Maria’s Lovers
Encyclopedia
Maria’s Lovers is a 1984
drama film
directed by Andrei Konchalovsky
and starring Nastassja Kinski
, John Savage
and Robert Mitchum
. The plot follows a soldier returning from World War II who marries the woman of his dreams, but he is unable to consummate his marriage ruining the couples chances of a share happiness.
Shortly after his arrival, Ivan looks for his childhood sweetheart, Maria, a beautiful woman who is taking care of her old deaf grandmother. However, he is disappointed to find Maria in the arms of Al, a captain. Ivan’s father thinks that Maria is too good for his son, but perhaps good enough for himself. He pairs his son with Mrs. Wynic, a flirty neighbor. Ivan has sex with her, but he is tormented by the traumas of the war. He tells her that it was his dreams about Maria that allowed him to survive the prison camp.
Ivan is given a hero’s welcoming by his community, formed by Immigrants from Yugoslavia. During the celebrations, when Al goes to dance with one of Maria’s friends, Ivan grabs the opportunity to get close to her. Together they leave the party in his motorbike and head for their favorite spot of years ago. He gives her a pair of earrings that he planted there for her, before leaving for the war. The next morning Al is furious and breaks his relationship with Maria. Ivan's goal is fulfilled and he marries Maria in an orthodox ceremony, but his dream of a happiness share with Maria is soon broken. Having adored Maria for so long and from a far now that he has her close to him, Ivan is unable to consummate the marriage. Their happiness is shattered.
Maria works as a nurse and would like to have children. Deeply in love with Ivan, she has to deal with her increasing sexual frustration. On the advice of Clarence, a drifter singer passing by the town, Ivan reaffirms his sense of manliness with Mrs Wynic. He is not impotent with her. Maria discovers this and a terrible argument occurs between them. The couple are invited by Al to his engagement party to Maria’s girlfriend. In the middle of this gathering, Al breaks off the engagement realizing that he is still in love with Maria. Al and Ivan have a confrontation. Ivan offers him to take Maria,but to prove how much he loves her put his hand in a burning stove. Maria very much in love with Ivan tells Al that she does not love him.
Maria heals Ivan’s hand, but the unhappiness between them increases further. She is pursued by Clarence who tries to seduce her, but she remains faithful to Ivan and resist his advances. One day, unexpectedly, Ivan leaves town on a train without coming back. He moves to a new city, stars to work in a slaughter house and makes new friends.
Left on her own devices Maria finally succumbs to Clarence advances, but immediately after vehemently rejects him. As a result of this encounter she gets pregnant. While going out with his friends one night, Ivan meets Clarence once again. Clarence does not remember him and tells the story of how he seduced Maria, but later she refused to have anything else to do with him. Furious, Ivan hits Clarence who still does not know what is going on. Maria finds Ivan and tells him of her pregnancy and of the death of her grandmother, but Ivan is cruelly indifferent towards her.
Still tormented by nightmares of his war experiences, Ivan is visited by his father. He tells him that he is dying and that he must come back to Maria. Ivan returns home, he tells Maria that he loves the baby. Now that the pure image of Maria has been broken, they are able to happily make love for the first time.
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
drama film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Andrei Konchalovsky
Andrei Konchalovsky
Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky is a Soviet-American and Russian film director, film producer and screenwriter....
and starring Nastassja Kinski
Nastassja Kinski
Nastassja Kinski is a German-born American-based actress who has appeared in more than 60 films. Her starring roles include her Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of the title character in Tess and her roles in two erotic films , as well as parts in Wim Wenders' films The Wrong Move; Paris,...
, John Savage
John Savage (actor)
John Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
and Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
. The plot follows a soldier returning from World War II who marries the woman of his dreams, but he is unable to consummate his marriage ruining the couples chances of a share happiness.
Plot
In the spring of 1946, Ivan, an American soldier, returns home psychologically scarred after spending some time in Japanese prison camp during World War II. Once back in his small Pennsylvania town, Ivan settles in, trying to put his life back together while living with his stoic peasant father.Shortly after his arrival, Ivan looks for his childhood sweetheart, Maria, a beautiful woman who is taking care of her old deaf grandmother. However, he is disappointed to find Maria in the arms of Al, a captain. Ivan’s father thinks that Maria is too good for his son, but perhaps good enough for himself. He pairs his son with Mrs. Wynic, a flirty neighbor. Ivan has sex with her, but he is tormented by the traumas of the war. He tells her that it was his dreams about Maria that allowed him to survive the prison camp.
