rare gems of a movie that come along every now and then and sail right under the radar. I'm always amazed at how many people have never heard of this film. Everything about this movie is perfect, from the cast to the stunning scenery that forms the backdrop of the the action. The only complaint I ever had with this film was that it took so long to bring it out on DVD. The movie originally came out in '92, but it wasn't released on DVD until just last year.
The story starts on a rainy London day in the years right after WWI. Two women, Lottie Wilkins (Josie Lawrence) and Rose Arbuthnot (Miranda Richardson) are fed up with the day to day humdrum of their middle-class lives and decide to spend April in an Italian villa, which they rent from George Briggs (Michael Kitchen). Because they don't have a lot of money, they advertise for two companions to join them and share the expense. Their ad is answered by Mrs. Fisher (Joan Plowright), and aging dowager, and Lady Caroline Dester (Polly Walker), a disillusioned young socialite. Lottie's husband Mellersh (Alfred Molina) - a family lawyer - is outraged that his wife would want to go on a vacation without him; Rose's husband Frederick (Jim Broadbent) - a writer of scandalous romances - thinks it's a great idea. Once the four women arrive at San Salvatore, the villa begins to work its magic upon
them. You see them unfold beneath the hot Mediterranean sun, melt into the exquisite landscape. Their guards come down. So do their pretenses and facades. Lottie invites Mellersh to come and join her. She knows that the villa will change him too. It does. Then Rose invites Frederick. He arrives - having not received her letter - looking for Caroline, who he has a passion for. The villa's magic takes care of that as well. By the end, all are friends, including Mr. Briggs who came to see how things were going and was invited to stay on.
Enchanted April is not a loud or a fast paced movie. There aren't any chase scenes or gun fights
or explosions in it. There are no CGI effects to wow the audience. You won't see any nudity or sex or even hear any profanity. What you will get, instead, is a truly wonderful story - one could say magical - set against some of the most enchanting scenery in the whole world. The musical score is lovely and relaxing, and the cinematography takes full advantage of the breathtaking Italian coast. Some would call Enchanted April a chick-flick. I disagree. It is a movie for anyone who is tired of rushing around and multi-tasking and just wants to enjoy a film that unfolds itself gradually, carefully, until it arrives at a totally satisfying conclusion.
Enchanted April is rated PG.
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