Rating: 
Summary: A poignant, heartbreaking, yet unoriginal love story
Review: "Solomon and Gaenor" attests to the universality of the theme of starcrossed lovers, rehashing the "Romeo and Juliet" story against the bleak backdrop of rural Wales in 1911. Welsh heartthrob Ioan Gruffudd ("Horatio Hornblower") is Solomon, a Jewish packman selling fabric door to door, and Nia Roberts is Gaenor, a Welsh chapel girl. They meet, fall in love, and then society intercedes, tearing them apart. Yes, we have heard this story before, but the film is imbued with a number of unique qualities that make it a worthwhile, if not completely original experience.The acting, for one thing, is excellent. Gruffudd nails the complex role of Solomon. This one is more than just a pretty face, and he's got the acting chops to prove it, making Solomon a decidedly more complex and interesting character than any Romeo. Although his angelic good looks and gentle demeanor beguile Gaenor, it becomes apparent that he is much more than that. After their first tryst, Solomon realizes that he is not Gaenor's first lover, and becomes uncharacteristically angry, thus eschewing the typical sensitive-hero type, and creating what is ultimately a far more interesting character. Nia Roberts is extremely adept at portraying Gaenor's progression from the obedient young daughter who dutifully attends chapel to a mature, strong woman who follows her heart instead. The scene in chapel in which Gaenor is publically reprimanded for being pregnant out of wedlock (ah! a plot twist!) is particularly wrenching, and Roberts' face portrays a fascinating mixture of anguish and fortitude. It is difficult to imagine today the inner turmoil Gaenor had to deal with in deciding whether to stay with her family or go with Solomon, and face banishment from family and community alike. She has more to lose, yet she still gives it all up for love. The plot doesn't need summarization, although it doesn't follow the "Romeo and Juliet" story completely. The few twists are a refreshing change from what would have been a fairly standard story about unrequited love. The movie is also notable for its usage of English, Welsh, and Yiddish, providing the actors with quite a feat of linguistics. Incidentally, a Welsh-language version was filmed simultaneously with the English version.
Rating:
Summary: A poignant, heartbreaking, yet unoriginal love story
Review: "Solomon and Gaenor" attests to the universality of the theme of starcrossed lovers, rehashing the "Romeo and Juliet" story against the bleak backdrop of rural Wales in 1911. Welsh heartthrob Ioan Gruffudd ("Horatio Hornblower") is Solomon, a Jewish packman selling fabric door to door, and Nia Roberts is Gaenor, a Welsh chapel girl. They meet, fall in love, and then society intercedes, tearing them apart. Yes, we have heard this story before, but the film is imbued with a number of unique qualities that make it a worthwhile, if not completely original experience. The acting, for one thing, is excellent. Gruffudd nails the complex role of Solomon. This one is more than just a pretty face, and he's got the acting chops to prove it, making Solomon a decidedly more complex and interesting character than any Romeo. Although his angelic good looks and gentle demeanor beguile Gaenor, it becomes apparent that he is much more than that. After their first tryst, Solomon realizes that he is not Gaenor's first lover, and becomes uncharacteristically angry, thus eschewing the typical sensitive-hero type, and creating what is ultimately a far more interesting character. Nia Roberts is extremely adept at portraying Gaenor's progression from the obedient young daughter who dutifully attends chapel to a mature, strong woman who follows her heart instead. The scene in chapel in which Gaenor is publically reprimanded for being pregnant out of wedlock (ah! a plot twist!) is particularly wrenching, and Roberts' face portrays a fascinating mixture of anguish and fortitude. It is difficult to imagine today the inner turmoil Gaenor had to deal with in deciding whether to stay with her family or go with Solomon, and face banishment from family and community alike. She has more to lose, yet she still gives it all up for love. The plot doesn't need summarization, although it doesn't follow the "Romeo and Juliet" story completely. The few twists are a refreshing change from what would have been a fairly standard story about unrequited love. The movie is also notable for its usage of English, Welsh, and Yiddish, providing the actors with quite a feat of linguistics. Incidentally, a Welsh-language version was filmed simultaneously with the English version.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful and poignant
