ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 22, 1996 TAG: 9606240134
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: RUSSELL EVANSEN WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
The Dutch film "Antonia's Line" recalls the novels of such "magical realist" authors as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende, but it's far less political. In tone, it's closer to "Like Water for Chocolate," yet it lacks that movie's lush sensuality.
What it shares with those other works, however, is a reverence for the power and the mystery of nature, and a conviction that our ties to one another, and to the endless cycles of birth and death, are far more important than our ties to communities, governments or religions.
"Antonia's Line" is fundamentally the story of Antonia (Willeke van Ammelrooy), who is on her deathbed as the film begins. In flashback we see how the young Antonia returned to her village after World War II, dragging her skeptical daughter Danielle (Els Dottermans) with her.
Here the locals have colorful names like Crooked Finger, Loony Lips and Mad Madonna (no, not her), and religious statues sometimes seem to come to life. But life overall is fairly serene and bucolic, which suits Antonia just fine.
Antonia is a fiercely independent widow who refuses to accept the marriage proposals of a local farmer. So it's no surprise that Danielle one day concludes she, too, would like to have a baby - but has no interest in getting married.
Antonia and Danielle head off to the city to select a proper ``donor,'' and settle on a handsome (though inarticulate) motorcyclist, who dutifully gets Danielle pregnant on the first try. Danielle's daughter, the lovely Therese, turns out to be a precocious little genius.
As her mother falls into a passionate relationship with her (female) tutor, Therese grows up to find most men make hopelessly inadequate mates - especially those whom she considers to be her intellectual equal. She settles on a kind but dim childhood friend, who promptly gets her pregnant and gives her a daughter of her own.
If you haven't caught on by now, men, ``Antonia's Line'' takes a rather jaundiced view of the male sex.
Actually, in spite of the fact that the women in "Antonia's Line" view men with feelings ranging from contempt to tolerance, the movie itself is no strident feminist screed. Writer-director Marleen Gorris keeps the focus on the indestructible family bonds that tie these women to their children, and to one another, throughout their lives - and perhaps even into the next life.
Antonia's Line ** 1/2
Playing at The Grandin Theatre. Unrated but contains nudity and sexual situations. In Dutch, with English subtitles, 103 minutes.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Willeke van Ammelrooy (left) is Antonia, and Elsby CNBDottermans is her daughter, Danielle, in ``Antonia's Line.'' color.