"La Dolce Villa," directed by Mark Waters, was recently released on Netflix. This romantic comedy stars Scott Foley as Eric Fields, Maia Reficco as Olivia Fields, and Violante Placido as Francesca. It is a heartwarming film that shows the depths and beauty of Italy.
Eric follows his daughter Olivia to Italy to convince her to return home. She decides to buy a crumbling Tuscan villa, and Eric decides to stay and help her renovate it. Throughout his journey in Italy, he meets a woman named Francesa, the mayor of Montezara. He falls for her, finds the true beauty in Italy, and extends his stay.
Highs
The film is set in the small city of Montezara, Italy and is beautiful. It shows the depths of the city and the history of architecture. This aspect gives the portrayal of the film charm. Eric’s character as a father is high because he shows how much his daughter means to him. Their relationship lost its touch when Olivia’s mother passed away. His coming to Italy has rekindled their relationship allowing him to patch it up.
The chemistry between Eric and Francesa is high, considering how they both lost a loved one. Their friendship slowly grows throughout the film into a relationship. They find love again; it is strong and beautiful. Their relationship was heartwarming and gave a second chance love trope.
Olivia is a highlight, considering that her character portrays the independence of finding her path without her father’s help. She believes she will find her calling and decides to go to Italy as her mother's last wish. This shows how determined she is to create her future.
This was a wholesome film that showed the loving community of Montezara in Italy. The characters speak Italian, which helps bring together the cultural aspect of the film. It was beautifully done and captured the true beauty of Italy’s community.
Lows
There were minimal lows due to how simple "La Dolce Villa" was. The main low was how predictable the plot was, considering it showed clues that were obvious of who Eric’s love interest was. The character development is lacking because it doesn’t have more depth about Olivia's future. It showed where she wanted to end and what she wanted to do, but not her architectural talent. It could've added more to her storyline if it showed her traveling to Rome for this new position.
Verdict
"La Dolce Villa" is worth watching as a wholesome community in Italy goes through a heartwarming storyline of a father reconnecting with his daughter.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
