls to pieces.The most fantastic element with Gloria is her ability to avoid melancholia, however what's discrediting to the film altogether is that it's underlining feeling is melancholic. Gloria's loneliness is her biggest downfall as a character. Her dependency on the company of others leads her into a relationship with Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández), a man who flaunts his wealth in order to attract Gloria yet basis his own happiness on her simple beauty and effortless sex appeal. With the loud ring of each of her phone calls and his quick answer, Rodolfo quickly becomes a foreshadowing of his inability to please Gloria's endless appetites–both inside and outside the bedroom. It is through Gloria's relationships with others, including Rodolfo and her daughter's boyfriend Theo (Eyal Meyer), that both she and the audience is able to explore the colourful sides of her multifaceted personality and youthful demeanour.Much like the main titled character herself, the film experiences a change of heart halfway through, and then again abandons those thoughts not long after. The film has much to say about a woman who's unquenchable sex-drive and lust for passion are thwarted daily. Her quest for love and romanticized notions of affection are held next to the ideals of the songs she sings on the radio and within the small discos and dance halls where she meets men. After all is said and done, Gloria still seems to find her appetite unsatiated, not for a lack of meeting men, but instead as a result of the preconceived notions she has about the world of cougar dating.The role of Gloria is one with much depth. Although it may seem hard to imagine many other seasoned actresses jumping to take the part, I could name at least ten that would be excellent in showing the impending doom of a middle-aged woman who is slowing becoming a ticking menopausal time bomb. One of the most important factors of Garcia's interpretation of the role was her ability to personify such a real yet totally attainable beauty. Gloria is neither super- model gorgeous nor is she another plain-Jane; Garcia's interpretation of the character not only highlights so much of her natural beauty, but dulls those physicality's once her personality and poor decision making comes back in horrifying fashion. It is a beauty that can only be understood once you see it for yourself on screen.There are only so many clubs scenes filled with middle-aged men and elderly folk that one can watch in one sitting without wanting something more. There is no denying that Gloria caters to a very specific, yet very large group of men and women who feel hopeless and lost after a divorce or separation. This film looks to give people hope–a hope that involves them calling the shots and holding all the cards. However, after the final credits role, the fact still remains; life isn't one big club scene with endless Latin music and meet-cute scenarios. After all the glamour and bright lights fade, Gloria becomes a slow and repeated example of films that use very little to achieve even less–if not nothing at all.

The big revelation in Chilean director Sebastian Lelio's Gloria is that older people are still interested in sex. Who would've thunk it? We thought they had moved on to other interests. In any event, in the superb performance by Paulina Garcia for which she won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2013, 58-year-old Gloria is definitely a "force of nature." Gloria (who is in every scene in the film) shows her zest for life by going to singles clubs on the weekends, dancing, drinking alcohol, smoking pot, singing along with the car radio, and having sex (not that there's anything wrong with that). You won't catch her doing old fogy things, such as body, mind, and spirit-nurturing type of stuff (except for a halfhearted stab at yoga).She is, nonetheless, a courageous woman who fights off loneliness with tenacity remarkable at any age. Unfortunately, she also proves that she can be just as self-absorbed, unable to communicate, and inconsiderate as anyone, regardless of age or condition. Divorced for many years, Gloria lives alone in a small apartment in Santiago where, after working all day, she has to contend with the noise of a drug addict who lives upstairs. Her relationship with her adult children, Pedro (Diego Fontecilla), who has an infant and daughter Ana (Fabiola Zamora), who is pregnant with the child of her Swedish boyfriend, is good, at least on the surface.The fact that she has to keep reminding them to call her, however, raises questions about how close their relationship is. One weekend at the dance club, Gloria connects with Rodolfo (Sergio Hernandez), an ex-Navy officer who has been divorced for one year, and they begin a relationship that seems promising. Rodolfo owns a small amusement park where he and Gloria have fun together, shooting each other with paint guns and bungee jumping. His continuing close relationship with his ex-wife and two daughters whom he supports financially, however, begins to get in the way and their good times together come to a sudden halt when Rodolfo meets Gloria's children and somewhat strange ex-husband Gabriel (Alejandro Goic) at Pedro's birthday party.Feeling ignored to the point of being invisible, Rodolfo reacts to Gloria and Gabriel's reminiscing about the past and showing each other photos from the family album by abruptly getting up and leaving. After avoiding his phone calls for what appears to be several days, they finally meet but neither takes responsibility for what happened. Although he tries to explain what prompted his action at the party, she turns a deaf ear and continues to blame him for being "rude." A similar scenario plays out when they reestablish their friendship and spend a weekend at an upscale resort where the director does not flinch from showing their naked bodies in bed.When Rodolfo receives a phone call from one of his daughters telling him that his ex-wife just had a serious accident, he is anxious to go and be with her. Instead of letting him know that it is okay with her if he chooses to go, Gloria tells him to let go of his past and be in present time. Without regards for his being upset at the moment, she presses him to agree to go with her on a ten-day vacation to Cuba. Though it is not surprising when he again walks out and leaves her alone, it is apparent that open and honest communication would have worked better. Again, blaming him for being rude, she cuts off all communications and petulantly unleashes a paint-gun attack on his home.Without question, accolades are warranted for Garcia's performance and she deserves all the awards and nominations she has received. Gloria can be charming and the world could certainly use more free spirits, yet, while many will cheer her actions with a "you go girl" mindset, a distinction needs to be made between an independent spirit and those who behave in a juvenile manner. Unfortunately, however, Lelio does not make any. It is left to Gloria to finally figure out the difference between pleasure and joy.