Director Skarméta has incorporated autobiographical elements in his début. When the famous Chilean poet and politician – and friend of Skarméta – Pablo Neruda moves into his mansion on the Isla Negra, Mario has to carry a vast amount of mail for him from all over the world. In exchange he wants something from Neruda. He wants to ‘borrow’ a few love poems which he needs to whisper in the beautiful Beatriz’s ear. Things almost work out, were it not that Beatriz’s mother, Rosa, recognises the poems as being by Neruda. She makes a terrible scene in which she accuses him of seducing her young daughter and being a bad writer and poet. Beatriz can escape unnoticed, but then fate takes flight.After it was shown on ZDF TV in Germany in September 1983, Mit Brennender Geduld was showered with national and international prizes, among them the prestigious Prix Georges Sadoul by French critics.
