"Dalva" is based on an outstanding novel by one of the US's best writers, Jim Harrison. Whoever put this movie together had no idea what the book was about nor how shallow his mind was. Harrison managed a remarkable feat by writing a fun, exciting, sexy, history-encompassing novel from a woman's point of view. And it's set in Western Nebraska. Now who else has done that?
The book contains no clichés, no stereotypic characters, no embarrassing bits of dialogue. The film is built on these qualities. I'm sure excellent actors like Powers Boothe, Peter Coyote, and Rod Steiger read the book and said "Let's do this!" I doubt they knew Farrah Fawcett was going to play the lead nor that Mitchell (author of "Club Med") was writing the script.
The scenery in the film is OK, but the novel "Dalva" contains some of the best descriptions you'll ever read. If you think Farrah is the best actress you know of, watch the movie. You'll find it cute and romantic. If you have a brain, read the book and check out Boothe or Steiger or Coyote in lots of other films.
This film is like making a swimming pool out of the Pacific Ocean. It's an insult to the author of "Legends of the Fall" and many other outstanding books.
