i be glad i rent this movie for one reason represent it shortcoming make me want to read allende book and get the full story . pro represent the movie be beautiful and the period be depict well and consistently ( to the best of my knowledge ) and and meryl and glenn do good job . con represent this be the bad act job i have ever see from jeremy iron i keep wonder if something be wrong with his mouth . ( and i hate the terribly english way he say transito . ) winona ryder do nothing believable except look young and idealistic . most of the other performance be ok and but so few thing hang together in the character arc and the relationship development that i be frustrate and angry well before the end . i be very curious now whether this movie be typical of bille august work . i may have to drop another couple of buck to rent smilla sense of snow .