This lovely, 1991 adaptation of Elizabeth Von Arnim's novel has a superb cast and a tone so mellow you can feel your pulse get slower. Josie Lawrence and Miranda Richardson play a pair of unhappily married women who rent an Italian villa for a month, sharing the cost with a crusty Englishwoman (Joan Plowright) and a lonely aristocrat (Polly Walker). Sun, rest, sinking into the green grass for long naps--they all have a soulful effect on the quartet, and then on the men in their lives who make a surprise visit. Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) directs with seeming effortlessness, and it is impossible not to be swayed by the promise of restoration for these burdened characters--or for anyone alive. Wonderful performances all around, including a particularly sensitive one by Alfred Molina and a very funny one by Jim Broadbent. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
A Gentle Escape Not particularly for Lethal Weapon fans but a lovely gentle unfolding of a gentle story. It begins in a damp depressing London and end up in beautiful Italy. People, as well as the scenery are transformed and the memorable performances of Polly Walker and Miranda Richardson make for a memorable cinamatic experience. Buy the movie, you'll want to watch it more than once (or twice!).
Wonderful film Superb array of acting talent, great location work and sticks to the book. I don't think the dvd has been cut, video & dvd have the same run time and it was only shown once on tv (to my recollection)so I can't compare timings.
A lovely gentle film This is one of my favourite films. A gentle uplifting story acted by some of the best British actors of the past 20 years. I have given the DVD 4 stars intead of 5 because Miramax in their (lack of) wisdom have cut 10 minutes out of the original. I assume this is to fit the print onto a 90 minute disk. Shame on them. We lose some dialogue, which reduces the emotional depth of the Polly Walker character, and the peaceful, leisurely pace of the film is marred. Apart form the minor blemish above, I... more info
Great, great movie If for no other reason than Miranda Richardon and Alfred Molina are in this, not to mention a stellar cast of first-rate actors, you should see this movie. WHY, oh WHY is this not more popular? This is along the lines of one of Ivory-Merchant's better efforts, even though they did not do this film. But the most beautiful and appealing aspect of this movie is that it starts out with emotional crises on the part of several women and then does nothing but resolve itself slowly. This is anything but a... more info
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