The Old Man Who Read Love Stories

2001 1h 55m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 9

DramaAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In El Idilio, a village on the banks of a river in the Amazon rainforest, Antonio Bolívar, known to everyone as "The Old Man," lives a recluse. One day, Antonio begins reading the romance novels that the traveling dentist Rubicondo Loachamin brings him to pass the time. He shares this occupation with a beautiful local girl, a waitress and prostitute, named Josefina, with whom he ends up falling in love. But all does not go smoothly when Antonio is forced to go on a hunting trip.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Shout! Factory Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss
Antonio Bolivar
Timothy Spall
Luis Agalla
Hugo Weaving
Rubicondo
Cathy Tyson
Josefina
Victor Bottenbley
Nushino
Guillermo Toledo
Onecen
Fede Celada
Juan
Luis Hostalot
Manuel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Rolf de Heer
Writers: Rolf de Heer, Claude Cohen
Languages: English, Portuguese
Countries: Australia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Netherlands Antilles, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 6 countries: Australia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Netherlands Antilles, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Rolf de Heer, shot by Denis Lenoir. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Graham Tardif. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Dreyfuss and Timothy Spall and Hugo Weaving carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0223832 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 9 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Rolf de Heer directs. Denis Lenoir behind the camera. Graham Tardif scores. Produced in Australia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Netherlands Antilles, Italy. Dialogue in English, Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

125 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.
3International production across 6 countries: Australia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Netherlands Antilles, Italy.
4Directed by Rolf de Heer, shot by Denis Lenoir. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Graham Tardif. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Richard Dreyfuss and Timothy Spall and Hugo Weaving carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0223832 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 9 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.