MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Journey of Love’ on a Sea of Memory

“Journey of Love” (at the Beverly Center Cineplex) is a warm and gentle Italian film in which a sturdy elderly couple (Omar Sharif and Lea Massari), after 40 years of procrastinating, abruptly decide to take off--on foot yet--for the Adriatic Sea, which they have never seen.

As they follow the course of the river from their dying mountain village, they find the past washing over them, yielding mainly happy memories but also, not surprisingly, uncovering a few regrets and guilts.

Since this is a sunny film with virtually no action and few incidents, director Ottavio Fabbri, his distinguished veteran writer Tonino Guerra and the stars have no small challenge in sustaining interest. For the most part they succeed, although the film could lose about 10 minutes and probably be only the better for it.

What the filmmakers beautifully evoke through the couple’s journey is an aura of reconciliation--with life, nature and mortality.

Sharif has been doing some of his best work in recent years, much of it in Europe, some of it in his native Egypt, where he was a top romantic star before being cast by David Lean in “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Dr. Zhivago.” However, virtually none of Sharif’s recent films have surfaced in general release in the United States. Now silver-haired, he remains as handsome and dashing as ever, even in the humble villager’s clothing of this film.

Similarly, Massari, who first came to international attention as the young woman who disappeared in Antonioni’s “L’Avventura” (1961), has been seen little in America since she played the seductive mother in Louis Malle’s “Murmur of the Heart” (1971). Under the gray wig, padded clothing and creepy eyelid makeup of the simple old woman she plays here, Massari remains as vibrant and sensual as ever. She and Sharif clearly have lots of fun playing this adorable couple a generation older than they actually are.

Much of “Journey of Love” (Times-rated Mature for one brief nude scene) consists of a trek through some glorious countryside, photographed in muted earth tones by Mauro Marchetti. Along the way, they encounter a philosophical old priest (Ciccio Ingrassia), and, in effective counterpoint to their journey, we watch unfold a near-silent vignette in which a beautiful young woman (Florence Guerin) comes to terms with the loss of her handsome truck-driver fiance (Stephane Bonnet) to another woman.

Completing the sentimental pleasures of this endearing little movie is Andrea Guerra’s romantic score with its waltz theme.