|
Product Details
Falling neatly into the Enchanted April and Under the Tuscan Sun category, the made-for-HBO My House in Umbria boasts lovely Italian vistas and comforting Englishness. But it begins with a note of violence: on a train rolling through the sunny countryside, a terrorist bomb detonates, killing a handful of passengers. The strangers that survive recuperate at the villa of an eccentric but kindly romance novelist, also a survivor of the blast. She's played by Maggie Smith, who bustles through the role with a pleasing mix of gin and daffodils. Chris Cooper is an uptight American who comes to the villa to pick up his orphaned niece and bristles at the bohemian atmosphere. Director Richard Loncraine maintains the melancholy mood amidst the sun-dappled gardens of Umbria, but Smith really holds the film together with her authority and slightly tipsy humor. --Robert Horton
Product Reviews
 (5 stars) - Maggie Smith rocks
Maggie Smith pulls this whole movie together. I have loved this movie for years and finally purchased it at Amazon. Maggie plays an older woman who lives in a beautiful old villa in Umbria, Italy. The story begins as she travels to Milan for her monthly shopping trip. She sits in a compartment with around 9 other people until a bomb explodes and kills everyone in the compartment except a little American girl, an old Englishman, a young German man, and her. While the police are investigating the bombing, the partially recovered travelers go to stay with Maggie's character, Mrs. De La Hanti. The little girl arrives mute, unable to speak because of the trauma of losing her parents in the attack. The German lost his girlfriend and the use of his right hand and the Englishman is grieving for his daughter who died. As the film progresses, you see that Giancarlo Gianini is the investigating policeman and Mrs. De La Hanti is an ex-patriot English romance writer who has been abused in her past. This group of strangers becomes a family of sorts in a matter of weeks and their secrets are uncovered as they begin to understand each other.
I love Maggie Smith's character: vulnerable, flamboyant, abused, and yet able to see the beauty in other people. She has an innocence and imagination that is almost child-like. She is the author of many romance novels and sees stories in the human interactions she observes, interpreting them with an amazing understanding of human nature. The photography is simply beautiful and Italy, of course, is magnificent.
 (4 stars) - My House in Umbria
A truly wonderful movie about making the best of what Life deals you. The scenery is gorgeous and gives one an idea of what life in Italy is about-if you could afford living there.
Beautiful things come about for strangers-all on a different Path of Life-until they all meet. Don't miss this truly amazing story.
If you like this movie you will love "Enchanted April".
 (1 stars) - Strange film
I liked this film until the end when the main character becomes a little slutty. It ruined the film for me. I was hoping the main female character would be classy. I wish they would have edited the last part out. It made me dislike her. Before that I was enjoying the scenery and the beautiful feeling of the Italian villa and the friendship building in the film.
 (3 stars) - Romance novelist and disturbed young girl
The movie was well done and well acted, but just not my kind of movie.
I found myself feeling sort of sorry for the mistreated entomologist...
He had the misfortune to have his sister and her husband killed
in the bomb and be the disturbed young girl's
only relative. Maggie Smith portrays a woman of the world
who is more of a people person.
Math and science people are often thought cold and remote
by those who have a different personality profile!
He proves that he has deep feelings and understanding at the last.
(4 stars) - Beautiful landscapes
I had to see this movie twice in a row... it's photography is so beautiful, I wish I could be there..
The plot is not the greates, however was fun and interesting towards the end.
Great movie to be watched on a Sunday afternoon.
Popular Searches in DVD videos de musica, wayne brothers movies, girl uncensored, kids sing along video, wayne brothers, mary kate and ashley, taboo charming mother, power rangers, dvd, unrated horror movies, granny video, dragonball dvd box sets, barney video, farscape dvd, bill gaither homecoming, pokemon, teletubbies video, lucky number slevin, video xxl, strawberry shortcake, More |
