The Bridge Of San Luis Rey is a sweeping costume epic with a surprising ensemble cast. As the story is set in 18th century Peru, expect to see Robert De Niro, Gabriel Byrne, Harvey Kietel, F. Murray Abraham, Kathy Bates, Geraldine Chaplin, Mark and Michael Polish, Jim Sheridan, Adriana Dominquez et al in full wig 'n' lace court fig. Wild.
When the bridge of San Luis Rey collapses and five people die, a priest attempts to figure out if such matters are an accident or God's plan. As the moral compass of the piece, Brother Juniper (Gabriel Byrne) finds out everything he can about each of the dead, sees what connects them and what put them on the bridge at the same time, and publishes his findings.
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey begins with Brother Juniper facing the Inquisition and the Archbiship (Robert De Niro) to explain his research and his theological findings. In flashback, he tells the connected stories of many characters, including Dona Maria, Marquesa de Montemayor (Kathy Bates), an aristocrat whose life is defined by her love for her daughter -- though her daughter is cold and unloving in return. The Marquesa's letters are central to the story. Then there are the mute twins, Manuel and Esteban (filmmaking brothers Mark and Michael Polish; Northfork) deserted as infants and raised by the Abbess (Geraldine Chaplin) and the nuns in the convent.
Uncle Pio (Harvey Keitel) is a strange character devoted to the education and care of an actress, La Perichole (Pilar Lopez de Ayala). And we meet the gentle servant Pepita (Adriana Dominguez), whose convent life is interrupted so that the Marquesa might have sane company, and the powerful Viceroy (F. Murray Abraham), whose attentions to the actress La Perichole may change her fate for the better. Or not.
Love in all its various disguises -- motherly love, romantic love, family love, self-love -- is the focus of the complex story, and in the end, love is the only conclusion that Brother Juniper can come to.
His interest is the gap between faith and facts. His writing is declared heretical.
As movie material goes, The Bridge Of San Luis Rey is certainly unusual, and what luck. It is an intense philosophical undertaking that examines questions of faith, fate and chance. The film -- all ornate costume and exquisite period detail -- is lovely to look at; the language makes it a pleasure to listen to.
In a summer season full of flying superheroes and remade TV shows from someone else's youth, The Bridge Of San Luis Rey is a welcome alternative.
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