This is a film exploring ideals, envisioned futures, and the starkness of reality—a movie that possesses the potential to be even stronger than it ultimately turns out to be, but still manages to be worthwhile. There's no shortage of films centered on romance during wartime. John Duigan offers us a story about love intertwined with hopes for what might come, visions of perfect societies, and how war and human cruelty can abruptly shatter those dreams. It’s that familiar narrative of idealism clashing with the truth of the world. The film isn't bad, but as a drama it feels uneven at times, and doesn't quite succeed from a romantic perspective. The story begins with an unconventional encounter between a young Irish student, Guy, and a wealthy, progressive French woman named Gilda Bessé. They begin an affair that they will later rekindle in Paris, bringing a young Spanish woman, Mia, into the mix. This arrangement dissolves when Guy and Mia travel to Spain to support the Republicans during their Civil War. Later, defeat in the war and Germany’s invasion of France lead to a difficult struggle for Gilda's survival—as the lover of an officer within the invading forces... and I'd prefer not to elaborate further, as it would detract from the enjoyment of watching the film unfold. As mentioned, the movie is decent, with a compelling story at its core. However, there’s a great deal packed in here, and several secondary storylines emerge seemingly out of nowhere, only to fizzle out without resolution—like the strained dynamic between Gilda and her affluent father or what becomes of Mia's brother. There’s a lack of consistency and dramatic strength throughout, with the script feeling fragile at certain points. I can even overlook that... but it's difficult to ignore how the film equates love with purely physical desire. Gilda Bessé doesn’t come across as particularly romantic or passionate, and her relationships with her partners are intensely sexual, yet lack warmth. Despite a generally strong cast, only three actors truly stand out. Penélope Cruz is convincing in her role, but the director doesn't provide her with opportunities to deliver a truly memorable performance; her character feels somewhat distant, and the actress seems capable of achieving more. Stuart Townsend does his best, but he isn’t quite awkward or bookish enough for the part he’s been given. He's handsome and elegant, but fails to convey both beauty and intelligence in the same character—leading me to suspect he was cast primarily because of his marriage to Charlize Theron, who is undeniably the heart of the film and delivers an exceptional performance, seamlessly blending beauty, sensuality, drama, and suffering. The film’s technical aspects are fairly conventional, standard Hollywood fare for its time. Certain elements were handled exceptionally well, such as the incorporation of original war footage in black and white, and the design and recreation of sets and costumes effectively illustrating the passage of years and character development. The musical score could have been better, while the cinematography feels somewhat disjointed from the rest of the production.

Source on TMDB