Under the Tuscan Sun (2003, Diane Lane, Raoul Bova)

When 35 year old writer Frances Mayes (the lovely Diane Lane) is divorced by her husband she decides to leave her San Francisco home for a trip to Tuscany in Italy, seeing a gorgeous rundown house she impulsively decides to buy it and try and start a new life deep in the beauty of the Tuscan region.

Frances sets about renovating the place with gusto, hiring a motley group of itinerant workers to help her do so, she even manages to find time for a little romance with Rome antiques dealer Marcello (Raoul Bova).

Based on the real life story of Frances Mayes Under The Tuscan Sun is a lovely feel good movie, beautiful to look at, the Tuscan scenery is simply gorgeous, in fact there’s a nice contrast between the dour, gray facade of San Francisco and the vibrantness of Tuscany.

Full of warmth, you really want Frances to find happiness after her divorce. Initially it looks like she may end up in the arms of friendly real estate agent Vincent Riotta but is later swept off her feet by Bova’s charming Marcello.

Lane is great as Mayers but the real stars of the movie are the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the gorgeous old house Frances finds to live in.

production details
Italy – USA | 113 minutes | 2003

Director: Audrey Wells
Script: Frances Mayes, Audrey Wells,

cast
Diane Lane as Frances
Valentine Pelka as Jerzy
Lindsay Duncan as Katherine
Raoul Bova as Marcello
Vincent Riotta as Martini
Sandra Oh as Patti
Mario Monicelli as Old Man with Flowers
Roberto Nobile as Placido
Anita Zagaria as Fiorella
Evelina Gori as Nona Cardinale
Kate Walsh as Grace
Giulia Steigerwalt as Chiara
Pawel Szajda as Pawel
Sasa Vulicevic as Zbignew
Massimo Sarchielli as Nino
Claudia Gerini as Signora Raguzzi
Geoffrey Rivas as Head Mover
Sean Kaplan as Seat Mate
Nuccio Siano as Gianni
Emiliano Novelli as Positano Policeman