Hemingway

The international community of friends and fighters for freedom and democracy in Spain is disturbed and partly disillusioned. Hemingway links up with Martha, both in his professional and private lives. Upon his return from Spain Hemingway leaves Pauline and sets up house with Martha in Cuba. Here, again, his life is devoted to fishing and drinking. Martha is offered a job as a war correspondent. Hemingway tries to retain her but she is determined to accomplish something on her own. Hemingway also becomes a war correspondent, but he is more interested in fighting. Mary Welsh, likewise a war correspondent, is very attracted to Hemingway. They fall in love and she becomes his wife. The couple settles in Cuba, where Hemingway resumes his prior. Mary gets pregnant but loses her child. Hemingway saves her life by forcing an inexperienced country surgeon to operate on her.

In Venice Hemingway meets Adriana, who becomes the heroine of his next novel, "Across the River and into the Trees". He is greatly attracted to the young woman, but he feels that his time is over. In spite of the humiliation Mary suffers, she stays with him. His novel is torn apart by the critics. With "The Old Man and the Sea" Hemingway regains his self-confidence. Hemingway returns to Africa to reassume the self-imposed image of the Great White Hunter. During a photo-safari by plane he and Mary experience two consecutive plane crashes. Hemingway's health deteriorates due to severe brain damage. Hemingway becomes depressed; his memory no longer serves him. He can no longer write. Hemingway becomes suicidal. He goes into therapy at the Mayo Clinic but is released with doctor's instructions to abstain from all those things which had been essential to him.