Under The Tuscan Sun Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The Only Thing More Surprising Than The Chance She's Taking...Is Where It's Taking Her
Life offers you a thousand chances ... all you have to do is take one.
Academy Award nominee 'Diane Lane (I)' (qv) stars as 'Frances Mayes' (qv), a 35-year-old San Francisco writer whose perfect life has just taken an unexpected detour. Her recent divorce has left her with terminal writer's block and extremely depressed, and her best friend, Patti, is beginning to think she might never recover. Frances decides to take a break and she buys a villa in the beautiful Tuscan countryside and decides to begin anew. Restoring her new home, she eventually finds the fulfillment she was searching for, including love. Based on 'Frances Mayes' (qv)' memoir of the same name.
| Diane Lane | Frances |
| Sandra Oh | Patti |
| Lindsay Duncan | Katherine |
| Raoul Bova | Marcello |
| Vincent Riotta | Martini |
| Mario Monicelli | Old Man with Flowers |
| Roberto Nobile | Placido |
| Anita Zagaria | Fiorella |
| Evelina Gori | Nona Cardinale |
| Giulia Steigerwalt | Chiara |
| Pawel Szajda | Pawel |
| Valentine Pelka | Jerzy |
| Sasa Vulicevic | Zbignew |
| Massimo Sarchielli | Nino |
| Claudia Gerini | Signora Raguzzi |
| Audrey Wells |
6.60 out of 10 (8606 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A postcard, rather than a movie
posted on 27 Aug 2009There is one detail in this movie that actually rings true: when one of our hero's traveling companions rejects the gushy, purple prose in the postcard she wrote for him. If only the screenwriter/director/producer had gotten the point. Enthusing about picturesque Italians and Italian landscapes is no substitute for a story with characters who actually struggle with decisions and actually change in the process. That isn't to say that the movie doesn't try to show its hero changing, but those changes turn out to be pretty shallow and utterly predictable.Would anyone have made this movie (or paid good money to see it) if our hero had been named Francis and his life-changing discovery is that he should forget his ex, move to Italy, and live in a big house in a small community with his old and new friends around him? I don't begrudge our hero any of those pleasures--I wouldn't mind living in Cortona either--but I don't see why we would make a movie about it.
It flies by with laughs aplenty. Enthusiastic and superbly made comedy-romance.
posted on 23 Aug 2009Under the Tuscan Sun is a superbly made comedy-romance and it has heart and soul in abundance. It is also the kind of film that cries out to be seen on the big screen. The scenery and the food share (yummy!) lot absolutely breathtaking. The glorious, sun-soaked cinematography is by a Geoffrey Simpson who does a fantastic job. Director Audrey Wells gives us a pleasant change of scenery with very enjoyable companions some cool twists and turns and very warm and entertaining movie. Diane Lane is at the top of her game here and carries the film with vitality and enthusiasm. In ending - Under the Tuscan Sun is a very fresh and enjoyable comedy with a wonderful confidence in itself. The stars and scenery are top class and the film flies by with laughs aplenty - just what we want in a good vacation - and a very good film. Recommended.
Predictable, but sweet
posted on 15 Aug 2009Diane Lane plays a woman who is trying to find herself after a bitter divorce. She is sent on a bus tour of Tuscany by her best friends, and is moved to buy and renovate a run down villa. Along the way, she finds that what she has all she really wants in life right there.There are no real surprises in this movie, but there are a few well acted scenes. Diane Lane is good in her part, but Lindsay Duncan steals the movie as an eccentric ex-patriot.This movie is worth seeing if just for the cinematography...it will make you want to go to Tuscany yourself! This movie gets a 7 out of 10 from me for that alone!
