"Filled with realistic and sometimes quite witty dialogue, and Diane Lane is right there for every scene." Brian Webster APOLLO GUIDE "The performances are terrific, especially the wonderful Lane, who deftly conveys weariness, desperation, vulnerability and sexiness at various turns." Derek Tse JAM! MOVIES "It is a glorious refreshment to spend time with characters who aren't twenty-something eye bait, someone's virtuous, whiny wife or other reductive archetypes." Desson Thomson WASHINGTON POST "Movie and book both are delightful, but very, very different." Carrie Rickey PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "A charming, highly entertaining romantic adventure full of life, spectacular vistas, and sensual delight." Mark Sells FILM THREAT

"a postcard-pretty wish-fulfillment comedy-drama, as light and enjoyable as a big scoop of gelato on a hot afternoon." James Sanford KALAMAZOO GAZETTE "I leave you with the advice that, like a roller coaster, this film won't take you anywhere. It will toss you up and down a few times and then set you back where you started, none the worse for wear." Chris Knight NATIONAL POST "This is a delightful for the target audience and the rest of you out there will like it too." Eric Lurio, GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE "It's lovely under the Tuscan sun. The book is better, the film beautiful to look at. Take your pick, or enjoy both." Jean Lowerison SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN "A touching story that includes large helpings of humor and charm." Eric Harrison HOUSTON CHRONICLE

At A Glance

"If the screen version of Under the Tuscan Sun doesn't make your mouth water or inspire you to price out flights to Italy, what's the point?" ........ Mark Caro CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Now here's a film for all those 'young at hearts', those who have suffered through a divorce, those soppy romantics and those who love a laugh. Whoa, hang on there, isn't that just about everyone? Too right and "Under The Tuscan Sun" is a film that will just about appeal to everyone who has gone through puberty. If you've read my recent review on "21 Grams" or last years "Unfaithful", you will know I have been singing the praises of actress Diane Lane. Not that you have to be a brains trust to do that after all Diane just gets better and better with age. Many may not realize that as an actress she has been around for nearly 30 years. What! Come on Richard, are you trying to tell us that this beautiful, sexy, accomplished, Academy Award ® nominee has been around that long. Better believe it readers because it's true. Lane made her debut in 1979 at the age of 13 in "A Little Romance" and, it was such an impressive debut it landed her on the cover of Time magazine. Of course "Under The Tuscan Sun" would never had happened for Lane if it wasn't for author Frances Mayes and a large dose of fate.
Filming had nearly finished on "The Talented Mr Ripley". At the end of another days shooting Producer Tom Sternberg, Director Anthony Minghella and actor Matt Damon decided to retreat to a nearby wine bar in the Tuscan town of Pienza. It is incredible how things happen and how fate can ensure a coming together for a particular purpose. In this case it weaves a fascinating little story. "I noticed a couple picking out wine glasses," Sternberg recalls. "They were speaking English and we struck up a conversation, only to find out that it was Frances and Ed Mayes." Sternberg had read Francis Mayes memoir, "Under the Tuscan Sun" just twelve months earlier. Now here he was face to face chatting with the author whose book had sold some "sold 2 million copies in the US and spent 126 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. It has been translated into 15 different languages [with further translations planned] and was a bestseller in the UK, Australia, Italy, France, Spain, Israel and Holland." In March 2000 Sternberg again met Frances and Ed Mayes, this time in Los Angeles where the three were guests of the Tuscan Film Commission. By this time Sternberg had reread Mayes book and had realized it's potential as a film. Sternberg and executive producer Mark Gill then gave the book to writer Audrey Wells. They wanted to see what her approach would be. Sternberg recalls "Audrey came in and nailed it. She invented a story whose characters, though wholly of her own imagination, dramatized both the heart and sensuality which were so much the appeal of the book. Her view was that "Under The Tuscan Sun" should be a lush, classical romantic comedy whose point is that if you stop looking for love, love will find you." In June 2001 Audrey Wells signed up for "Under The Tuscan Sun" as both the writer and director. Shortly after signing up Wells and her family took a holiday to Europe. While there, "she made a short side-trip to Cortona in Tuscany to meet the Mayeses at Bramasole." Wells found them to have "such generous spirits that it was inspiring just to know them. I really liked them."
Wells began drafting her script in 2002. From the beginning she says "sought to fuse her own aims with those of Mayes’s book, pursuing, as she puts it, a happy marriage of ideas." She explained, "I am interested in the resiliency of the heart in how people find a way to recover from emotional disasters. When I wrote the screenplay, I gave every character in the story a broken heart. The worst off, of course, is Frances whose marriage has collapsed and whose heart and spirit have been shattered. She barely has the courage to face the day. How can she face the rest of her life? That’s her challenge, and her effort to recreate her life and start again is the story of this film." It a lush, joyful tale despite what Frances goes through to find contentment. Wells script, the scenery, the music and the characters all combine to make "Under The Tuscan Sun" such a treat. It's not all beer and skittles for Frances but it's a tale we can all in some way relate to. The joy is in getting to the end and realizing it was all worth it. And believe me there are plent of fun moments which elevate the spirit in what is definitely a 'feel good' movie. See the film - Read the Book & Get the Soundtrack

