ENCHANTED APRIL
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 1992 Mark R. Leeper
Capsule review: This is a light and *very* pleasant
comedy that could be used as an ad for the Italian Tourism
Board. It starts like E. M. Forster's indignant social
dramas and then unwinds under the warm Italian sun into a
rich romantic comedy. It features beautiful settings and
people you would love to meet. Rating: +2 (-4 to +4).
I admit it. The reason I wanted to see this movie was because I wanted to see more of Miranda Richardson. No, I wasn't taken with her stunning beauty. I just saw her in one film clip in which she had no lines. She was only reacting to a conversation between Josie Lawrence and Joan Plowright. The conversation was funny but Richardson's reactions were priceless. I admit it was a silly reason to pay $7 to see a film but nothing else in the film appealed to me. And this is a film that turned out to be well worth seeing. This film seamlessly bridges the gap between E. M. Forster social indignation and a Shakespearean romanticism.
It is a rainy, ugly winter in 1922 London. Lottie Wilkins (played by Josie Lawrence) sees a stranger, Rose Arbuthnot (played by Miranda Richardson) wistfully looking at the same newspaper ad that she had. It offered a Northern Italian castle for rent for April ... "wisteria and sunshine." Both women are unhappily married, Lottie to a miserly businessman (played by Alfred Molina) and Rose to a writer of sexy novels (played by Jim Broadbent). With four women they might be able to swing the vacation. They find a crusty old harridan, Mrs. Fisher, whose father knew every great literary genius of his generation. Also there is a world-weary heiress, Lady Caroline Dester. Soon the mousey Lottie and Rose find why it is not good to travel with strangers. Mrs. Fisher is selfish and nasty, Lady Caroline is cold and aloof. Then the warmth and the beauty of Portofino begins to work a kind of magic on all.
Mike Newell, who previously directed the horror film THE AWAKENING and later directed Richardson in DANCE WITH A STRANGER, here directs a surprisingly magnetic film. Peter Barnes adapted the 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Armin. The film was shot in the same castle where von Armin wrote her novel. Each of the four actresses has opportunities to stand out and Molina's half-serious, half-comic role is also a positive pleasure. Watching this film is like taking a pleasant vacation. This is one of the year's best films. I rate it a +2 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
att!mtgzy!leeper
leeper@mtgzy.att.com
Copyright 1992 Mark R. Leeper
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