A young American, Chloe, travels to Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet. There, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. She stumbles on and replies to one from 1951, inspiring its author, Claire to come to Italy to search for her long-lost love, Lorenzo.
Amanda Seyfried (Chloe) is one of my fav actresses. I can just stare at her for hours, basking in the prettiness.
Chloe’s roadtrip to reunite Claire with her Lorenzo is one I would pack a bag and come along for.
Christopher Egan played Claire’s grandson, the obnoxious Charlie and was the perfect foil for Chloe. He was the realist and Chloe the dreamer. Exactly what Claire needed on her journey.
At times, the pacing was a wee bit slow, but overall, it was a sweet, romantic comedy.
I found myself rooting for Claire to find her one true love. Even after 50 years. Probably because Vanessa Redgrave delivered such an epic performance. Just the right mix of gentle and stern. Of steel and roses. I wished I had a Claire in my life.
The scenery is Tuscany. BREATHSTEALING and AWESUMMONING.
The journey these three characters took together was delightfully touching.
The movie is brimming with great quotes too. My favorite is what Claire says to Charlie when he tries to dissuade her from taking this roadtrip to find her lost love.
“Life is the messy bits!”
My second favorite comes from the letter Chloe writes to Claire:
‘”What” and “If” are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. What if?’
