Molto Bella

A wonderful story of finding love, inspiration, and yourself, this is the kind of romance Hollywood used to make. Director Alexander Jeffery avoided making the usual paint-by-numbers romcom, and instead made an original film starring two talented newcomers in a beautiful location. The male lead (and co-writer of the film) is especially charming, and he's got a bright future ahead. The female lead has an effortless charm and some lovely songs, and their chemistry seems genuine. Do yourself a favor and check this film out, and you get the double win of supporting indie films and letting the market know these films are in demand.

When someone writes a song, poem or a story about you that's when you know you've met someone really really special. It's a special movie for me cause i found some answers i've been looking for and to all the people who loved the mystery of finding someone who is just meant for you and you alone. Writers knew exactly what they were doing with story with not being predictable and cliche about romance. To simply say movie is about poetry and music, and if that ain't romance itself I don't know what is. Life's questions must be answered with life itself. I wish to revisit this movie in a year or two and see how it's been aged so here's "To now, the memory of tomorrow".

PS : Not many people will read this review but if you do, go find some more movies like this. Here's some of mine favourite ones - Frank, Submarine, Shithouse.

I enjoyed the movie, a young man lands in the beautiful town of Taormina Italy and compliments a young lady on her music as she plays guitar and sings with a beautiful backdrop. He is a writer of poetry, she is a singer songwriter. They are both looking for inspiration, they both have secrets. They relate easy and well. Complications are looming. They are both enriched by each other. The end leads you to wonder or write your own conclusion, but there is a good hint. Not full of bad language, instead, good songs, and poetry, and chemistry. Both new actors, Paul Peterson is co-writer of the movie and lead actor. Andrea Von Kampen is the lead actress and is in fact a singer / songwriter introduced in this movie. I looked her up online and am now enjoying her music!

While on a late night flight home after visiting family, I scrolled through Delta's inflight film options really expecting to fall asleep halfway through whatever I picked. Having seen most of their offerings, I came upon this film with a short cast of names unknown to me and a budget of just $250,000 (yes I check IMDB before making a selection). I started to pass on it but then decided "why not?" The simple cast was perfect. They sparkled from the start: two artists (one a musician and the other a writer) seeking inspiration in a little town in Sicily where Michael Corleone got married.

The music is both meaningful and beautiful (think Joni Mitchell although Josie (von Kampen) suggests Dylan. The story is very believable, and told very simply. There are no chases, no shootouts, no spies, no superheroes, no magical special effects. There is just a simple story of life, love, and taking chances. Hopefully this can remind movie-makers that more is not necessarily better. Watch it, you'll be glad you did. And then go checkout all von Kampen's music.

Andrea von Kampen's songs & performances create the soul of this film, and she and her co-lead Paul Peterson deftly let the story breathe and blossom. Ironically, my initial reaction was how it was unfortunate that the lead actress's singing had to be dubbed in. It took a minute to realize von Kampen is the real deal - singing, playing, and writing her own stuff - not at all a stand-in.

Gorgeous Italian backdrops frame the actors and color their conversations as they playfully tease their way towards a relationship. The poetry of the screenplay is lovely. I'd prefer an engaging little story like this one, bathed in music, scenery, and smart dialogue, to 1000 CGI blockbusters.