Directed by Rodrigo Sepúlveda, “Paciencia en llamas” is a simple story of two lovers who drift apart after an argument, but even after that, their mutual feelings do not fade away. It is based on a novel by Antonio Skarmeta called Ardiente Paciencia, which was translated into English under the title “The Postman”. It is said that it is better to have loved and lost than to never know what it feels like to have been loved. The protagonist of the film, Mario, knew it and that is why he was not willing to give up his love so easily. Often, we see people become too logical and stop believing in the magic that exists in the world. We let our fears take over our lives and we forget that sometimes we have to be patient and give a little space for miracles to happen. “Burning Patience” touches on these themes and weaves them into a narrative that has a rhythm of its own.
If you’re looking for something unique, a kind of story you may not have witnessed before, then “Burning Patience” doesn’t have much to offer. Although there is no major conflict that keeps you completely absorbed, the picturesque landscape of Chile, the poetry, the dialogues and the innocence of the characters, together, try to make up for it. The energetic pacing of the film also works in its favor, as if it had been a few more minutes, “Burning Patience” would definitely have tested your patience. “Burning Patience” belongs to that category of movies that may not offer much in terms of plot, but still leaves you in a very comforting and cozy zone. The absence of an antagonist, the creation of a utopian world, and characters who are nothing short of paragons of righteousness, are some basic ingredients that form the core of these feel-good movies. Obviously, the atmosphere, music and cinematography also play a huge role in making you feel like you are part of a beautiful dream. You may not like the movie or find its narrative a bit weak, but you surely want to reside in a world without problems and where everything flows in harmony.
spoilers ahead
Plot Summary: What is the movie about?
Mario worked with his father in the family fishing business until he decided he wanted to do something else. Mario’s father and mother told him that they had no problem with him not working for them, but that he needed to do something to support the family. Mario was thinking about what to do when someone told him about an opening at the El Tabo post office. Mario got the job as a postman and was told that only one person received letters in the entire Isla Negra neighborhood. This man was none other than the famous poet Pablo Neruda. Although Mario didn’t know anything about poetry, he was excited to meet the writer in person. Pablo Neruda enjoyed celebrity status, and his popularity was such that people wanted him to be a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. Mario began to visit Pablo almost every day, since many people wrote him letters from different parts of the country. The way Pablo expressed his feelings really fascinated Mario. He began to speak in metaphors and loved how the poet could represent anything using figures of speech. It was around the same time that Mario saw a girl named Beatriz González, and he fell in love with her the moment he saw her. Mario wanted to express everything he felt when he saw her, but he always remained so speechless in her presence that he couldn’t articulate a word. Mario knew that to impress her he would need someone who had a great power of words and knew how to express love in a charming way. Mario wanted to seduce Beatriz with her own charm. He went and told Pablo his problem, and the writer decided to accompany him to the cafe where Beatriz worked. Although once again Mario became too nervous, Pablo’s presence played in his favor. Beatriz warmed to the kind of efforts Mario was making of her to woo her. Mario started visiting the cafe more often just so he could see Beatriz and be close to her.
Beatriz’s mother, Doña Elba, smelled the romance that was brewing and was very clear that she did not want her daughter to meet Mario. Ms. Elba hated people who had a way with words, as she reminded her of her ex-lover, who had stranded her after showing her a glowing picture of what her future would be like and raising her expectations. she. She believed that words were the worst drug that she could deceive a person. She felt that all the poetry, the metaphors and the notion of romance showed dreams that were empty inside. Ms. Elba always believed that reality was very different from what artists like Pablo perceived. She was not practical in her youth, and she had to pay the price for it throughout her life. Elba didn’t want her daughter to make the same mistake. Mario and Beatriz began to find ways to get to know each other since they couldn’t hang out at the cafe anymore. When Beatriz was confined to her home by her mother, she asked her friend Clarita to tell Mario to meet her at the church. One day, Mario met Beatriz and told her that she had written him a poem about her. Mario wanted to be like Pablo, and he wanted to impress Beatriz through her metaphors and flowery language. But all his plans failed when Beatriz found out that he had not written it. Beatriz had told Mario that she was fine with everything except lying. Not telling the truth was something she couldn’t bear. She agreed to do what her mother had asked and she decided to go to her aunt’s house, who lived in Valparaíso.
Explanation of the end of ‘Burning Patience’: What finally happens with Beatriz and Mario?
The poem that Mario had given Beatriz was written by Pablo Neruda. It wasn’t just the plagiarized poem that had hurt Beatriz; it was also Mario’s presumption that he could fool a naive and illiterate girl who knew nothing of poetry. Beatriz didn’t care if she could write poetry or not, but the fact that she disrespected her emotions by lying to her and thought she lacked a world view, let her down. Pablo had also gone to campaign for the elections, and Mario had no one to talk to or receive advice from. Mario made an effort and began to write his own poems, all focused on how much he loved Beatriz and what she meant to him. Through Clarita, he found out where she was staying from her and began to send her letters, expressing how much he loved her and how sorry he was for having lied to her. Beatriz also started to respond, but she didn’t know if she could ever forgive Mario for breaking her trust. Meanwhile, Mario’s boss and parents tried to cheer him up and show him the bright side, but to no avail. In one of the letters, Beatriz informs Mario that she could be in love with another boy in Valparaíso. The news made Mario feel really insecure and he lost all hope that Beatriz would ever return to him.
Pablo returned after the campaign and, as he had wanted, Salvador Allende Gossens became president of Chile. Pablo wanted to dedicate his time to writing poetry and knew that he was not cut out for politics. When he found out what had happened between the two lovers, he only gave her one piece of advice: sometimes a promise is better than the truth. He asked Mario to tell Beatriz that he would always love her and that she would be by her side through thick and thin. A welcome ceremony for Pablo was being organized in Mrs. Elba’s café. Before she had come to meet Pablo and told him to ask Mario to stop persecuting her daughter. But instead of doing that, Paul had something else in mind. He knew that Beatriz was going to be there and he wanted Mario to take advantage of the opportunity. Pablo distracted Mrs. Elba and the separated lovers met again after a long time. Mario and Beatriz confronted Mrs. Elba and told her that theirs was not a frivolous affair and that they wanted to lead a life together. “Burning Patience” ends on a “happily ever after” note, where Beatriz and Mario get married and soon even have a child. Mrs. Elba accepted Mario as part of her family, and perhaps the love she saw in her eyes for her daughter also dispelled the hatred she had for poetry.
“Burning Patience” is a 2022 romantic drama film directed by Rodrigo Sepúlveda.
