Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 4.0
A bit unrealistic + controversial, but enjoyable nonetheless
This is the story of a recently divorced writer (Diane Lane), who decides to "deal" with her separation by taking on the invitation of her friends to go on a "Gay & Away" tour of Tuscany, which makes her fall in love with a Tuscan villa and decide to stay there.(some spoilers ahead: consider yourself warned)I have to agree with those that say the movie is a bit unrealistic (surrealist, I'd almost say, at some points -those Tuscan landscapes kill me!). One of the things that kept bugging me about the movie was how much money must the character have made off of her divorce, to be able buy and remodel a Tuscan villa while not working for a living.On the side, I can see how some people would find objectionable the fact that, in essence, the divorce of the main character is largely compared with the breakup between her friend Patti and her lesbian partner later in the movie. As a matter of fact, this and the introduction of her partner as an open character in the movie, are elements that make me dismiss this movie as being your typical "pink", "sunday afternoon" chick flick, which I really appreciate in times when the whole gay marriage controversy is being addressed more openly. In that sense, the movie goes along with the times, as much as you may differ in criteria with the values it promotes.As a whole, controversial in some ways and unrealistic as it results at times, the movie results enjoyable, with landscapes of the Tuscan hills and beautiful views of the Mediterranean accentuating a nice performance by Diane Lane.