My House in Umbria Movie Review 2003

Quality HBO production adapted from the novella by William Trevor. Romance writer Emily Delahunty (Smith) is aboard a Milan-bound train when her peace is shattered by a bomb. Emily invites the other survivors from her train car to recuperate at her house in Umbria, including young American Aimee (Clarke), whose parents were killed in the explosion. Aimee begins to lean on Emily (who loves having a ready-made family) and then the snake appears in their Garden of Eden; Aimee's frosty Uncle Thomas (Cooper) has come to pick up his unknown niece. Emily's voiceover ramblings are sometimes distracting but Smith finds the pathos in her character without going overboard. The versatile Cooper also offers excellent support in an unsympathetic role. And, naturally, the scenes at the villa, shot on the Tuscany-Umbria border, are entrancing.

Distribution

HBO, 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Phone: (212)512-7400, Fax: (212)512-7498, URL: http://www.hbo.com, Remarks: Online sales through www.store.hbo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 103 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Writers, Italy, Boom!, Trains, Aunts & Uncles, Nieces & Nephews

Screenplay

Hugh Whitemore

Cast

Maggie Smith, Chris Cooper, Timothy Spall, Emmy Clarke, Benno Furmann, Ronnie Barker, Giancarlo Giannini, Libero De Rienzo

Cinematography

Marco Pontecorvo

Director

Richard Loncraine

Music

Claudio Capponi