Movie: A Walk in the Clouds

The movie, “A Walk in the Clouds”, is a film directed by Alfonso Arau that won an award for best original score.  Keanu Reeves plays Sgt. Paul Sutton, a war hero who has just returned from war to reunite with his wife Betty (Debra Messing), whom he married just before he shipped off to war.  Tired of the violence of war, he desired a simple and peaceful farm life but his wife insisted that he went back to his former job of being a traveling chocolate salesman.      

It was during his sales trip that he met Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), a beautiful but troubled young woman. Paul learned that the woman left home to obtain a masters degree, fell in love with her professor, got pregnant by him only to be abandoned after learning of her pregnancy.  She was on her way home to inform her family of her condition, but she was terrified of how violently her father Alberto (Giancarlo Giannini), a very traditional and proud man, will react. Taking pity of her, Paul offered to pretend to be her husband and after being introduced to her family he would leave the next day, in that way disgrace will not be much on her but on him for leaving his pregnant wife.  Later he finds out that the Aragons own a large vineyard.   Most of the Aragon family accepted them, especially her Grandfather Don Pedro (Anthony Quinn), but her father was always critical of Paul but Paul remained respectful.  For one reason or another, Paul’s departure kept on being delayed but he did not take advantage of the developing feelings between him and Victoria.  

On the day Paul had to leave, Victoria found the courage to tell her family the truth.   Her father was angry.  Paul returned to his wife only to discover her with another man.   Paul and his wife agreed to divorce since their marriage was a mistake, they rushed to get married because of the war.   He then went back to Victoria ready to marry her only to be met by her father, drunk and full of rage.   He refused to listen to Paul and even threw a lamp at him so that he would leave.  That burned down the vineyard.   All seemed lost, there appears to be no roots to replant.  While everyone else were crying and feeling hopeless, Paul found the last unburned root.  Everyone was thankful and finally Victoria’s father accepted him to the family. 

The movie is unrealistic. Paul, the main character, is an extravagantly chivalrous person.  Uncommon are people like Paul quick to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress, ready to risk life, willing to be exposed to ridicule and severe criticism, but wanting nothing in return, done not out of romantic love but out of idealism and pureness of heart if only to protect the honor of a stranger.  

While Paul may be the main character, it is not he who delivers the most moving dialogue but Victoria’s father when he said “This is the root of your life, the root of your family, you are bound to this land and to this family, my commitment, my honor, my love” as his way of showing his change of heart and finally accepting Paul in to the family.

         It is of the romantic drama story genre with a happy ending.  In the end everything fell in to place.  Love conquered all.   Pureness of heart was rewarded.   And the overall message is that good triumphed in the end.                                                                              

Source: A Walk in the Clouds