Review of Enchanted April (1991) by Susan D — 25 Apr 2008

This is such a delightful movie, uplifting and poignant. The story revolves around four women - two unhappily married women [played by Josie Lawrence & Miranda Richardson], a curmudgeon of a widow [Joan Plowright], and an upper-class disenchanted beauty [a luminous Polly Walker, most recently seen in the HBO mini-series Rome]...all four co-rent a beautiful Italian palazzo for a month circa the 1920s. Josie Lawrence acts so convincingly in her role that you truly believe in the magic of the place & time, and that life does not have to be complicated unless one wants it to be. Miranda Richardson plays her role as the uptight wife of an author quite well, with great facial expressions that give us a glimpse into her emotional upheaval. Joan Plowright is delightful as the grumpy widow, and Polly Walker is convincing in her role as a jaded aristocrat.

The men in this movie are definitely just supporting characters, but each one, from the guy that plays the owner of the palazzo, to Jim Broadbent's author, and finally Alfred Molina's stuffy solicitor are significant in enhancing the plot, and enlivening the proceedings.

The cinematography is simply beautiful, evoking the lushness of the Italian landscape, and the upbeat tone of the movie definitely makes this a movie to be watched, especially for those of us who have moments when our spirits are flagging.

I was lucky enough to catch this on cable recently, but do wish it would be made available on DVD soon!