Pure indulgence: I have seen three superb films in three consecutive days.

On Saturday we went to see

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'Atonement' on its first day's showing (goodness knows why, here, it's called 'Expiacion, Deseo y Pecado' - 'Atonement, Desire and Sin). It's one of the few films that has left me absolutely breathless, almost unable to move, at the end (despite the fact I'd read the book twice). Superb performances. I think James MacEvoy must be my favourite male actor of the moment. Amazing in every way - cinematography, music, plot, wardrobes ... right up there with 'The English Patient.

On Sunday off we went to 'Love in the Time of Cholera'. It's a story of a man who waits over fifty years for the love of his life - well, there's a lot more to it than that - it's set against the backdrop of civil wars, and Cartagena, Gabriel Garcia Marquez' home town, in Colombia. I had read Marquez' book, but ages ago. Javier Bardem was excellent, as was his co-star Giovanna Mezzogiorno: both aged so gracefully, and I found the intimate scene between the two of them at the end so tastefully done. Nice to have a happy ending.

Then yesterday hubby went off to Paraguay, and I settled in front of the TV with a pile of ironing, and by fluke (it's very hard to find out what's on TV here - there are zillions of useless channels and it's very much hit and miss)I found myself watching the start of 'The House of the Spirits'. I think it's several years old. This one is set in Chile, and covers three generations during times of rebellion, military dictatorships, and horrible cruelty. Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep gave first-rate performances - I usually get bored if a filf is over an hour and a half - but this had me absolutely gripped for almost three hours - all the ironing was done!