MOVIE REVIEW

Under the Tuscan Sun  (2003)

Starring: Diane Lane, Raoul Bova, Sandra Oh
Director: Audrey Wells

Rating: PG-13

Studio: Touchstone

Release Date: 9.26.03

Review Posted: 9.26.03

Spoilers: Minor

By Rachel Sexton

"Tuscan Sun" a Pleasurable and Sweet Treat

Screenwriter Audrey Wells, who wrote the great The Truth About Cats and Dogs, adds directing to her credits with Under the Tuscan Sun. Wells proves again how well she crafts material appealing to women. With its combination of a deft lead performance from Diane Lane, romance, comedy, and lush scenery, Under the Tuscan Sun is a film audiences will enjoy a taste of.

Director Wells indulges in an extreme close-up on a sunflower to begin the film before Screenwriter Wells kicks in with an effective opening scene that establishes immediately the story’s hook: Writer Frances Mayes (Lane) has been cheated on. Divorce comes quickly accompanied by despair. Frances reluctantly goes on a tour of Tuscany as a gift from friends and impulsively buys a villa that is the very definition of fixer-upper. Through the lengthy remodeling process, various characters effect Frances’ life and she slowly opens to the possibility of love again.

Since I am a woman, this film delighted me, though men will undoubtedly find it boring. Wells provides firm evidence, though, that women need to be writing and directing women’s films. Not only does her script successfully develop Frances’ character, the plot is well-handled, too. Wells gives women moments of fantasy (the HOT Italian Raoul Bova saying "I’m going to make love all over you.") while never losing sight of the realism (He doesn’t stick around.)

She even manages to work in some religious and water imagery. The best may be the water, most significantly a dry tap in the villa slowly begins to drip during the film until in the final shot, with all of Frances’ sadness behind her, it begins gushing water. Parallels are evident here as well. For example, Frances is also a book critic and two writers whose books she gave bad reviews figure prominently, though briefly.

Based on Frances Mayes’ memoir of the same name, some subplots, like the romance, have of course been added, but Wells is gifted enough at writing to meld them. The plot points are effective, though many will inevitably scream predictability. The film makes good use of Italian references, too, including their lust for life and natural flirtatiousness as well as many mentions of great director Federico Fellini. Plus, do I even need to say how beautiful the Tuscan landscape is?

Women will most likely relate to the comedy here, mostly provided by supporting sidekick Sandra Oh as Frances’ gay best friend. She gets a lot of the memorable lines. When steaming hot water in the toilet, she tells Frances it isn’t good "unless you want to give your ass a facial." I also love the way Bova says when he and Frances first meet, "Maybe you think I am just trying to pull you up?" And Frances answers "Pull me up? Oh, pick me up!"

The anchor of this film is Lane’s performance and she proves comedy is as well within her range as drama. She is required to do both in this role and cements her status as one of the best actresses working who isn’t a big name yet. This is her film. Her performance is like the icing on the cake of romance and comedy that is the script for Under the Tuscan Sun. Pleasurable and sweet, this film is a well-made treat.

Rating: êêêê  (out of 5)

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