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Solomon
and Gaenor (1999)
Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Nia
Roberts, Sue Jones-Davies, William Thomas, Mark Lewis Jones, Maureen Lipman,
David Horovitch, Bethan Ellis Owen, Adam Jenkins, Cyril Shaps, Daniel Kaye,
Elliot Cantor, Steffan Rhodri, Emyr Wyn, Julian Lewis Jones
Directed by Paul Morrisson
Rated R for sexuality and
a scene of violence.
by J. Robert Parks
This Romeo-and-Juliet inspired
tale is set in the Welsh coal mining region around 1911. Solomon (Ioan
Gruffudd, Wilde) is a Jewish boy who works for his father's cloth
shop, while Gaenor (Nia Roberts in her debut film) is a Welsh girl helping
her mom keep house. The two fall quickly in love, and there's something
wonderful about watching their passionate romance. It certainly doesn't
hurt that both actors are stunningly attractive. But their deeply religious
parents soon assert their authority, and the rest of the film details the
pair's attempt to carry on their relationship in spite of all obstacles.
Never overbearing, even in its portrayal of the bigoted relatives, the
movie is surprisingly sensitive (and informative) about both the religious
issues and the economic difficulties of a coal-mining village. Unfortunately,
the tale is as bleak as the winter countryside, and the film soon becomes
an endurance test for the audience.
J Robert 10/23/2000
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