Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 4.0
A wonderful taste of Tuscany
Despite so many negative reviews, I actually found the movie charming and intelligent. The character of Francis is one of hope, disappointment, independence, and fortitude.After a painful divorce, Francis takes a trip to Tuscany via a Gay tour group (trip was a gift from her best friend, Patty, who is a lesbian expecting a baby)and while in her travels, impulsively purchases a villa in the village of Cortona. The place needs a lot of work, but Francis accepts that she just can't return to the US and trudges on to fix up her new home.During the course of finding herself in a foreign country, Francis also wants a second chance at love. The movie introduces several possible men into the story and allows us to question if "this guy is the one". Francis eventually meets a man while in Rome named Marcello (played very handsome by Raoul Bova)and this affair ignites the passions and hopefulness that Francis has been lacking for so long.The affair with Marcello predictably ends and now Francis is caught up with the birth of Patty's baby and the budding love affair between a neighbor's daughter and one of the workmen she has hired to do home renovations.The ending is unique. The dreams that Francis originally wanted for her life is not exactly what she had hoped for. Ultimately, what she ended up with is a life far better!Besides the stereotypical 'Chick-flick" mentality, the movie has real life lessons and points to us that sometimes slowing down and appreciating what really matters in life is what makes us happy - love, family, good food, good friends, and hope!