In El Idilio, a village on the banks of a river in the Amazon rainforest, Antonio Bolívar, known to everyone as "The Old Man," lives a recluse. One day, Antonio begins reading the romance novels that the traveling dentist Rubicondo Loachamin brings him to pass the time. He shares this occupation with a beautiful local girl, a waitress and prostitute, named Josefina, with whom he ends up falling in love. But all does not go smoothly when Antonio is forced to go on a hunting trip.
Director: Rolf de Heer
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Timothy Spall, Hugo Weaving, Cathy Tyson, Victor Bottenbley, Guillermo Toledo, Fede Celada, Luis Hostalot
In El Idilio, a village on the banks of a river in the Amazon rainforest, Antonio Bolívar, known to everyone as "The Old Man," lives a recluse. One day, Antonio begins reading the romance novels that the traveling dentist Rubicondo Loachamin brings him to pass the time. He shares this occupation with a beautiful local girl, a waitress and prostitute, named Josefina, with whom he ends up falling in love. But all does not go smoothly when Antonio is forced to go on a hunting trip.
Sign in to track your movie progress
Directed by
Written by
,
Produced by
,
Sign in to rate and review


AI-curated picks that share the same spirit as The Old Man Who Read Love Stories but with an unexpected twist — different era, country, tone, or perspective.
In El Idilio, a village on the banks of a river in the Amazon rainforest, Antonio Bolívar, known to everyone as "The Old Man," lives a recluse. One day, Antonio begins reading the romance novels that …
1h 55m
March 7, 2001
Rolf de Heer
Richard Dreyfuss, Timothy Spall, Hugo Weaving
Drama, Adventure
Yes, on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel