isabel allende magical and lyrical novel about three generation of an aristocratic south american family be vandalize . the lumber oaf of a movie that result largely due to a magnificent cast of anglo actor completely unable to carry off the evasive latin mellifluousness of allende character and and a plodding scandinavian directorial hand be so uncomfortable in it own skin that i return to the theater a second time to make certain i have not miss something vital that might change my opinion . to my disappointment and i have not miss a thing . none among meryl streep and jeremy iron and glenn close and vanessa redgrave could wiggle free of the trap set for them by director bille august . all of them look perfectly stiff and resigned and a if and by put forth a little effort a possible and they expect to fade unnoticed into lovely period set . ( yes and the film be art direct within an inch of it life . ) curious that the production designer be permit the gaffe of place kfc product prominently in a scene that occur circa 1970 year before kfc come into be . back then and it be know by it original name represent kentucky fry chicken . even pardon that and what on earth be kentucky fry chicken do in a military dictatorship in south america in 1970. american fast food chain do not hit south america until the early 1980s . the house of the spirit should have be the motion picture event of 1993. because it be so club foot and slavishly faithful to it vague idea of what the novel represent and miramax have to market it a an art film . a a result and it be neither event nor art . and for that and isabel allende should have press charge for rape .