Directed by Woody Allen

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Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlet Johansson) have different attitudes towards love. As the film’s narration tells us, Vicky has no tolerance for pain or lust for combat and Cristina accepts suffering as a necessary component of deep passion. They are on vacation in Spain when they meet artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) who proposes that they spend the weekend together. Although Woody Allen’s thirty-eighth film is a romantic comedy, it does bring up some interesting thoughts on the capricious anatomy of love, particularly when Juan Antonio’s tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) becomes part of the mix.

The pragmatic Vicky and the impulsive Cristina have made completely different life choices, with Vicky doing her Masters and planning to get married and Cristina aimlessly wandering through life. The voice over narration gives the film a fairy tale feeling, as do the sumptuous Spanish locations and ample indulgence of wine, food and of course the Latin lover. Often bathed in golden light, the film teases the audience with romantic scenes, music, art and culture. It is as if both these young women are able to live their dreams instead of settling for the realities that await them. Unfortunately beliefs change when insights are learned through experience and Allen, as usual, succeeds in being provocative and proving that there is much tragedy to be found in comedy.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the first film for Kings Park’s Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema. It screens for one night only (Tuesday 9 December) at the Synergy Parkland (off May Drive), as there is a different film each night from Tuesday to Sunday until 15 March. See moonlight.com.au for the full program. Look out for the Mamma Mia Sing-a-long and cult classics such as Donnie Darko, The Wizard of Oz, Two Hands and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Lezly Her