Film has undeniable charm
posted on 11 Aug 2009***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** This is a very old fashioned and predictable story but at the same time I do recommend it. Why? Basically the reason is why you would see it to begin with. The star of the film! Story is about a San Francisco writer named Frances (Diane Lane) who is recently divorced and her best friend Patti (Sandra Oh) buys her a plane ticket to Tuscany, Italy so she can get away and regroup. While on the tour bus she spots a villa for sale and yells for the bus to stop. She gets off and goes to the villa to make an offer. She buys it but it needs to be fixed up so the real estate broker Martini (Vincent Riotta) recommends several people for the job. There are assorted locals and illegal Polish immigrants that are hired to renovate her villa and slowly Frances gets to know each one of them. She meets a local woman named Katherine (Lindsay Duncan) who keeps telling her to get on with her life and enjoy herself. One day Frances meets Marcello (Raoul Bova) and their is an immediate attraction between the two. They sleep together and Frances seems to be a new woman. Then Patti shows up and she's pregnant and her lesbian lover has dumped her. Frances tries to get together again with Marcello but both of them are always busy so one day Frances decides to surprise him at his place.*****SPOILER ALERT*****She discovers that Marcello has a new girlfriend and he explains that fate was not in their cards and she should not be upset. This film is directed by Audrey Wells and she has a good flair for female characters and by putting them in attractive surroundings. The story is very predictable and we have seen these characters before in other films. Most notably is Katherine who practically admits she acts out characters from Fellini films. At one point she wades into a fountain to recreate the famous scene from "8 1/2". I have always been a fan of Oh's but I did not understand why her character had to be a lesbian. It would have been the same role and performance if she were straight but I guess the filmmakers needed a lesbian to round out the cast of characters. And I did object to the ending of the film where this American male model type walks in out of nowhere to romance Frances. It was like the writers of this film could not allow the film to end without Frances meeting some guy. The film would have served it's purpose if it would have ended with Frances being okay with the fact that at this moment in her life she doesn't have someone. But for some reason Hollywood has to have the main character always meeting Mr. Right. It's a very contrived plot device that hurts the film. But I do recommend this film and it's because of the performance by Lane. She does an excellent job of making sure her character doesn't go to far overboard with the cliche's and she's always reminding us of the pain her character is carrying around with her. This film could have been predictable travelogue but Lane brings genuine depth to the character of Frances. Along with her performance and the beautiful scenery this film does overcome the flaws in the story. After viewing this film you might be inclined to make plans for a trip to Italy.
A story of life and love
posted on 03 Aug 2009The very first time I saw this movie I was shocked, not only because Diane lane who's one of the finest actresses nowadays, there's too a smart script and the funniest sight of Italy, and his country side.Maybe because I'm a huge fan of Italian Landscape I spend days watching it over and over because you'll not get tired of it. this movie shows different sides of love, we saw different stories from the bad ones like Frances', the young romantic ones, platonic ones, the eternal love of one man, and the best kind; Patti's love for her child. its about dreams and memories and family... I recommend this movie to all the people with a broken heart and lack of faith in the future.
beautifully made
posted on 30 Jul 2009For some reason Diane Lane doesn't get the recognition that she deserves, the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" demonstrates the talent she has as an actress. Its about a woman's struggle to understand the ups and downs of life but luckily she get's to experience all of this in Italy! It's a movie that moves you and maybe gets you to think about your own life.
The essence of Tuscany
posted on 18 Jul 2009The scenic beauty of Italy, the glow of diane lane, a very well crafted story. If this was not what you were looking for, well there is more in store for you, hope, love and a lot of Italian. lo sono in amore, means i am in love, and i am in love with this movie. Well the movie begins in an epiphany/regret of the past coming back to haunt you kind of tale, but soon takes shape into a adventure/fairy tale of some proportions. The hope of the old man tipping his hat or the tap bringing water into the old house, adds a little touch of magic to the movie, i was myself laughing when the old man tipped his hat. From the description of the Italian market, to seeing the lady in the fountain and the agent saving her, a sense of interwoven poetry and brilliance in the screenplay. The only character out of place was that polish literature guy, don't know why we needed him. A brilliant movie, inspite of the cliché ending.
