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Love & Gelato |
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The lighthearted RomCom Love & Gelato directed by Brandon Camp
for which he also wrote the screenplay, based on Jenna Evans Welch’s
novel, is a delightful film, now streaming on Netflix. The female
protagonist Lina, played by Susanna Skaggs, opens the film on a tragic
note, with her mother’s funeral being the first scene and then
fulfilling a promise made to her mother, to visit Italy and her
godmother Francesca (Valentina Lodovini). If you are a romantic you will
love this film. If you have been on a journey of self-discovery, perhaps
this movie is for you.
Love & Gelato
was filmed on location in 2021 at several places in Rome and Florence,
Italy. I imagine for those who have visited Italy, it is much like the
experiences this writer has when watching a film shot on location that
he has visited, you feel like you are back there again. The
cinematography is excellent, with the grips and camera people catching
the essence of motorcycles and cars speeding their way along narrow
Italian streets. The architecture is breathtaking and at times the
relaxed nature of the culture and people makes this North American
envious.
Twenty-year-old Susanna Skaggs delivers a brilliant performance as she
is transformed from being an awkward young woman who due to being her
mother’s caretaker for four years had little chance to explore anything
remotely resembling romance. Arriving in Italy her godmother Francesca
gives her the diary Lina’s mother had kept, before Lina was born and
when she had spent time in Italy. Under the tutelage of Francesca Lina
grows in confidence and becomes friends with Francesca’s cousin Howard
Riley played superbly by Owen McDonnell.
Nina finds herself attracted to two young suitors, Alessandro Albani
(Saul Nanni), a bad boy rich kid and the quieter, more genteel Lorenzo
Ferrazza, portrayed by Tobia De Angelis, an actor to keep an eye on in
the future. Alessandro is charming on the surface but… Lorenzo, becomes
a confidant and a friend, but is he more? American actress Anjelika
Washington is Lina’s friend Addie, and at times Lina’s guiding light and
at others she just creates chaos. Washington’s performance is bigger
than life and in some films that can get tiring really quickly, but for
this film, Addie is just what it needs.
There are plots and subplots within this film, some soul searching and
plenty of self-discovery for more than one character. This story is not
so much about pursuing your dreams, as perhaps letting what makes you
happiest find you. The central characters Lina, Alessandro, Lorenzo and
Howard all are faced with those two paths.
Some critics will say the Love & Gelato is predictable, some may
say there is not a lot of depth and they may be correct on the former
account, but dead wrong on the shallow part. Most people at some time in
their lives will have dealt with grief, faced an overbearing,
controlling parent or a career choice, or to tell what really happened
many years before, or simply if it is wise to fall in love with this
individual. Each of these characters has their own situation to deal
with and they are different, but we are sure most of you will identify
with at least one of these people. We encourage you to take one hour and
fifty minutes of your time and do a little self-discovery of your own.
You will laugh, you may shed a tear or two, but you will not be
disappointed with Love & Gelato.
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