When 19-year-old Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler) arrives in Tuscany, wondering about her mother (a recent suicide) and still nursing a crush on Niccolo, the local playboy she met on a visit four years earlier, everyone sits up and takes notice--especially director Bernardo Bertolucci, who trains his camera on the ingenue with understandable enthusiasm. The Graysons, who own the artists' colony and villa where Lucy's mother once wrote poetry, take the young girl in, and their guests enjoy the infusion of youth. Perhaps most deeply affected is Alex Parrish (Jeremy Irons), a terminally ill writer who finds Lucy charming and vital. Before such attentions, Lucy's interest in Niccolo (who turns out to be a jerk) quickly fades, replaced by an unexpected mystery regarding the identity of her father and a possible new love. And in a further attempt to understand her mother, Lucy writes light little poems as well. (Bertolucci has her words appear on the screen as she scribbles.) In fact, everything seems light in lush and lovely in Tuscany, which provides a gorgeous setting for the gifted ensemble to play out their intrigues.
After four years, Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler) returns to the artist's colony in Tuscany where her recently deceased mother was once the resident poet. Lucy is now a beautiful young woman, and although she has returned to learn more about the past (and find love as well), she does not anticipate the revelations and relationships that await her in the pastoral paradise. Jeremy Irons is memorable as the dying writer who takes an interest in Lucy.
Released theatrically in New York City June 14, 1996; released theatrically in Los Angeles June 21, 1996; released theatrically in Chicago and Philadelphia June 28, 1996.
Shown at the Cannes Film Festival, in competition for the Golden Palm, May 16, 1996.
The sculptures used in the film are by Matthew Spender.
Joseph Fiennes is the younger brother of actor, Ralph Fiennes.
"You're in need of a ravisher."--Alex Parrish (Jeremy Irons), to Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler).
"I'm waiting."--Lucy, in response.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Single Side - Dual Layer
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette
Trailers:
1. International Trailer
2. TV Spot (3)
3. Previews - Fox Flix
Production Designer
Gianni Silvestri:
Story
Bernardo Bertolucci: Italian Director, LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972)
Director of Photography
Darius Khondji: Cinematographer
Review 1:
"...A pastoral treat....It's enough of a vacation itself to inspire a return visit..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
Source: USA Today
p.4D 06/14/1996
Review 2:
"...[A] shrewdly coy, hot little idyll....A great date movie..." -- Rating: B
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.43 06/14/1996
Review 3:
"...A sensuous love poem to the Italian countryside..."
Source: Premiere
p.114 12/01/1996
Review 4:
"...Liv Tyler gives a luminous performance in STEALING BEAUTY..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.63 06/27/1996
Review 5:
"...An exotic epic trilogy....A richly satisfying chamber piece that is both literary and utterly contemporary..."
Source: Variety
04/01/1996
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