1 post tagged “chile”
[Think Il Postino, The Postman, Ardiente Paciencia, El Cartero De Neruda]
Years ago I read an English translation of a little novel called "Burning Patience" by a Chilean writer Antonio Skármeta. It's about Mario, a young man in a small fishing village in Chile, who took up the job of the postman for the village, and through his mail deliveries, befriended the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda from whom he learned metaphors and poetry to woo Beatriz, the beautiful daughter of the local innkeeper.
Despite obstacles put in the way by Beatriz's mother (which give rise to many hilarious scenes), Mario succeeded in winning the heart of Beatriz, while Neruda got caught up in the politics of the times ...
It's a touching story. Although the political upheavals of the day form part of the backdrop of the story, politics remain largely unspoken, and however one's political sympathies are placed in the complex situation that was Chile, it's difficult not to be touched by the main themes of the story: love, friendship and the power of poetry.
Antonio Skármeta has also written a play based on the novel, and made a film from it.
Last Christmas I decided to re-read the book. I have to say, I was not moved as much as I was the first time around. What the passing of time can do to you. Still, it remains one of my favourite books.
Before I wrote this post, I looked up the internet to see if the book was still available. While doing the search, I discovered, for the first time, that the Italian film The Postman was based on this novel. I had wanted to see the film but never made it. I'm sure I'd heard or read about the story-line (but never that Pablo Neruda was featured in the film), and even vaguely remembers telling a friend about a Chilean novel I'd read with a similar story-line. I think it must have been the Italian setting of the film which put me off the scent.
And all these years I thought nobody knew about this book. Silly me!
