Solomon & Gaenor (1999)
-
70% of critics liked it
(27 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(982 ratings)
A romantic drama about love that blooms against all odds, Solomon and Gaenor is set in Wales in 1911. Solomon (Ioan Gruffudd) is a door-to-door salesman who peddles fabric, and Gaenor (Nia Roberts) is the meek but unhappy daughter of a laboring family. The two meet while Solomon is making his… More A romantic drama about love that blooms against all odds, Solomon and Gaenor is set in Wales in 1911. Solomon (Ioan Gruffudd) is a door-to-door salesman who peddles fabric, and Gaenor (Nia Roberts) is the meek but unhappy daughter of a laboring family. The two meet while Solomon is making his rounds, and it's love at first sight, despite the fact he can barely speak Welsh, having been raised in an English-speaking village. Matters become more complicated when it's discovered Solomon is a Jew; Gaenor's father is not especially tolerant, and her brother is openly anti-Semitic, and when persecution of Jews becomes commonplace in the wake of a pit strike, the couple must flee for their own safely, as well as that of their unborn child. Solomon and Gaenor received positive notices for the skillful performances by Ioan Gruffudd and Nia Roberts, as well as Nina Kellgren's photography and Ilona Sekacz's score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Paul Morrison (III)
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Art House & International
- In Theaters
- Dec 31, 2000 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 30, 2001
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
Critic Reviews
-
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A beautiful, gentle love story, fueled by the palpable chemistry between Gruffudd and Roberts.
-
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Unrelentingly grim, but effective love story.
-
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Watching this romantic drama unfold, it is sad to see how religious bigotry can stamp out the hopes and dreams of two lovers.
-
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International
A satisfyingly old-fashioned love story.
-
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Around the one-hour mark, the plot gets more maudlin by the minute, climaxing with an ending that's not only predictable but almost laughable.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
