Under the Tuscan Sun: Life is strange

I had seen this one and then picked up the DVD in Crossword one day. Watched it twice again and the third watch impressed on a unique characteristic that “life” is endowed with. ‘How is life meant to be?’ may evoke a million responses such as “Life’s an ice cream - lick it before it melts” and blah blah blah. This movie makes an impression in Patti’s (played by Sandra Oh) words as ‘life is strange’ - in a mysterious, good way. It encourages you to have all the dreams you desire and life figures its own means and ends to realize it. You don’t always get what you have imagined, but life has an ability to surprise you - quite pleasantly.

I like Diana Lane in a very ‘America’s sweetheart’ kind of a way. She seems like the kind of woman who is a great girlfriend and wife, an excellent daughter, someone who can make the mum-in-law happy in the American way of life. She seems like an older, winish sister of Jennifer Aniston - just more womanly. ‘Must love dogs’ is another good movie to catch her in.

Pay close attention to the first 15 minutes of the movie. An era of a life is covered in these. If you have empathy, you would probably relate to Frances’ (played by Diana Lane) surrender of ‘materialism’ that she leaves behind at her own place, decorated by her mother’s money losing it to her now divorced husband. She only chooses to empty a small vase and take it with her to use as a pen stand apart from her invaluable books collections. She’s a writer and a brilliant one - the movie manages to highlight what she does for a living beautifully.

The story is about her second innings in life where she goes on a tour to Tuscany and buys a house on a whim - a result of a cosmic sign labelled ‘Bramasole’. The movie is packaged in the parcel that reads 'Something like life' and is an absolute delight hereafter from the sorrow of loneliness to finding a house that you can make home. Repair, reconstruct, renovate and connect. Find people who help you do that, find guidance and good will, build bonds. Look at life through the eyes of a master piece (Fefe’s somebody) and be inspired. Get carried away in the joy of cooking grand meals. Flirt, romance and be hurt. Yet don’t give up on love. Birth your lesbian friend’s baby. Wish to make a new family, how much ever late in life. Provide ground for horny teenagers to let go of their raging hormones *please smell sarcasm here*. Have a spiritual unspoken relationship with a man who brings flowers to a possibly departed loved one. 

When I saw the credits, I wasn’t surprised to see that this was directed by a woman, Audrey Wells. The movie has a feminine touch throughout and Diana Lane did absolute justice to it. The only other actor, who could have been brilliant is possibly Meryl Streep.  Apart from feminity, the story comes with very smart wits such as ‘Florence is an hour away. You are going to have your baby delivered in a hospital gown designed by Armani’. The movie gives you a few good laughs and a feel-good throughout.

Sandra Oh makes a good impression of screen space shared by her. A brilliant actress who is probably more famous now as Christina. 

Though I have covered the moral and synopses, the brilliance of the movie is in its direction; its ability to emote onscreen that make it a visual delight. Its almost therapeutic.

Ooh, and I almost forgot the key visionary message - 'They built a train track over the Alps to connect Vienna and Venice.They built these tracks before there was a train in existence that could make the trip.They built it because they knew someday the train would come'.