A Month By the Lake

Yes, they are discovering that we actually want to watch people in our same age bracket do stuff. I don't mind women under 25 since I was that age at one time. This is a good free spirited movie about a woman enjoying herself and the people around her.

I was in the mood for a vacation, very much in need of one, but don't have time. This movie was a good choice for a relaxing evening looking at a beautiful lake (Lake Como) in Italy. The location of the movie was excellent. Vanessa Redgrave's character is an energetic middle-aged woman who has visited the lake for years, even as a child. Her eyes perk up when she sees one of the new guests. Unfortunately, he is 'smitten' by a young, insensitive woman, played by Uma Thurman, a drop-out of a finishing school in Switzerland. Her mother won't allow her to come home, so she is engaged as a nanny for an Italian family. Her psychological abuse of the gentleman of Vanessa Redgrave's character's dreams, played by Edward Fox, and his reaction to the abuse, is the main plot of the story. It all takes place in a beautiful resort that just made me want to book a flight and go there for a month of my own.

I love this movie and watch it again and again. (Eventually, I realized that I had to own it.) Vanessa Redgrave does such a great job of portraying an older woman who lives joyfully for the moment. Though she may have regrets for a lost love and her recently deceased father, this woman is contagiously happy. I would have preferred someone else to play the male lead. Edward M. Fox is so stiff. He does a wonderful job with the vulnerability of his character; a military and business man who has never had the time for romantic love and is now older and attracted to a much younger woman. He appears to be very uncomfortable with touching another person. But, that may be the character. The embrace at the end is very stiff and I feel uncomfortable for them both. Uma Thurman is the nanny; who appears to vastly overact her part, leading Fox's character on until he realizes how hopeless it is for an older man to pursue a young, immature, and superficial woman.Vanessa's and Edward's characters are staying at a hotel on Lake Como in northern Italy before the beginning of WWII. She has just lost her beloved father, whom she lived with for decades and vacationed with every summer at the Lake. He is taking perhaps the first vacation of his adult life; leaving his engineering firm in England in the hands of others for the first time. Both are unmarried and appear to like each other. But, they would have separated and never met again, if a temporary American nanny who is also staying at the hotel had not interfered.It is a delightful romp of arguments, competition, jealousy, and love; reminding me of the classic Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn films. But, Edward Fox is definitely no Spencer Tracy.

I remembered this as being way more charming than it seemed this time around. But the scenery is beautiful and I love Vanessa Redgrave. The younger woman's pompous game playing was to me both callous and insensitive next to Redgrave's maturity and genuine interest. I think that comparison undercut the enjoyment I remembered about this movie.

I'm baffled by some of the negative reviews. It escapes me how anyone can not be enthralled with this splendid production. The story, the acting, the setting are first rate. Of course if you've not reached or passed middle age, one can understand how viewers may be put off by the pace of the movie and the oblique dialogue that says more by its understatement and passivity. For capturing the tension that exists between two unattached and seemingly different personalities who are confronting aging and loneliness, Fox and Redgrave give hallmark performances.Thurman also adds much to triangular relationship that addresses the folly of a young coquette enticing then ridiculing an older man. This is a classic that can be enjoyed over and over. There is something to be gleaned from each of its perfect ninety-two minutes running time. This sleeper is a keeper.

I try to see every movie ever filmed in Italy so that's why I bought this. And indeed it did have some scenery from Lake Como, but most was filmed just around the hotel where the story mostly took place. Although Vanessa Redgrave is lovely, I felt it was a bit self-serving and the story lacked credence, particulary when the very handsome young Italian was interested in her. And I just had no tolerance whatever for the character played by Edward Fox. Perhaps I'm just seeing this story through 21st century eyes and not 1930's sentimentalities.

Item arrived on time. Was just as described.Great in every way. Thanks

If like a excellent movie about pre-war 2 and how thing were at that time you'll love this movie. It is a lot like Downth Abbey.

Oh, what a delightful little romcom this is. I love absolutely everything about this film. Vanessa Redgrave is delightful as ever and proves that she can do comedy. She is like a middle aged Meg Ryan in this, both in looks and her character's flirtacious behaviour. And the strange thing is that it all works a treat. Edward Fox is perfectly cast as the object of her adoration and Uma Thurman is hilariously funny (and drop dead gorgeous) as the useless young American nanny.The story is set in 1937 in a sumptuous villa on the shore of Lake Como in Italy. Miss Bentley is a regular guest. She is a rather unconventional lady, very attractive, very modern, no longer young, and when she sees the unmistakably English Major Wilshaw, she starts flirting with him, determined to get her man. Then a young American girl, bored with her job as nanny to a couple spoiled children, arrives on the scene and also catches the Major's eye. Throw in Miss Bentley's fiery young Italian admirer, and hilarity ensues.Hugely enjoyable film for an evening in. Lots of fluffy escapism, romance and glorious Italian locations and sunshine served up with much lighthearted humour. And flawless performances all round including the many Italian supporting actors. An absolute gem.The DVD I bought is the German one titled "Ein Summer am See". The film can be played in the English original without subtitles. You can either select English audio and no subtitle option in the DVD menu or you can switch to English audio and disable the German subtitles via remote during play. English subtitles are not available. Cover notes and DVD menus are in German only. DVD extras include a German and an English trailer, production notes and cast bios (text on screen, German only), and ten trailers/previews for other films (mostly in German). Unless you actually select them in the submenu you do not have to sit through any trailers. Nice DVD. Picture and sound quality are good.

A Month by the Lake is a sensitive story with excellent actors. It focuses on relationships set within the undercurrents festering in pre war, Fascist Italy. The morals are gently portrayed in settings of great beauty, where the behaviours of the young and the mature are challenged. Whatever century humans live through they will recognise the dilemmas in which the characters are caught. The resolutions offer insights into whether the characters have values underpinning their decisions. Overall, a lovely film, with interesting story lines and wonderful scenery in northern Italy.[ASIN:B0015YY78G Mussolini and The History Of Italian Fascism [DVD].

Brilliant romantic comedy. We love Lake Como and this film certainly captures the beauty and magic of the lake. A delightful depiction of the awkwardness of a new relationship in later midlife as well as the midlife crisis. Excellent characterisation and superbly acted. Enchanting.

I listened to this first in German and the in English as I did not discover how to obtain English. Otherwise it was very enjoyable.

I bought this film because we'd just come back from a holiday in Lake Como Italy. It is a lovely setting and brought back memories for us. But it's a bit of a crummy story and not brilliantly acted I didn't think.So if, like us you love Italy get it, otherwise don't bother.