Under the Tuscan Sun
Diane Lane shines brightly in 'Under the Tuscan Sun'
By Christine Huggins
The Dartmouth

Does the gray Hanover weather have you down, and it’s not even snowing yet? Do picturesque ocean sides, fields of beautiful poppies, and sunlight filtering over the ancient fountains and villas of Italy sound good to you? If so, I suggest you go watch “Under the Tuscan Sun” right away. It may not be a classic, but definitely a must-see film.

Diane Lane lights up the screen as Francesca, a confused divorcee who impulsively buys a run-down villa and faces the challenge of making it a home. Not only does she need to repair the dilapidated house, she must also repair her broken spirit.

Numerous lovable characters enter Francesca’s life in Tuscany. The real-estate agent who sells her the villa, the endearing Polish repairmen and the promiscuous has-been movie star with plenty of love advice are just a few of the colorful individuals Francesca encounters.

Italy itself is a character that Francesca must come to know. Humorous miscommunications such as “are you single” — translating as “are you celibate” -- pepper the script.

This movie is about finding friends, but also about love. It examines not only what love can do to you when it goes awry, but what love inspires you to do when it is right, Francesca’s love affair with Marcello (played by studly Italian movie star Raoul Bova) being an example of the latter.

The sappy fairy-tale elements like the chance meeting and lines like “You have beautiful eyes, Francesca. I wish I could swim inside them,” do not compromise the film, even if they are a little unbelievable. But rest assured, most of the movie's cheese is tempered by reality. Francesca gets a happy ending, although it is not the one you expect.

This film is not only a visual feast for its stunning costars but also for the fantastic cinematography. Bold, bright rich colors, classic costumes and gorgeous backdrops fill the screen. Gigantic sunflowers, crashing ocean waves, olive groves, sprawling landscapes, vineyards and fiery sunsets all inspire you to hop on the next plane to Italy.

There is also a scene where the frames go from color to black and white, as if they are snapshots from a camera. These still-frames capture every expression on the actors’ faces, and we can fully appreciate their talent as we have time to examine it at close range. This novel attempt coupled with bold scenery, combines traits of recent films like “Chocolat” with 1940s romance films.

But, “Under the Tuscan Sun” comes to life because of Lane. Her performance is both funny and compelling as her character goes from being scared of life to embracing it. The warm presence she exudes on screen allows the audience to relate to her plight and cheer her on to happiness.

At one point in the film, Francesca says, “Unthinkably, good things can happen.” Lane's performance is phenomenal, making “Under the Tuscan Sun” one of those “good things.”