One of the finest comedies
posted on 16 Jul 2009I groaned at the prospect of seeing this film when my girlfriend insisted we go and watch it. "A rom-com!" I thought. Well, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was well made. The story had me engrossed from beginning to end. There were none of the usual cliches and melodramatics. The dialogue was crisp and believable. Diane Lane acted brilliantly and gives another Oscar worthy performance. The supporting cast were very amusing. The scenery was perhaps the most beautiful I have seen in a feature film. The ending was good. And most of all... it wasn't just funny... it was absolutely hilarious in parts. I was laughing so much! Despite my doubts before seeing it - I think this is one of the finest comedies I have seen in a long, long time. Kudos to all involved.
Diane Lane delivers a great performance in a classy and entertaining film!
posted on 02 Jul 2009Though she made her first movie at the age of 13, Diane Lane has only blossomed into a true star in her 30s, and 'Under the Tuscan Sun' marks her full flowering. After a brutal divorce, Frances (Lane, Unfaithful, A Walk on the Moon, The Perfect Storm) is persuaded by her friend Patti (Sandra Oh) to take a tour of Italy--where, on a whim that she hopes will rescue her from her desperate unhappiness, she buys a rundown villa and sets out to renovate it. Along the way, she gets advice from a former Fellini actress, meets a scrumptious Italian lover, and helps support Patti after her own relationship derails. The conclusion of 'Under the Tuscan Sun' holds some nice surprises, and the deft turns and observations along the way are delightful. Lane carries the film effortlessly by, exuding both heartbreak, sexiness and re-awakening passion. The film is funny and very entertaining.
Beautiful, lovely, sexy and well acted
posted on 31 May 2009This is a beautiful film that has ALL the elements to make it a classic film that can be seen over and over again. Diane Lane is Oscar worthy in her role here as Frances Mayes. The cinematography is stunning, as is the scenery. The story is heartfelt and avoids cutesy sentimentality and cliches. A very good film that is made great in Diane Lane's incredible performance. I'm gonna see it again!
Magnificent movie! Diane Lane shines like the Tuscan Sun.
posted on 21 May 2009A truly magnificent movie. Diane Lane shines in her role as Frances Mayes in this funny, sweet, enjoyable piece of great entertainment. The director makes this movie so engrossing and enjoyable that it is impossible to not be drawn into the wonderfully realized 3D characters and the brilliant played out scenes. The scenic locations help and so does the likable characters. Make no mistake... this is a magnificent movie.
Charming tale of how a California divorcee works through a mid-life crisis in Italy.
posted on 15 May 2009I laughed and cried at this charming film about how an emotionally battered recent divorcee comes back to life while remodelling a 300-year old villa in Tuscany. In fact, I think I laughed louder and cried harder than anyone else in the theater - of course, I may have been biassed by my strong identification with the protagonist. Like her, I am an aspiring writer who went through a devastating divorce while living in the San Francisco area (one in which my husband, like hers, took half of everything I had earned, after I had supported him through getting his PhD and starting a company). Tuscany, which is so beautifully and lovingly presented in this film, also has strong personal associations for me, as I spent six months studying in Florence when I was in college. Like the heroine, I even had an Italian boyfriend named Marcello! I have read reviews of this film claiming it was short on story, or that the philosophy presented was too "fortune cookie". I disagree. I thought the characters were well-drawn and likable, the scenery was gorgeous (including some of the men!) and the philosophy, if not original, was certainly worth being reminded of. After all, well-worn bits of wisdom become well-worn by being relevant to so many people's lives! I don't know whether the movie will appeal to the typical gum-chewing teeny-bopper, but it should speak to anyone who has actually lived a while!
Not so bad as some people think
posted on 05 May 2009I was not going to comment on this film at first, but when I recalled how I jumped up and immediately ordered it on the web after having seen it, I can only say, it must have been pretty good to make me do that on a whim! Beautifully photographed, a simple feel good story, and, as a married bloke of 52, would not necessarily agree that it is a 'chick flick'.I found myself getting slowly drawn into the story after having hired it for my wife, and very quickly got into the characters. I actually ended hoping that it would end in the way the film was suggesting it might and......well, you will have to see by watching it as to why I ended up running to Play.com for my own copy, which, by the way, has been watched by many members of my family, all of whom were somewhat pleasantly surprised!Go on, give it a go, it may not be as bad as some people think.......
