Reaching For The Moon - A true story

Inspired by the 2003 book, ‘Rare and Commonplace Flowers’, by Carmen Oliviera, this movie tells the true story of American author Elizabeth Bishop, and her tragic love affair with Lota de Macedo Soares. 

Elizabeth Bishop (played with superb subtlety by Miranda Otto), who was Poet Laureate of the United States in 1949-1950, is suffering from writer’s block. She believes a change of scenery might provide the inspiration needed to spur renewed creativity. In 1951 she heads to Rio de Janeiro and meets Brazilian aesthete and architect, Lota Soares (brilliantly portrayed by Brazilian soap-star, Gloria Pires).

Elizabeth goes to Brazil to visit Mary Morse, a college friend, and discovers her living in a lesbian relationship with the brilliant and eccentric Lota (pronounced Lotta). Quite unprepared for the relationship, and perhaps afraid of her own attraction to it, Elizabeth is deeply conflicted.

Lota is an aggressive and opinionated woman (as well as a very talented one), who makes it clear to Elizabeth she is attracted to her. Elizabeth, despite any reticence, finds herself returning the affection shown her. Regardless of the devastation their relationship causes Mary, Elizabeth and Lota fall deeply in love and this unleashes the creativity Bishop has been unable to release in America.

The three women live together, with Mary becoming a sexless partner to the arrangement. Elizabeth once again writes brilliantly, and completes her second book of poetry, ‘A Cold Spring’. Her publisher releases it, in combination with her first book, and, ‘North & South: A Cold Spring,’ wins the 1956 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

Lota Soares also knows success as a brilliant architect, and designs the still-famous Flamengo Park in Rio. The success and approbation in their respective fields, rather than reinforcing their relationship, brings stress to it. Adding to the erotically imbued volatility is the devastating effect of Elizabeth’s rapidly progressing alcoholism.

This is the story of two women, both esteemed artists, struggling against their own demons, quite uncertain about how they can live in peace together. The drama of their real lives need not be accented with extraneous fictional detail to move the story.

With the gorgeous Brazilian countryside as backdrop, this is a stunningly beautiful film. Director Bruno Barreto, whose mother knew the real Bishop and Soares, brings the passion and tumultuous love of this remarkable couple believingly to the screen. We are captivated, captured, and enthralled by all 118 minutes of this must-see movie. It is a pull-no-punches story of the love of two brilliantly talented and successful women. 

This is definitely one to add to your library of films, to be enjoyed and revisited many times. It is a memorable movie to be enjoyed in its own right. Moreover, it will also though inspire the viewer to want to know more about Elizabeth Bishop and her poetry. Reaching For The Moon is art for art’s sake…much like the work of the women who inspired it.

Order Reaching for the Moon today from Wolfe Video, at www.tinyurl.com/mcn6hws.

by Ray Freer, Entertainment Columnist

The Gayly – February 11, 2014 @ 4:20pm