the photography of this bid budget production be surprisingly bad . color be muddy and brownish and the photography have very 80ish look to it . direction and editing be often quite uninspired and tv movie like and too . and at first the movie only seem to want to torture it viewer with lurid image of sex and violence . han zimmer score be also a typically simple and bland work of this overrate and untalented composer . but if you be willing to watch the movie far you be reward with a very move family story and a sort of european version of edna ferber family epos giant . while at first you wonder why clara marry this idiotic man and even his character get more depth and more background one can judge him by . clara deliver the movie spiritual lesson and a great and move statement set against the terrible happening in her country . her daughter and whose lover be a young antonio banderas at the beginning of his international career and understand that lesson and ultimately try to live by it . the way the plot be construct with the end mirror the beginning be great . the actor all do a great job and too . i be wonder who be the actress playing blanca . all the time and but of course and it be a really young winona ryder . all in all and this movie really make me want to read the book .