Excellent movie
posted on 03 May 2009As a foreigner, I have not been brainwashed into thinking Diane Lane is gorgeous, so found the reaction of males in this movie rather odd. She is no more than a passably attractive woman at best, and at worst(as a troubled divorcée escaping from life)haggard and unkempt and yet the men have to act as if she's beautiful!! In one case, 3 Italian men leave their work to follow her - a disheveled 40+ American tourist? Gimme a break! It's rather like someone pretending that Woody Allen is drop-dead gorgeous :-) (Of course, who would DARE disagree???)In the personal interviews afterwards, Lane looked at least 10 years younger and a lot more attractive, which makes one wonder why they had to 'witch her up' for the role of a woman who was supposed to be pretty.I've never seen any of these actors before but Sandra Oh stole the movie beyond any doubt. Her natural style (Lane was far too mannered and aware of herself)and easy delivery did what every actor aspires to do - make the viewer think they are looking at a slice of life, rather than at people who have learned lines and are acting out a part.We have gotten used to the Hollywood style of head-shaking, gazing into the distance, biting lip when *portraying emotion* - it is every bit as corny and false as the old Olivier-style declaming was in the 1940's. People then thought this was the last word in fine acting - now we think it's hilarious. Some of the time, Lane's performance was in this league and coupled with the fact that she looked every one of her forty years and more - and therefore WAY too old for the handsome young guys who were supposed to be lusting after her, made this element of the movie an unrealistic farce. Mrs Robinson rides again?I have to say though that the movie itself was great. The idea of women leading successful, happy lives after the breakup of a relationship (albeit heading straight into another, as if women alone simply can't be happy) is a good theme and was well portrayed here. The contrast between jaded Frances and Katherine and the innocent Chiara, who will doubtless find that life with Pavel is not the dream she believes, was beautifully crafted.I expected to find more than just a single-sentence reference to the way foreigners (Brits, Germans and Americans especially) are so deeply resented in Tuscany and wonder why, "You greedy Americans" was included at all when it didn't really make the point. Nor was the movie much like the book it was said to represent. I have to wonder why a producer, who read the book and thought 'This would make a great movie' did not then actually make a movie like the book? Read the book, it's brilliant.The quiet, sexy Vincent Riotta and Sandra Oh redeemed the film of any faults completely and I shall be looking for movies starring them in future.
Undeniably charming
posted on 25 Apr 2009`Under the Tuscan Sun' has an undeniable charm in its cinematography, provincial locales, quirky characters and a radiant leading lady. The film can easily be labeled a `chick flick,' and in many ways, it is. It is also more than that. Diane Lane is Frances Mayes, a San Francisco writer-book editor who escapes to Tuscany trying to rebuild her shattered life and, hopefully, find love. Based on Mayes' memoir of the same name, `Under the Tuscan Sun' chronicles a woman's journey through the aftermath of a heart-breaking divorce, and her search for the meanings of her life, including love. Urged by her best friend Patti, Frances takes a trip to Tuscany – a gay tour notwithstanding – falls in love with the region, and decides to purchase a decrepit but charming villa. New relationships blossom between the `American woman' and the curious townsfolk. Along come a few surprises, a love interest, challenges and more heartbreaks. Through it all, Frances learns something about herself and the people around her – what "family" means to her.Directed by Audrey Wells and shot through the eyes of Cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson, the film is gorgeous to look at. So is Lane. Tuscany is as scrumptious as a hearty Italian meal. The clouds, birds, flowers, meadows, villages and wheat fields are so vivid that every scene looks like a moving postcard. Lane is effectively exquisite, even at the character's darkest hours, as a woman lost in her own misery. It is not a film without flaws. At times, the character and story arcs border on cliché. At times, the dialogues and `life lessons' can become corny and on the nose. Frances is strong, yet somehow too naïve (for a jaded book editor), reserved and withdrawn, waiting for something to happen to her. Some of the characters seem somewhat one-dimensional. There are places where the editing could have helped in moving the plot along. Overall, however, the film is an affecting story with interesting, quirky characters and true relationships. It feels good. It is a nice date movie – something to watch while curling in a blanket, huddling a tub of popcorn, with someone you love. Something satisfying for the holiday season when the sky is bleak and the snow too deep. When you dream of the Tuscan sun.
