The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

This is a very leisurely paced movie – one that I wasn’t too excited about – but is a little gem. It’s another of these movies where not a lot actually happens, but there’s so much going on.

It’s a story about an old man, who late in life decides to learn to read. Living as he does in a remote part of the Amazon, the only books he can get his hands on are romance novels – hence the strange title.

The old man is an absolutely charming character who reads – and thinks – aloud. Rather that just read the books as you or I would, he contemplates every single line, trying to discover the deeper meaning to everything.

But the books are only a minor part of the plot. The real theme here is one of redemption and missed opportunities. And the old man is given a chance to set things straight.

It is a beautifully filmed, warm and funny movie, that if you stick with it’s meandering style, you will be rewarded.