Com a Morte no Coração

A story of suffering and redemption based in Catalan J.M.de Sagarra play was a great Catalan theatre premiere success in Romea theatre in Barcelona in 1954 and subsequently this movie was made. Although it was filmed in Spanish, was dubbed in Catalan afterwards, as Catalan was forbidden and severely repressed after the civil war. The story is well written and performed by Mexican actor Arturo de Córdova as Dr. Enric Molins, Spanish actress Amparo Rivelles as his wife Isabel and J.M.Rodero as their son Ernest. It tells the story of an unhappily married couple who have been falling apart along the years due to husband's infidelity and lack of faith vs. wife's exaggerated religious devotion. The straw that breaks the camel's back is their son's decision to become a priest, causing father's reject and making the gap between the couple grow deeper. Although some elements may appear old-fashioned for present viewers (like the fact that son reproaches his mother his attitude towards his father for not being understanding enough !) the text is well written and played making it worth watching.