Women's fantasy amid gorgeous scenery
posted on 21 Apr 2009This is primarily a film for women. I think most men will find it silly. Basically it's the story of a wealthy woman who divorces her unfaithful husband (to whom she has to pay alimony, which seemed farfetched to me) and moves to Italy with seemingly no hassles from immigration. The film is politically correct to the nth degree, with the heroine's best friend a pregnant lesbian played by an Asian actress no less. The women are clever and warm; the men are mostly ineffectual, despite their bluster. The heroine has a lot of angst over not having had sex recently, but seemingly has an endless parade of attractive younger men making passes at her. It's all farfetched, but harmless. There's nothing terribly original about it, but the Italian scenery is gorgeous, the photography and music are nice and the cast is attractive. There are a couple of gentle laughs, but mostly there is mild amusement. Might make a good double bill with Enchanted April.
The scenery is not enough
posted on 17 Apr 2009The breathtaking scenery is not enough to save this film from the clutches of two of the worn out social clichés of our times. I am convinced the lesbian couple and the gay tour bus were an attempt to draw an even larger viewing audience by playing on the sensitivities of gays and lesbians. Both premises were so blatant and evident that they came close to killing the entire film. Without the scenic background and the remaining cast, most movies would have been doomed. Sandra Oh was atrocious in this film and her character as Patti does not seem a reasonable fit as a close friend of Frances (Diane Lane).Aside from the above detractions, this was a very enjoyable film with excellent casting and acting. It was just too bad that a social statement had to be made to almost ruin an otherwise outstanding movie.
Oh, will this movie just give us a break?
posted on 09 Apr 2009I'll admit up front, I'm not a huge chick flick fan, there are only pretty much a dozen that I like, I normally love the romantic comedies, despite how cheesy they can be. Well, a friend told me while I was renting this on the phone that it was a cheesy movie but I figured, some like sausage and some like pepperoni per say, some movies really do depend on your view of the film. But this was a chick flick that was majorly rubbed in my face and could be at times very predictable.Kathleen is a newly divorced woman who has been cheated on, she goes to Tuscany, Italy and buys a house that is falling apart. She gets immigrants to help her restore it while she works on a new novel hoping to achieve a happy new life. She meets an Italian charmer, who of course I could tell from the line "I could swim in your eyes" that he was... well, you'll get the idea. She goes through some rough times, but pulls herself together when her pregnant friend, Patti moves in with her.Under the Tucsan Sun is a very over the top chick flick that I wasn't at all impressed with, the only thing I'm giving points on that it had some very beautiful pictures in it and it had nice touches to it. But I really do think that Dianne is an over rated actress, again, I know I am going to get bashed for that, but I want to be honest. For women who only enjoy chick flicks, be my guest, but if you're the average film fanatic, I'm not sure if you'll be too impressed by it.3/10
a wonderful film, full of sweetness and light
posted on 31 Aug 2009when people go to the movies often times their expectations are askew. just because diane lane did an oscar worthy performance last year in unfaithful does not mean that she needs to churn one out every fall. and just because this part isnt oscar worthy and nor is the film, doesnt make either bad. diane lane was absolutely wonderful as francesca. i loved the movie and in contrast to what i have read others say, i felt the struggles she was going through with her. even with the most contrived of scripts, diane lane has the power that makes you empathize with her in every role. i have no comlpaints about this movie. i went there with my expectations adjusted (not lowered) and i came out thoroughly pleased. and to the comment that diane lane is considerably older than 35, yeah she is 38. 3 years is not considerable. besides, she looks better than most 35 year old women anyway.