"Light in the Piazza" is the story of an overprotective mother, Meg (de Havilland) and her daughter Clara (Mimieux) who are traveling in Florence, Italy. While there, they meet Fabrizio, a young, rich native who immediately falls for Clara. Meg has severe reservations about the courtship, however, because as a child Clara had a riding accident that left her mentally impaired; essentially with the mind of a 10 year-old. Clara's charm and genuine innocence is one of the things that draws Fabrizio to her, and after Meg meets and approves of Fabrizio's family, his father in particular (Brazzi) she allows the courtship to continue, with some reservations. It isn't until she sees that their love is true, and finds that, back in the States, her husband has signed Clara up for a "special school" that she begins to consider that Clara may be better off marrying Fabrizio.
I'm a huge fan of de Havilland, but I'm a bigger fan of good drama. Unfortunately, I wasn't treated to anything above average in "Light in the Piazza". The performances were fine, and Mimieux in particular was charming, but something about the film didn't click with me. Perhaps it was a very slight story that was drawn out into a full-length film, or it could be the slightly generic direction by Green (who three years later made the excellent "A Patch of Blue"). The film's greatest asset by far is the scenery, obviously filmed on location. Imagine sitting at a café less than 100 feet from Michelangelo's statue of David; that is the kind of atmosphere we are treated to. Though made forty years apart, I saw a similarity between this film and "Under a Tuscan Sun" in that there wasn't much to do during the film other than look at the gorgeous Italian scenery.
"Light in the Piazza" is not a terrible film by any means, but there isn't anything about it thematically that makes it anything better than average either. I would recommend it if you enjoy Olivia de Havilland, which is why I watched it, but anyone who isn't a die-hard fan would probably be disappointed. 5/10 --Shelly
I'm a huge fan of de Havilland, but I'm a bigger fan of good drama. Unfortunately, I wasn't treated to anything above average in "Light in the Piazza". The performances were fine, and Mimieux in particular was charming, but something about the film didn't click with me. Perhaps it was a very slight story that was drawn out into a full-length film, or it could be the slightly generic direction by Green (who three years later made the excellent "A Patch of Blue"). The film's greatest asset by far is the scenery, obviously filmed on location. Imagine sitting at a café less than 100 feet from Michelangelo's statue of David; that is the kind of atmosphere we are treated to. Though made forty years apart, I saw a similarity between this film and "Under a Tuscan Sun" in that there wasn't much to do during the film other than look at the gorgeous Italian scenery.
"Light in the Piazza" is not a terrible film by any means, but there isn't anything about it thematically that makes it anything better than average either. I would recommend it if you enjoy Olivia de Havilland, which is why I watched it, but anyone who isn't a die-hard fan would probably be disappointed. 5/10 --Shelly