Review: Absolutely lovely film reminiscent, as some others here havementioned, of "Romeo and Juliet". Set against the scenicbackdrop of the South Wales coal mining valleys in 1911, "Solomonand Gaenor" tells the tragic yet heartwarming story of a Jewishboy and miner's daughter. Wonderful acting with fantasticperformances turned in by Ioan Gruffudd and Nia Roberts. For lack of abetter way to phrase it, this is a movie that gets you right in thegut. It had me in tears. I highly recommend running out and seeing"Solomon and Gaenor" right now, but don't forget thetissues!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and poignant
Review: Absolutely lovely film reminiscent, as some others here havementioned, of "Romeo and Juliet". Set against the scenicbackdrop of the South Wales coal mining valleys in 1911, "Solomonand Gaenor" tells the tragic yet heartwarming story of a Jewishboy and miner's daughter. Wonderful acting with fantasticperformances turned in by Ioan Gruffudd and Nia Roberts. For lack of abetter way to phrase it, this is a movie that gets you right in thegut. It had me in tears. I highly recommend running out and seeing"Solomon and Gaenor" right now, but don't forget thetissues!
Rating:
Summary: Tragic Love Story
Review: Although a far cry from his ever so honorable Horatio Hornblower, Ioan Gruffudd does not disappoint in this film either. The actress playing Gaenor was superior also, I felt her heartbreak and sadness. The use of Welsh and Yiddish throughout this movie lent an authentic air that was much appreciated.I had originally seen this on vhs and have now purchased the dvd. It is quite wonderful, am v. pleased with the quality.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully tragic
Review: Although tragic and a real good story for a sobbing fest on a rainy day, this movie is absolutely beautiful in subject, passion, and the acting is out of this world. Highly reccommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Could Be Better
Review: As a Hornblower fan for some time, I was curious to see how Ioan Gruffudd would do in other works so I bought this film. While his acting is commendable as Solomon, it's a shame the movie wasn't better. As hard as he tried, his performance was hampered by a tired plot and predictable writing. It is hard to feel anything regarding the Soloman and Gaenor relationship because it seems based entirely on sex. There needs to be "moments" where we see the true love between them. If they were there, I missed it. Because they weren't there, I could feel no sympathy to their delimma. Kudos to the actors protraying the two families. Unfortunately they were more three-dimensional than the two leads, and were the only reason I kept watching this film after the halfway point. Thumbs up for the performances of the actors who portrayed Gaenor's brother and Solomon's mother. If you're a Gruffudd fan, you'll get this movie no matter what. If you're a movie fan, rent before you decide to buy.
Rating:
Summary: Leaves Romeo and Juliet in the shadows
Review: As a Jew I can vouch for the detailed and correct depiction of a Jewish Family in the beginning of the twentyfirst century.Wonderful research!!!
The story is so beautiful and timeless,that i had to watch it over and over.
However I think the ending is so incredibly horrid that it might haunt the viewer for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Glad I saw it
Review: Honestly, I watched this movie for Ioan. (I can't imagine him in a bad movie.) While Solomon and Gaenor wasn't exactly uplifting, it was thought-provoking and visually nourishing. The story itself seemed to have good juxtapositions-the scenery was beautiful, but certain characters were ugly. Her dress is bright, his clothes are dark. Nicely done, glad I saw it.
Rating:
Summary: Solomon & Gaenor
Review: How do I begin to describe this delicious feast for ALL the senses??...a true Romeo and Juliet set in more modern times..no "dubbing", but beautiful subtitles that let us hear the lyrical beauty of both Yiddish and Welsh....fantastical cinematography that let's us love the beauty of old Wales....and the simplicity of a love between two loving people who know no boundaries to true love - until it is too late...and their incredibly romantic and tragic conclusion. I wept and then I rewound and watched again...a keeper - truly and for all...
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