Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 5.0
A Sunflower to Life
This warm, beautiful, and often magical film from Audrey Wells would surely have been an Academy Award darling if made decades ago, as its tone and message, not to mention performances, fit more into the old-style filmmaking of a Hollywood now long gone. Diane Lane is simply marvelous as a woman whose world is turned upside down by divorce. In an attempt to start her life over and recapture the joy in life, she purchases a run down villa in Tuscany. Audrey Wells, who directed and co-produced the film with Tom Sternberg, also adapted Frances Mayes' book, giving this film the heavenly scent of grapes on the vine and the visual beauty of a field of sunflowers on an Italian hillside.Diane Lane is Frances, suddenly, and quite unexpectedly single again. Wondering how you breathe again when your world is shattered, Lane perfectly captures that stunned feeling of years wasted when a marriage ends. The wind is taken from the San Francisco writer's sails when someone half her age takes her place, which though cliche'd, is often the case. Sandra Oh of Grey's Anatomy fame lends fine support as Frances's friend, Patti, who refers to Frances's new place as 'camp divorce'. Adrift at sea emotionally, Frances has not moved forward despite having enough cash from the settlement to do so. When Patti experiences a similar heartbreak, she offers her friend the ticket to romantic Italy she can no longer use.Frances feels a change within herself, realizing if she truly is to recover from seeing her world crumble, she must build another one. After a chance meeting with Katherine (Lindsay Duncan), a free-spirited former Fellini actress, Frances jumps in with both feet, purchasing a run-down Italian villa called Bramasole. Vincent Liotta is excellent as the kind and decent realtor, Martini, who will become a true friend to Frances. There is an especially touching scene between the two as Frances realizes she has bought a house for which she doesn't have the life. The humorous elements of fixing up a 300 year old house on the hills of Tuscany are handled well by director Wells, adding great charm to a tender story, juxtaposing the ebb and flow of rebuilding a life and a villa. The happily married Martini has great affection for Frances nonetheless, aiding her by finding a group of Polish builders looking for work.The workers become part of her family as she refurbishes both her live and her villa. Pawel (Pawel Szajda), the youngest of the workers, falls in love Chira (Giulia Steigerwalt), the daughter of Frances's next door neighbor daughter, prompting Frances to intercede for her new family member with the girl's disapproving family. A simple white dress becomes a poignant image when Frances rediscovers the joy and excitement of new love with Marcello (Raol Bova), only to discover there is pain in learning to live again. That realization is soon confirmed when a devastated and quite pregnant Patti shows up on her doorstep in need of a shoulder. It is Frances's friend Martini who will come to her rescue again, however, opening her eyes to the fact that all her dreams have actually come true, if only she will use her heart to see them.This wonderful and life-affirming film ends at a wedding reception, proving that unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game. The warmth and charm on display here is of another era, and was unfortunately scoffed at by many critics. Audrey Wells has made a sweet and ultimately joyful film about the living of life itself. A moist ocean breeze and the flavorful aroma of Italian food as it simmers seem to hang over every frame of celluloid used. Superlative photography from Geoffrey Simpson captures the many colors of Italy, the flag throwing festival where young Pawel tries to win over Chira's parents especially beautiful. Christophe Beck's score seems to fit every mood and situation without intruding upon the scene. Finally, Diane Lane gives a very gentle and old-style performance that fits the tone of this lovely film. Great and wonderful things occur even later in life, and often when we least expect them. That is the lovely message of this film.