Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Red-125 Passionada (2002), directed by Dan Ireland, is a love story that will either fascinate or frustrate you. Some have called Passionada formulaic, and the film certainly begins with boy meets girl and continues from there, but I bought into the film and the love story, and I enjoyed the movie.Although the basic plot is not subtle, the sense of the Portuguese ethnic community in New Bedford is well portrayed, and the singing of fado--central to the story--is wonderful. (The young fadista Misia provides the fado singing for Sofia Milos--the film is worth seeing for the music alone.)Sofia Milos portrays a beautiful young widow. Much is made of the fact that she doesn't look old enough to be the mother of Emmy Rossum, who was 16 when the movie was filmed. Actually, Milos could be the mother of a 16-year-old, but she's so youthful and attractive that it's hard to think of her as the somewhat older and wiser woman she's supposed to be portraying.Anyway, who cares? If you want to see a movie with gritty realism about the hardships of widowhood or the fishing industry, see a different film. If you want to see a love story set in scenic New Bedford, and accompanied by the fado, see Passionada.

rick morrow The true meaning of romance can be found, seen and felt in this film. One only needs to look into the eyes of the Celia and Charles and listen to their words and feel the passion they both express to be loved. Sofio Milos does a magnificent portrayal of a Portuguese woman who once found love with a man that only a few would ever find and after his death she knew it would be her last gift. In steps Charles and as far as Celia is concerned, he doesn't really exist because of her love for her husband and honor, would not allow any other man in her life. With a little help from her daughter and the persistence of Charles driven by is on own passion to win Celia's heart, to be loved again.

luke_warm_chili I woke up several days ago thinking about this movie! My son had watched it with me, but I thought he may have been asleep; I started to describe it to him and he interrupted me with,"Oh! I remember that-man! she is gorgeous!" HA! Each to their own reason for remembering...I felt it to be a wonderfully poignant story with a true feeling for the Portuguese people involved. I'm a big fan of Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa! The music was perfect, sensual and not over-bearing. It's a true love story; love of daughter, love of mother-in-law, love of husband, and most if all, love of self. I couldn't remember who the actors were-I only knew she reminded of the lady on CSI Miami!

longislandlloyd "Passionada" is a very light and enjoyable film. But the story has been done a million times over by Hollywood and on TV. It's the typical tale of a worldly, WASPy guy who meets and romances an ethnic, family-devoted girl. You just knew that there would be a clash of cultures and an eventual break-up. She would undoubtedly tempt her guy with ethnic food, dance and song, and even sensual sex. And he would tempt her with excitement, luxuries, and new adventures that only a man from outside her world could promise her. Sound familiar? Some people here complained about the lack of authenticity due to the director using non-Portuguese actors and Brazilian music. I don't think it made any difference. The acting and music and shots of the locale were very authentic and first-rate. The only thing that I couldn't figure out was all the casino scenes, since there are no casinos in New Bedford, Mass. The nearest ones are Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Conn., over an hour away. And Vicky, the young daughter, drove her scooter all the way over there and back on school nights? And if Charlie was such a professional card counter at Blackjack, banned from every casino, why was he broke? I must've missed something during a bathroom break. Other than that, "Passionada" is a fun film and a good insight into Portuguese-American culture, if that's your thing.