Frances (Diane Lane) has a good life. A productive writer, a good reviewer, and married to a man she loves, she is celebrating a first novel by a student as the movie opens. "Take your bad ideas and work with them" is the advice she gave him when he was in her class. Like all good advice, this comes to bite her on the butt later on.

A disgruntled fellow writer, who is still bitter about her review on his novel, corners her and lets her know in bitter terms, that her husband is as shallow as his lead character. In short order, Frances is meeting with the divorce attorney and hit with the modern woman's woes--her soon-to-be-ex wants alimony, but will settle for buying out her share of their home as his new girlfriend likes the schools. Now whether this is because she's pregnant or thinking of attending, the movie really doesn't answer, but it leaves Frances in the bowels of Divorce Hell Rentals, short term leases by primarily men who are getting divorces. You can literally hear the crying through the walls.

Her best friend, Patti (Sandra Oh) is concerned that Frances is going to end up depressed and empty over her marriage falling apart and with her girlfriend, present her with their tickets to a romantic gay tour of Tuscanny. They can't go as their efforts to have a baby have finally paid off. It takes only a little convincing and Frances is off, on a whirlwind tour of Tuscanny.

In a quaint village, she is entranced by the sights and sounds. Grapes so succulent they taste purple as she writes. She sees a woman dressed to the hilt, complete with picture hat, and follows her, the writer in her entrigued. Later the woman, Katharine (Lindsay Duncan sees her looking over the real estate notices and asks if she is thinking about buying one particular villa and points out that a bad idea can be good.

As luck would have it, the tour bus passes the villa and Frances abandons the tour to play with what appears to be a bad idea. She actually gets her asking price thanks to a lucky opportunity and begins the long haul to hire remodelers. Assisted by Martini (Vincent Riotta, a local real estate agent who, alas, is married, she gets a rag-tag crew of mostly Polish workers who begin a marathon of repair work. Still, Francesca (by this time, she's becoming Italian-ized), is not happy. The men that she could be attracted to or are attracted to her are married, including Martini with whom she shares some great on-screen chemistry.

She isn't happy. She has a big house, she wants people sleeping in the bedrooms. She wants a family. She wants a wedding! Then she meets Marcello (Raoul Bova) and it seems as if dreams are being made here. Except for the 3 hours that separates them. Will Francesca get her wishes? Her friend, Katharine, tries to tell her using a story from her childhood of trying to catch ladybugs yet not finding them anywhere until she gave up and fell asleep on the grass and woke up to find ladybugs on her. Now, personally, that could give me a bug and sleep phobia that would take talented psychiatrists years to work through, but the point is clear--sometimes you don't catch what you're trying too hard to get.

The Good

Diane Lane is a beautiful woman who holds the emotional range of the hurt, disappointed, loving Francesca. There is a bit of time covered in this movie and she is quite convincing in growth of spirit and understanding. Sandra Oh does a great job as her lesbian best friend, Patti, who is coping with some changes her pregnancy has wrought in her life. But Lindsay Duncan as Kathleen, the enigmatic friend who seems to be having a glorious time being enigmatic, is fascinating. She made me want to know more about her and how she ended up in the village wearing beautiful hats with matching outfits and talking about working with Fellini.

Director and script writer Audrey Wells focused on the beauty of Italy and using the recurring symbol of sunflowers to show re-birth (which isn't always painless) takes advantage of a beautiful location. Frances Mayes wrote the original novel on which this movie is (from what I'm told, loosely) based and it makes me want to read the book.

There are a number of powerful messages hidden beneath beautiful locations, great looking guys, beautiful classy women, and ambling story. Be happy with what you have. Possessions or a man in your life won't make you happy. You can't wait to be happy when this happens or when that happens--life is happening while you're waiting. Friends are family and family is who you decide to make it. Good things can come from bad ideas. And sometimes the way to find love is to quit looking so hard for it. Ah, yes, philosophy dancing in the sunflowers.

The Bad

It's a slow moving story (which really doesn't upset me as it is so visually stunning to watch). And I have to admit it does fall into the "Chick Flick" category. But the worst thing I can say is that it pulls no real surprises. From the moment Francesca utters she wants people in her house, a reason to cook, a family and a wedding, I figured out how each was going to come about and I was right.

Lisa's Final Word

I don't own this movie, but I'd like to own the DVD and to see the deleted scenes and bonus features. I had a male friend recommend this when it opened, but had trouble getting to the theater then. I'm very glad I got the chance to view it now.

+1 star for Diane Lane
+1 star for Audry Wells script and direction
+1 star for having some positive gay couples (it is Gay Pride Month, you know. You think I wouldn't comment on that?)
+1 star for positive messages that will keep popping back in my head in the next few months
+1 star for choosing beautiful locations and capturing the essence and the mood in pictures.
-1 star for predictability

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older