Bajo el sol de la Toscana. Audrey Wells, 2003
A la joven escritora Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) su reciente divorcio le ha causado un bloqueo a la hora de escribir y se encuentra deprimida. La receta de su amiga, la Dra. Patty, es muy sencilla: 10 días en la Toscana italiana. Una vez allí, Frances se encapricha de una villa llamada Bramasole, a pesar de lo evidente de necesitar profundas reformas. Pero ¿qué mejor lugar para empezar una nueva vida que la cuna del Renacimiento?
El guión, muy flojo, desaprovecha parte de sus posibilidades, no hay intensidad en las emociones, dejando grises y banales a los personajes y las situaciones. De hecho, el personaje interpretado por Diane Lane nunca evoluciona, sólo funciona en algunas de las historias paralelas. Y además, sigue los estereotipos del cine americano dentro del género romántico: los italianos son todos guapos, seductores y elegantes; las escenas de la protagonista con frutas y verduras en el mercado imagino pretenden ser lo que en Hollywood entienden por celebración de la sensualidad mediterránea (¿?), aparece incluso una vieja gloria del cine de Fellini… y así, se suceden los tópicos hasta irritar al espectador.
Eso sí, la fotografía es magnífica. Claro que también hay que decir que, con unos paisajes como la campiña Toscana, sería casi imposible obtener una imagen mala.
En resumen, una cinta superficial, edulcorada y previsible, pero amable a fin de cuentas.
4 comentarios
Verónica -
Adriana -
Verónica -
Frances Mayes is a 35 year old writer who lives in San Francisco and whose perfect life, making reviews about other books, has changed drastically. She still hasnt got over her divorce so she isnt able to write and her depression is starting to be highly worrying for her best friend Patti. Patti is expecting a baby and thinking about something to help her friend, she decides to present Frances with a ten days gay package tour in Tuscany (Italy). During her especial holidays, she falls in love with a beautiful old villa called Bramasole. She buys it although it needs to be repaired but if she wants to start a new life, this is the best place: the land of the Renaissance. While the house is developing to be a cosy home, Frances meets new friends and has some affairs that make her feel alive, but none of them are definitive because before her old life turns into a new one she needs to be happy herself. Could she have a second opportunity under the Tuscan sun?
After reading the original book, the film reflects all the experiences that Frances Mayes has lived. It combines humor and human sensations in a good way showing us her internal adventure. For me, it is a romantic film but not a typically romantic comedy because she is supposed to stars her love story at the end but not at the beginning. First of all, she must take changes and risks without looking back. It is a metaphor: she is making improvements in the house and at the same time she is making emotional changes in her own life, her complete change is made by all the new people that enter in her little world but not by furniture or painting walls. We can see the progress of the house while the movie goes on, the quality of the light is changing to be more attractive and warmer although its decoration is basically the same.
The locations on the film are the most beautiful places: Cortona in the Tuscany and Positano in the Amalfi Coast; when you see someone there, you can feel that it looks free and different in a complicated world.
The film is not only about a woman who is trying to find herself and buys a house in a foreign country, it tells us the relation between the place and the human being. Finally, her internal muse of writer finds her and she is able to trust herself again. If she takes risks and makes ones way to a new life, the happiness returns deep down her. Even at the end of the game, it can happen exceptional good things.
As it is noticed, I love this film and I would recommend it for everyone. You will find easy to follow although some characters have American accent. You will enjoy with the story because it is absolutely great and it captures all the feelings that Frances tried to express in her book perfectly.
Espero que no te moleste. Danke schön.
Verónica -