GLORIA

From Chile comes Gloria, a movie about a lady who’s determined to defy old age and re-establish happiness and romance in her empty life.

Gloria (Paulina Garcìa) is a 58-year-old divorcee, has two grown children and attends singles’ parties hoping to find love and disperse the loneliness in her life. She meets Rodolfo (Sergio Hernàndez) but problems arise, as the bond he shares with his ex-wife and daughters is suffocating.

Garcìa is well cast as Gloria. She emits the right levels of vibrancy and passion mandatory for the role and is suitably paired with Hernàndez.

Gloria is initially engaging, but stagnates in the second half owing to a sudden change in direction and a story which lacks substance. The nudity and sex scenes between these elderly characters may also confront some viewers. (MM)

**1/2