Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
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A recently divorced writer finds a new lease on life after purchasing a dilapidated villa in Tuscany on a whim.
The story
Frances Mayes, a San Francisco writer, faces a devastating divorce after discovering her husband's infidelity. The settlement forces her to relinquish her home, leaving her depressed and unable to write. At the urging of her best friend, Frances takes a vacation to Tuscany. While on a tour, she discovers a villa for sale in the town of Cortona. Believing it to be a sign, she purchases the property. The film follows her journey as she begins the process of renovating the house and rebuilding her life in the Italian countryside.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a traumatic divorce and the loss of her home, Frances Mayes travels to Tuscany. In Cortona, she impulsively buys a dilapidated villa. She hires a crew of Polish immigrants to renovate the house and begins to form connections with her neighbors and the realtor. During her stay, she has a brief affair with a man named Marcello. She eventually helps a young Polish worker, Pawel, and a neighbor's daughter marry despite their father's disapproval. The film concludes with the unexpected appearance of Ed, an American writer whom Frances had previously critiqued harshly; the two share an attraction that points toward a romantic future.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Italian
- Directors
- Audrey Wells
- Writers
- Audrey Wells · screenplay; Audrey Wells · story
- Cast and characters
- Diane Lane · Frances Mayes; Sandra Oh; Lindsay Duncan; Raoul Bova
- Genres
- romantic comedy-drama
- Themes
- divorce; self-discovery; romance; travel
- Tone and mood
- romantic; escapist; warm; lush
- Premise and plot tags
- divorce; vacation; renovation; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Frances Mayes's 1996 memoir Under the Tuscan Sun
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film was predominantly well-received by critics, with strong praise for Diane Lane's performance, though it received mixed reviews for its formulaic plot.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Producer Tom Sternberg met the author Frances Mayes at a wine bar while filming The Talented Mr. Ripley.; The film grossed $58.9 million worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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