Under the Tuscan Sun is the ultimate Diane Lane tribute. I'm not sure I've ever seen a movie that's more a tribute to one beautiful, sweet, endearing, awesome, sexy, pretty, cute, intelligent, lovely, pleasant, breathtakingly gorgeous lady like Under the Tuscan Sun is to beloved Diane and all her fans. I'm really not sure what it's about, something to do with writing, but I really freaking love it, but uh, right now in my life, I want to be with Diane.....

Full disclosure: I am a recently (ecstatically) divorced woman living my life happily as a whole person without (gasp!) a man. Also a successful and hard-working writer.Diane Lane does as well as she can, but this "a woman's happiness is with a man" shtick is tired. A divorced American writer who lost her San Francisco house to her ex and his lover travels to Italy and suddenly has the wherewithal to buy a run-down Italian money-pit villa where men emerge everywhere to make her feel better? Without having to resort to (gasp!) actual writing work? What happened to truly finding your self and caring for that person, regardless of who is around to fluff up your ego? A friend recommended this because I love Italy (the real one, not this 50s fantasy) and was recently divorced. Give me "Enchanted April" instead where women discover they are complete just as they are, without any hangers on or people to tell them how great/beautiful/amazing they are. Not against men, just against anyone defining themselves solely by a relationship. What ever happened to loving human partnerships where both are able to fulfill themselves in the context of the relationship? Sorry I wasted the hour and a half. Better off petting the cat and enjoying just being alive.

OK, first of all a heads up... I'm a British man of 56, having just watched this on the TV on a lazy Sunday afternoon, when I could of been catching up with Glastonbury or the football (Euro 2016). Not, I guess, the target audience.Well, as I sat there on the sofa with my cuppa, enjoying the scenery, and this striking lady who I hadn't seen before, (trust me, I know Diane now, and have a list of her films to watch), I just became entranced.I know I'm being manipulated, the mass of stereotypes, the fact (unlike most of us) she can just cash buy a villa on a whim, BUT, I gave in and went for the ride, and it couldn't of been better. I didn't want it to end, the feel good, the decent people, the Tuscan sun! Add in fellow Brit Lindsay Duncan's great performance, the ensemble cast, and you have a joy to watch which surely will make anyone feel better.

I believe every movie that resonates with me has its own perfect place in my life. This is a down-in-the-mouth, pick-me-up favorite of mine. I find it perfectly comforting on those ho-hum / woe-is-me days when I could really use a hug or a drink or both. I have to report that I have watched this movie at least twenty times, both alone and with friends (misery loves company). I have even gone to the extreme of having the same food and wine as shown in the movie ready to partake when I /we get to the scene (which really makes it fun by the way). The big news here is that no matter how bad I feel when I hit the play button, I always feel much better by the time credits roll at the end… Always!What I love most about the movie (spoiler alert) is the wistful yet posthumous advice Frances (Diane Lane) is constantly given from Federico Fellini (the late great movie director). He sends his advice through his medium, a classic blonde beauty (seriously classic) named Katherine (played by Lindsay Duncan), who claims to have been il Maestro's muse. Aside from the amazing cinematography that will make you want to purchase a one way ticket to Tuscany, the lovely and captivating acting, and the fun, move- your-body soundtrack, it is the foodie scene that may really capture your heart, it captured mine. I can make all of the dishes in the big foodie scene at this point, and I share this with great pride. LolWhen compared to the rainy-day, page-turner by Audrey Wells, well I should say, there is no comparison to the book really other than the location and the title. This story has lovely merit all its own. If you try to compare it to the book, as so many have, you will not find the same story. I have enjoyed both the book and the movie. In my mind they are Audrey Wells' fraternal twins and I love the both!