Ivan is given a hero’s welcoming by his community, formed by Immigrants from Yugoslavia. During the celebrations, when Al goes to dance with one of Maria’s friends, Ivan grabs the opportunity to get close to her. Together they leave the party in his motorbike and head for their favorite spot of years ago. He gives her a pair of earrings that he planted there for her, before leaving for the war. The next morning Al is furious and breaks his relationship with Maria. Ivan's goal is fulfilled and he marries Maria in an orthodox ceremony, but his dream of a happiness share with Maria is soon broken. Having adored Maria for so long and from a far now that he has her close to him, Ivan is unable to consummate the marriage. Their happiness is shattered.
Maria works as a nurse and would like to have children. Deeply in love with Ivan, she has to deal with her increasing sexual frustration. On the advice of Clarence, a drifter singer passing by the town, Ivan reaffirms his sense of manliness with Mrs Wynic. He is not impotent with her. Maria discovers this and a terrible argument occurs between them. The couple are invited by Al to his engagement party to Maria’s girlfriend. In the middle of this gathering, Al breaks off the engagement realizing that he is still in love with Maria. Al and Ivan have a confrontation. Ivan offers him to take Maria,but to prove how much he loves her put his hand in a burning stove. Maria very much in love with Ivan tells Al that she does not love him.
Maria heals Ivan’s hand, but the unhappiness between them increases further. She is pursued by Clarence who tries to seduce her, but she remains faithful to Ivan and resist his advances. One day, unexpectedly, Ivan leaves town on a train without coming back. He moves to a new city, stars to work in a slaughter house and makes new friends.
Left on her own devices Maria finally succumbs to Clarence advances, but immediately after vehemently rejects him. As a result of this encounter she gets pregnant. While going out with his friends one night, Ivan meets Clarence once again. Clarence does not remember him and tells the story of how he seduced Maria, but later she refused to have anything else to do with him. Furious, Ivan hits Clarence who still does not know what is going on. Maria finds Ivan and tells him of her pregnancy and of the death of her grandmother, but Ivan is cruelly indifferent towards her.
Still tormented by nightmares of his war experiences, Ivan is visited by his father. He tells him that he is dying and that he must come back to Maria. Ivan returns home, he tells Maria that he loves the baby. Now that the pure image of Maria has been broken, they are able to happily make love for the first time.
Cast
- Nastassja KinskiNastassja KinskiNastassja Kinski is a German-born American-based actress who has appeared in more than 60 films. Her starring roles include her Golden Globe Award-winning portrayal of the title character in Tess and her roles in two erotic films , as well as parts in Wim Wenders' films The Wrong Move; Paris,...
- Maria - John SavageJohn Savage (actor)John Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
- Ivan - Robert MitchumRobert MitchumRobert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
– Ivan’s father - Keith CarradineKeith CarradineKeith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
- Clarence - Anita MorrisAnita Morris-Career:Among many roles, Morris's most prominent film role was as Carol Dodsworth, the mistress to Danny DeVito, in Ruthless People and for her sensual performance as Carla in the musical Nine opposite Raul Julia. While nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award as Carla, she lost to Liliane...
– Mrs. Wynic - Bud CortBud CortBud Cort is an American film and stage actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his portrayals of Harold in Hal Ashby's 1971 film Harold and Maude and the titular hero in Robert Altman's 1970 film Brewster McCloud...
- Harvey - Vincent SpanoVincent SpanoVincent M. Spano is an American stage, film and television actor, and film director and producer. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Il cugino americano.-Backround:...
- Al Griselli - Karen YoungKaren Young (actress)Karen Young is an American actress.Born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey, Young studied at Rutgers University. After graduation she moved to New York City and became an actress, appearing in such films as 9½ Weeks, Jaws: The Revenge, Daylight, Mercy and Hoffa. Her ex-husband is Tom Noonan...
- Rosie - John GoodmanJohn GoodmanJohn Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
- Frank