Synopsis:
When
Irish nanny Mary Lavelle (Walker) decides to embark on a voyage of self-discovery, she
leaves her home for a job as governess in a ritzy Spanish villa where she immediately
becomes embroiled in hotheaded politics and, of course, hot-blooded passion. Although she
has a fiance waiting back home, she falls into mutual infatuation with her employer’s
son, Francisco (Perez). Unfortunately for everyone, Francisco has a wife, and the stage is
set for a naive foreigner to bring wanton desire into a Roman Catholic household.
*****
Girls on Film:
"It is not the patriarch, old and past his prime, who falls for the young outsider,
but the hunky oldest son of the family, Francisco (Perez). Here,
the sparks that fly between Mary and Francisco seem believable. He is handsome and gentle,
and his humanism stands in direct opposition to his family's support of Franco."
Hollywood Reporter:
"An exotic locale, political intrigue and illicit love... Romantic leads Walker and Perez
certainly make a photogenic pair."
Apollo Guide:
"Talk of Angels is a lovely movie. The themes of inner conflict and growth
juxtaposed against a country at war with itself draw the viewer in and hold you until its
satisfying conclusion. Well acted and richly scripted, Talk of Angels
provides many fascinating characters."
Stephen Holden, NY Times:
''Talk of Angels' offers the pleasure of watching two pairs of pretty
eyes - Ms. Walker's and Mr. Perez's.
Sunday Times (New Zealand):
"Talk of Angels is handsome and elegantly acted... a
beautifully made film... It plays as if it had been made 40 years ago, but if you
fancy a rich, old-fashioned melodramatic romance, this is the movie for you."
Box Office:
"Lovingly adapted by Ann Guedes and Frank McGuinness from Kate
O'Brien's novel "Mary Lavelle" and ably directed by veteran West End stage
director Nick Hamm, Talk of Angels is an undeniably beautiful and
often seductive tale of colliding cultural sensibilities and ferocious
passions, all set to the backdrop of an impending Spanish Civil War."
John Anderson, LA Times:
"Fascism is coming, gentility is going; there's a sense of imminent loss, of
sun-drenched-turning-into-blood-drenched Europe that gives a solemn
weight... Hamm, who is making his feature debut, has a more-than-prestigious
cast at his disposal."
New York Now:
"A romantic, intelligent Jane Eyre-like story...This time, our Jane falls for her
Rochester's strapping older son. And why not? He's played by Vincent Perez. Maybe she's seen
him in Queen Margot and knows what to look forward to... British theater and TV
director Nick Hamm makes a worthy feature debut, backed by a solid cast. In addition to
Walker and Perez - their different accents mixing charmingly - there is an outstanding bit
by the ever-reliable Frances McDormand."
Film4.com:
"Hamm actually infuses the film with a gentle and easy going effervescence
that makes it a pleasurable experience. The perfomances are excellent, the
dialogue rich and cliché-free and while the film doesn't scale any great
dramatic heights, it works in its own quiet and unassuming way."
Variety:
"As the would-be lovers, Walker and Perez are charismatic and
undeniably attractive."
Elizabeth Weitzman, Village
Voice:
"There are some fine performances, striking locations, and genuine
urgency in its depiction of civil war."
University Wire:
"Talk of Angels has a superb cast of international stars
who effectively portray the controversy and chaos of a family deeply rooted into the
fabric of Spain's social and political elite. The film also boasts exceptional
cinematography displaying Spain's beauty - its remarkable landscapes and the splendor of
its urban marketplaces and cafes."
******
"Vincent isn't just good-looking," says Nick Hamm, who directed
him in Talk of Angels, due out this fall. "He has
that smoldering intensity of the French."
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