Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and a conversation about drugs.
Runtime
:
108 min
Overwiew :Celia Amonte is a beautiful Portuguese American woman who cannot move on from the loss of her husband, a young fisherman who died at sea. She and her daughter Vicky live with her mother in law in the seaside fishing community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Celia works as a seamstress during the day, but at night she sings the beautiful Fado music that she learned from her childhood. Celia’s passion and sadness are expressed deeply in this soulful music. Celia and her daughter Vicky are close, but Vicky has a secret. She is making excursions to the local gambling casino. There she meets Charlie Beck, a charming Englishman and professional gambler. Vicky wants Charlie to help her learn to cheat at cards, but he declines.When Charlie and his friends visit the restaurant where Celia is performing, Charlie is thunderstruck by Celia’s sensual beauty and the passion of her music. He attempts to get to know her, but Celia is not open to Charlie’s charm. When Vicky discovers Charlie’s dilemma, she makes him an interesting proposition. If he will teach her how to count cards at blackjack, she will help him get a date with her mother. With Vickie’s help, Charlie slowly wins Celia’s heart and gradually reawakens her passion for life and love.
Starring :Jason Isaacs, Sofia Milos, Emmy Rossum, Theresa Russell, Lupe Ontiveros, Seymour Cassel, Chris Tardio, Benjamin Mouton, Matt Blake, Jeff Hennessy, Slava Schott, Tristan Cutler, Alvin Epstein, Robert Montano, Robert Pemberton, Sherry Ham, Charlie Broderick, Billy Burr, Ceyjay Jumao-As, Steven Martin, Tom Kemp, Gideon Banner, Kelly Dirstine, Will Lyman, Marion Eaton, Dee Nelson, Domingos Costa, Cedric Crowe, Russ Vigilante, Charles Grady, Luis Colina, Makeeba McCreary, David Martins, John Fiore, Anthero Montenegro
Directors :
Dan Ireland
Producers :
Jim Jermanok, James Scura, Paul Bernard, David Bakalar, Lori Keith Douglas, Nathalie Samanon, Steven Bakalar
Writers :
Jim Jermanok, Stephen Jermanok, David Bakalar, Steve Jermanok
Critic Reviews
Grade
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold : ...winsome... more...
B+
New York Times - Stephen Holden : ...a feel-good romantic comedy without a shred of credibility... more...
C-
New York Post - Megan Lehmann : ...predictable and uninspired... more...
D+
filmcritic.com - David Levine : ...shines through its predictability to carve a fascinating slice of life fable with an infectious charm. more...
B
E! Online - ...although Passionada is destined to be more sleeper than sleeper hit, the buoyant cast man : http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Facts/Movies/Reviews/0,1052,88199,00.html more...
Chicago Tribune - Michael Wilmington : ...eminently watchable. more...
B
Film Journal International - Holiday family corn, served up French-style... : http://www.filmjournal.com/DisplayReviews.cfm?ID=1123&UI=1200 more...
Critic Reviews