"A memoir, travelogue and cookbook all rolled into one". Guardian "A wonderfully languid and evocative diary". Independent On Sunday Available in all good bookstores. RRP $24.95

Some selected tracks ....... Follow The Flower Bramosole Mud Slide Patti Arrives The Spigot Gaudeamus

Casting About "Under The Tuscan Sun" was directed and written by Audrey Wells ["Guinevere" and "The Truth About Cats and Dogs"], co-produced by Audrey Wells and Tom Sternberg ["Apocalypse Now", "The Black Stallion" and "The Black Stallion Returns"] and was adapted from the book by Frances Mayes ["Under The Tuscan Sun" [1996], "Bella Tuscany" [1999], "In Tuscany" [2000] and "Swan" [2002]]. The fabulous scenes were filmed under the direction of Cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson ["Green Card", "Fried Green Tomatoes", "Little Women" and "Center Stage"] and the original music in the soundtrack was composed by Christophe Beck ["Just Married", "Confidence", "American Wedding", "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" and "Guinevere"].
"Under The Tuscan Sun" stars Diane Lane ["A Little Romance", "Cotton Club", "The Perfect Storm" and "Unfaithful"], Sandra Oh ["Double Happiness", "The Red Violin", "The Princess Diaries" and "Bean"], Lindsay Duncan ["An Ideal Husband", "City Hall", "After Life" and "Mansfield Park"], Vincent Riotta ["Ballad of the Nightingale", "Heaven", "Captain Corelli’s Mandolin" and "Bella Bettien"] and popular Italian film star Raoul Bova ["Una Storia Italiana", "Avenging Angelo" and "Francesca e Nunziata"] as Marcello. The Story

"Audrey Wells has taken what could have been nothing more than an episodic travelogue and given it real humor and heart" Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS

Frances is about to receive some life changing news and it's not good. That old saying "what goes round comes round" is about to shatter her world and the bearer of this bad news is none-other than an aspiring author whose first book received a bad review from Frances. At a social function he extracts his revenge by informing her that her husband is having an affair. Frances is shattered but there is worse to come. Even though she has supported him financially, even though she paid for their property and refurbished it, he and his young, rich, pregnant girlfriend want it. Frances has little option but to capitulate. Then her two best friends give her the ideal gift. A trip to Italy with a tour through beautiful Tuscany. Frances won't have to worry about being single and getting hit on, because this is a gay tour. At first she resists but then decides to accept their offer. While on tour she sees a 300 year old villa advertised. Frances is interested but then shrugs off the thought of living in a foreign country away from everything and everyone she knows. Then the tour bus goes past the villa. Frances calls to the driver to stop. She's made a decision, she wants that villa. Life for Frances Mays is about to be renewed thanks to a run down villa, a group of lovable Polish renovators and some handsome hot blooded Italian men. The Verdict "Diane Lane produces another fine performance in the role of Frances. Charming, witty, lovable and such beautiful scenery. If you can't afford a trip to Tuscany then do the next best thing, go see "Under The Tuscan Sun". You'll have a heap of fun, meet some delightful locals and come away feeling totally uplifted. It's a little gem. Highly recommended." The Cast

Diane Lane Sandra Oh Lindsay Duncan Raoul Bova Vincent Riotta Mario Monicelli Roberto Nobile Anita Zagaria Evelina Gori Giulia Steigerwalt Pawel Szajda Valentine Pelka Sasa Vulicevic Massimo Sarchielli Claudia Gerini Laura Pestellini David Sutcliffe Kate Walsh Don McManus Matt Salinger Elden Henson

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Frances Mayes Patti Katherine Marcello Martini Old Man with Flowers Placido Fiorella Nona Cardinale Chiara Pawel Jerzy Zbignew Nino Signora Raguzzi Contessa Ed Grace Nasty Man Colleague Author

The Crew Directed by Audrey Wells Screenplay by Audrey Wells From the book "Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy" by Frances Mayes Produced by Tom Sternberg & Audrey Wells Original Music by Christophe Beck Cinematography by Geoffrey Simpson Film Editing by Arthur Coburn & Andrew Marcus Casting by John Brace/Béatrice Kruger & Linda Lowy Production Design by Stephen McCabe Art Direction by Gianfranco Fumagalli & Gianni Giovagnoni Set Decoration by Mauro Passi & Cinzia Sleiter Costume Design by Nicoletta Ercole Production Manager Riccardo Neri Run Time 112 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Touchstone Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved