Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 4.0
Not quite art film, not quite romantic comedy
Diane Lane delivers a warm performance as Frances, a writer/book reviewer, who finds purpose in the Tuscan countryside. Frances, suffering from the depression of a failed marriage, is urged by her pregnant friend Patti (Sandra Oh) to take her place on a tour of Italy. While at first reluctant, Frances finally accepts Patti's offer when the reality of her life in New York becomes too painful. Frances is almost immediately charmed by life in Tuscany and on impulse buys a run-down villa that she plans to restore into her personal haven. Frances, now reborn as Francesca, is hardly alone in her new country as she is befriended by her real estate agent, the mysterious over-the-top blonde woman, her crew of Polish workers, and other townspeople. But sadness still tugs at her. Only when events turn out not as she expected does she begin to accept life on its terms and not on her own.The script and direction (by Audrey Wells) give this film the pacing of an art film, where the subtle interactions and plot cannot be described as much as sensed; however, the feel-good ending has the tacked on feel of a romantic comedy, where the heroine gets what she wants, even though the comedy itself is more smile- than laugh-inducing. To the credit of the screenwriters, events don't unfold exactly the way one would expect. For instance, the old man who delivers flowers every day to a roadside shrine is never explained despite his emotional connection to Frances. The man one would think could bring Frances her much needed romance does not. And the birth of Patti's child does not make Frances feel included at all. The turns are small, quiet ones, but they provide enough conflict to keep the viewer engaged. The cinematography fails to exploit the setting, resulting in a more conventional look than one would expect.Despite its flaws, this is a sweet, low-key film. While "Under the Tuscan Sun" may appeal to more women than men, it does not have the syrupy romance and teary-eyed moments of most films categorized as "chick flicks." A good solid film that offers nothing exceptional.