TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

WiseRatFlames An unexpected masterpiece

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

lexie88 Such a warm, wonderful movie! There is nothing superficial or artificial about the story or characters: they are all ordinary people who had their paths crossed by pure chance and happened to connect to each other in very profound ways. The story feels real, the characters too - you could say they are real, since I'm sure that all of us have in our surroundings one of these people; and one can really connect to the story on some level at least, if not on all - for me, it looks exactly like something I would do. The plot is simple, but significant and deep, full of life, life at its liveliest - you can actually feel how it pulsates throughout the movie.I really loved this movie! It doesn't make you laugh, but it makes you smile with all your heart; it doesn't make you sob, but my eyes watered a bit at some points. And I honestly recommend it to everyone, especially those who seek to feel warmth wrapping around their hearts... I don't know why, but the setting and the atmosphere reminded me of my childhood, perhaps that is why I liked it that much... Watch and enjoy! :)

secondtake Bread and Tulips (2000)A feel good movie that is also a good movie. It's beyond just warm and colorful, with scenes of Venice night and day, and beyond just triumphant, with true love winning in more ways than one. It is most of all populated with great characters. Italian leading lady Licia Maglietta is a wonder of naturalistic acting. She is sympathetic of course, but not a cliché. She plays a housewife on a diversion away from her family, and she looks and acts like a housewife. As strong as she is, and as independent, she is also devoted to her family. The fact she left them at all is perfectly unfolded as an accident that she turns into an opportunity, all by intuition. The man she meets is no paradigm of handsome or charming, in fact he's just the opposite. But he is so inherently good, a really decent human being, she comes to like him, and look out for him. Played by Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, he matches Maglietta's believable ease and imperfect, quiet intensity. The rest of the cast is truly supportive, and tips just slightly (or more than slightly in one case) into caricature, to reminds us, I suppose, that this is a movie, a fantasy, a comedy in many ways.But it's also a deeply serious and moving love story between two middle-aged people who are ready for renewal.I have a feeling many people, especially people with families or those conservative at heart, will find the basic premise of a woman leaving her family in a glib and almost carefree way and not going back for a long time to be shameful or even sinful. Her kids are normal distracted teenagers who like her when they notice her, her husband is a hardworking and loud businessman who doesn't beat her, her home is her own and comfortable. In other words, she has a really normal life, a good one by most measures. Does everyone have the right to up and leave a working family relationship because they feel a bit restless? Is this movie a worship of selfishness?Or is it a reminder that life is short and you have to get to what really matters, and be with people who are truly wonderful and good, no matter what?I can't think of a more joyous way to ask the question.

Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) If you like some romantic flair Italian style, "Bread and Tulips" is just your bang! Self-discovery is what a lot of people want, even I would do such a thing. When you got a housewife who accidentally left behind on vacation, she begins to discover herself one step at a time. She got two sons, a husband who happens to be anything but faithful. Then there's this owner of a apartment with a troubled past, who gets the surprise he'll never forget. There was a lot of meaning to the movie. It has everything to do with flowers, especially the tulips. It's funny when the husband sent a detective to find the wife. Only to find love as well. So that's two people on a quest of discovering themselves. Living in Venice can be a great discovery for anyone: The music in the air, the people, the restaurants, the entertainment anything to top it off. This movie can make you either fall in love, or build up Aan appetite you never have in your lifetime. I would go to Venice and get the experience of the lifetime. Let your spirit soar in this movie. CIAO! 5 STARS!

Dennis Littrell This is a wry, witty Italian comedy with a underlying radical message I don't think the Vatican would approve. Licia Malietta stars as Rosalba Barletta a woman not enamored with either her macho, inconsiderate husband Mimmo Barletta (Antonio Catania) or her life as a housewife. On a vacation she is accidentally left behind in Venice, and then on a whim decides to stay for awhile. She needs to breathe free from the domination of her husband who sees her only as an asset and doesn't love her. Indeed he has a mistress.What she finds in Venice are new warm friends and a certain man, Fernando Girasoli (played with sly finesse by veteran Swiss-born actor Bruno Ganz), who speaks in poetic phrases but wants to hang himself. She also rediscovers a delight in life and the freedom to be herself and do what she wants to do, which includes playing the accordion and reading Mark Twain in bed. She finds a job in a flower shop, a small room, makes friends with the masseuse next door and feels alive for the first time in ages.Her husband sends a plumber he is about to hire to play detective, find her and bring her back, resulting in some light comedic episodes enriched by off-beat characters.Malietta is very winning in the part and certainly will serve as a heroine for frustrated housewives everywhere. Her desire is not for a fling or for physical thrills, rather her desire is to find herself as herself apart from her identification as wife and mother.I have hinted above at her eventual choice, but you will have to see this warm-hearted romantic comedy for yourself to find out what she chooses and why.(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)