Intro"Nobody Writes to the Colonel" (Spanish: "El coronel no tiene quien le escriba") is a 1999 Spanish-language drama movie directed by Arturo Ripstein and based on the novella of the exact same name by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. The movie showcases the predicament of a retired colonel waiting on a letter concerning his pension, showing the themes of hope, solitude, and the passage of time.
Plot SummaryEmbed in a bad, remote coastal village in a Latin American nation, the film revolves around the life of a retired colonel (played by Fernando Luján), his sickly partner (played by Marisa Paredes), and their rooster. The colonel, now in his 70s, has been waiting for 27 years for a letter from the government that mentions the approval of his pension, having actually combated and been injured in a civil war that happened several years back.
The colonel's partner, who is ill with asthma, is worried about their monetary situation and is fighting with the loss of their only boy, who was eliminated by the local cops for dispersing leaflets that opposed the government. The only valuable belongings the couple has is their son's battling rooster, which they hope can become an income by winning cockfights.
As the days pass, the colonel checks out the post office daily, looking for the much-awaited letter concerning his pension. He befriends the local physician, Don Sabas (played by Rafael Inclán), who tells him about the deplorable conditions at the regional hospital where patients pass away due to a lack of medical materials.
The colonel's other half desires him to offer the rooster to get money for her medication and their survival. Nevertheless, the colonel is identified to keep the rooster, intending to win cash in the cockfighting arena. The colonel discovers that Don Sabas is the one who purchased his boy's land and robbed them of their other properties. Feeling betrayed, he chooses to sell the rooster to another villager to pay for his wife's treatment.
The colonel deals with loneliness, frustration, and frustration throughout his long wait for the letter. Despite all the obstacles, he declines to let go of hope, continuing to wait patiently and think that the pension will eventually be approved. On the other hand, the village's political circumstance aggravates as the federal government's injustice heightens.
Styles and SymbolismThe film concentrates on the themes of hope, the passage of time, isolation, and political corruption. It portrays the struggles and suffering of the colonel and his partner as they handle their personal situations and the decomposing socio-political environment around them.
The rooster works as a symbolic representation of hope and endurance throughout the film. The colonel's attachment to the animal and his decision to see it win at battles can be seen as a reflection of his own resilience and wish for a much better future.
"No One Writes to the Colonel" likewise illustrates the prevalence of corruption in the government and the local administration. The colonel's extended await his pension shows the neglect and incompetence of the authorities, contributing to his family's suffering.
Reception and LegacyThe movie got favorable reviews from critics and audiences, applauding its effective storytelling, great performances by the actors, and its loyal adaptation of Márquez's novella. Fernando Luján's portrayal of the colonel earned him the Ariel Award for Best Actor, and Marisa Paredes got the Valladolid International Film Festival Award for Best Actress.
"No One Writes to the Colonel" acts as a reminder of the worth of hope and resilience amidst adversity. The movie successfully conveys the essence of Márquez's novella, using a touching and poignant cinematic experience that resonates with audiences worldwide.
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