Displaying items by tag: Violante Placido

LA DOLCE VILLA

US/Italy, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Scott Foley, Violante Placido, Maia Reficco, Giuseppe Futia, Simione Luglio, Tomaso Basili, Daniel Panzironi.

Directed by Mark Waters.

Most people probably like nice films. However, especially amongst bloggers, there is a demographic who have an allergy to nice films – except that they watch them, say they start to watch them and then stop, and feel compelled to carve up the film on the IMDb et cetera.

This is definitely one of those films. You can tell by the title. There is very little Dolce Vita of the Fellini-kind in this film.

Young woman loves living in Italy, can buy Villa for one euro, Father disapproves. He comes to Italy, observing, gets caught up, interactions with the Mayor, collaborating with his daughter, becoming an Italian, an American abroad.

The film was directed by Mark Waters, who has directed a lot of nice films, especially at the beginning of his career, the director of Mean Girls.

1. The title? Memories of la Dolce Vita? The pleasant variation?
2. The setting, the town, the streets, offices, restaurants, the old houses, the beautiful countryside? The musical score? And the finale with Volare…?
3. The story of Eric Field? Widower and memories of his wife? Work as a chef, transferring to business, his connections, skilled advice? His relationship with Olivia? Broken? The contact, his coming to Italy, and happy memories of Italy? His concern about his daughter?
4. Olivia’s story, age 25, wanting to be independent, memories of her mother, in Italy, the scheme for the houses, paying one euro, the deposit, the renovation of the house, a recognition by the government?
5. Her father interfering, continually talking, the encounter with Francesca, the mayor, her management, the scheme, Matteo her assistant and wanting the grappa, the advice from Bernardo, the personal relationship? The visit to the various houses? The choice, the legal situation?
6. The scenes of the renovation of the house, exhilaration, design, equipment, the plan for the kitchen, the cooking school? Nino, his skills, personality, friendship? His discussions with Olivia, her skill in design, suggestion of the apprenticeship, her going to Rome, not telling her father?
7. Eric, financial help, becoming more involved, the days passing and his staying? The effect on him, communication with Olivia, with Francesca, the visit to the mansion and the picnic, the romance? The effect on each?
8. The town, the people working in the offices, the three elderly ladies sitting in the square, hostility to Eric, a gradual mellowing? And their becoming involved with the cooking school?
9. Giovanni, Chef, training in Rome, returning home, the special meal for Francesca, Eric working with him, admiring his abilities? The relationship with Olivia?
10. Bernardo, his efficiency, infatuation with Francesca, his being upset with her romance, checking out the descendants and their claim to the house? Eric and Olivia accepting this, the deal for repayment?
11. Francesca, everybody searching the archives, finding the documents, the difference between and e and the i, reclaiming the house, and the young couple finding a dilapidated house – but deciding to renovate it?
12. A film that is consistently nice, described as cute and charming, or serious audiences thinking it superficial? But its achieving what it set out to do, a nice entertainment and romance?