Summary:
Frances Mayes (Diane Lane), a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, perfect life has just
taken an unexpected detour. Her recent divorce has left her with terminal
writer's block, extremely depressed, and in a divorcee housing complex. Her
pregnant friend, Patti, is beginning to
think that she might never recover. Dr. Patti's prescription: 10 days in
Tuscany. It's there, on a whim, that Frances purchases a villa named
Bramasole--literally, something which yearns for the sun. The home needs much
restoration, but what better place for a new beginning than the home of the
Renaissance? As she flings herself into her new life at the villa in the lush
Italian countryside, Frances makes new friends among her neighbors; but in the
quiet moments, she is fearful that her ambitions for her new life--and new
family--may not be realized, until a chance encounter in Rome throws Frances
into the arms of an intriguing Portobello antiques dealer named Marcello. Even
as she stumbles forward on her uncertain journey, one thing becomes clear: in
life, there are second chances.
Review:
There are many ways to take a look at this movie. Most movie studios go
after soccer moms, under 25 crowd, or the NASCAR dads. Obviously this is a
soccer mom movie. Not to say every NASCAR dad and every youngster under 25
won't like this movie, but there will be other options more suited to these
demographics. As for soccer moms they will be delighted to see Diane Lane
perfectly portray the average middle-aged woman in the United States. The
only complaint I have is that the beginning of the film unfolds so quickly
and the non-confrontational viewpoint taken by the director. A divorce is a
pretty hard predicament in any persons life, but the director just seems to
move on to the next scene without conveying any emotion whatsoever. Although
Diane Lane doesn't confront her ex-husband, she does take the risks every
woman wants to take but rarely does by purchasing a villa in Tuscany, Italy
while on a gay tour (friends are lesbians). Then what else, she casually
(the way most people want to meet other members of the opposite sex) meets
an attractive local in the streets of Tuscany.
Since this movie is inspired by a book which was inspired by the
real-life events of the author, it gives the premise a little more depth and
excitement. If you went into the movie not realizing this particular fun
fact, then the movie gets bogged down in the middle due scene after scene of
loneliness. When you read a book about a real-life occurrence you get
enveloped in the emotions of the characters as the story unfolds. It's like
you are living out the story right beside the protagonist (at least this is
what you are suppose to feel if the writer is any good). Usually when movies
place emphasis on this fact you usually enter that mindset as well. But, if
you don't enter this mindset then the movie drags on and on because there
are no Hollywood embellishments. But, all is not lost since the
cinematography is top notch and every scene is so well executed.
Audrey Wells did a good job at conveying the emotions of the book through
simple but surprisingly beautiful scenes (Marcello and Frances walking on
the beach, woman dancing in fountain, etc). For the most part you feel that
you are living out the trials and tribulations of Tuscany right beside Diane
Lane, but with an underlying excitement of being whisked away to a new land.
Another nice thing about the movie is the build up of emotions. In the
beginning most of the emotions by the characters are negative and weakly
conveyed, but near the end of the film the emotions transform into ones of a
positive nature and are conveyed through beautiful scenes such as the
problematic water facet overflowing with water.
Overall the movie is filled with many beautiful scenes with little Hollywood
embellishments along the way. It's really a solid change of pace from most
of the films released this year and should find its way into the hearts of
many soccer moms nationwide.
See this movie if you're a fan of:
Whale Rider (2003)
Diane Lane (Actress, Unfaithful, Murder at 1600, The Perfect Storm)
Frances Mayes (Author, Under the Tuscan Sun)
French Kiss (1995)
Traveling around the world and absorbing different cultures
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