Good News, DVD To Be Released Soon!, July 18, 2008

Mike Newell's film casts a seductive, mesmerizing spell on its audience. I strongly encourage you to see it if you have not.Josie Lawrence leads a strong cast as Lottie Wilkins, a dowdy London housewife who we meet in the film's first frames trudging through post-WW I London. We meet Alfred Molina as her overbearing husband, Mellersh, who eyes all relationships as potential business opportunities, and sees his wife as not much more than a pet.Lottie is riding on the bus in the dreary rain one day when she sees an advertisement on the back of the paper for an Italian Castle to be let for the month of April among the "Wisteria and Sunshine". Lottie's life hasn't allowed her much love or friendship, but she decides that she MUST take this April Holiday at San Salvatori. She approaches Rose Arbuthnot, who she barely knows, but has seen looking sad at Church services.Rose is played by Miranda Richardson in a performance that suggests, if anything,...

The movie opens in rain-drenched England as down-hearted and dispirited Lottie Wilkins trudges through her day. An advertisement in the paper promising "Wisteria and Sunshine" at an Italian castle catches her eye. She seeks out another forlorn soul, Rose Arbuthnot, and convinces her to share this villa for the month of April. Because of expenses, they are forced to also take in two strangers to share the load. Joining them will be Mrs. Fisher, an elderly woman who is hoping to remember "better times and better men," and the beautiful Lady Caroline who is tired of the constant attention she receives and longs for a restorative quiet time. When they arrive it is still raining, but at least as one of them so aptly puts it, "This is Italian rain." When morning dawns, the sun comes out and remains with them for the month.

Many thanks to another review that provided a contact name and email address. I sent an email to Stuart Snaith many weeks ago, and just received a reply today (18 July 2008) from Liz Hammond. Liz said the problems over film rights have been resolved and the Enchanted April DVD is due to be released as soon as December 2008 or possibly as late as Spring 2009. I trust our long wait is coming to a close.