In this acclaimed feel-good romantic drama based on the memoirs of Frances Mayes, Academy Award nominee, Diane Lane, plays Frances, the West-Coast American writer battling against writers block and depression after her marriage breaks down. Her impulsive purchase of a dilapidated villa in Tuscany evolves into a major renovation .. Read more
| Starring | Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan, Raoul Bova |
|---|---|
| Director | Audrey Wells |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
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In this acclaimed feel-good romantic drama based on the memoirs of Frances Mayes, Academy Award nominee, Diane Lane, plays Frances, the West-Coast American writer battling against writers block and depression after her marriage breaks down. Her impulsive purchase of a dilapidated villa in Tuscany evolves into a major renovation project and during the course of a year of construction she meets many new people and is accepted by the locals as part of the community. Far away from the rat race of American city life, basking here in under the Tuscan sun, she finds it a wonder that anyone would need romance at all - that's until she meets Marcello.
| Starring | Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan, Raoul Bova |
|---|---|
| Director | Audrey Wells |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 48 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 20 Sep 2004 Production year: 2004 |
| Format | DVD |
OK, so she got a free holiday out of it. But Diane Lane, Oscar nominated for Unfaithful, really does deserve better than this corny, old-fashioned slushfest. She plays a successful writer who journeys to Italy after a messy divorce and impulsively buys a broken-down villa in Tuscany. It's the cue for close encounters with every kind of local stereotype, from cutely rustic repairmen to lusty Latin lotharios. In the process, of course, she rediscovers her self-esteem — and gets her house fixed up! Lane looks ravishing. So does the scenery. But the whole thing has the depth and substance of a puddle. And it's just as wet.
Glossy romantic drama where the sun shines brightly and everyone is madly attractive.
This is a tooth-decayingly sentimental view of life in Italy, about as realistic as 'Pretty Woman' was an authentic depiction of prostitution.
If you are seeking escapist fluff of the Cond? Nast -- or perhaps I mean 'Good Housekeeping' -- variety, then by all means rent this unbearable nonsense.
If, however, you have any desire for films that are even remotely grounded in reality, avoid this as you would slick advertising on TV, for that's the level it's aimed at.
Definitely one for the girls - especially girls who fancy a life in the sun! Sunshine, pasta, romance - it has it all, with ups and downs and 'we've been there's'. Beautiful just to look at, but then it would be hard to shoot any other way in Tuscany!