A Chance Encounter

I had zero expectations going in, but I'm always up for a story about a singer and a poet connecting in Italy!

Major takeaway: the characters' connection is natural and sweet, and the actors are both charming and likable, not your usual buffed and polished Hollywood types.

Second: I just watched another major Hollywood movie about a "great" writer with writer's block where I thought, "Really? That's supposed to be great writing?!" That wasn't the case here. The poems were good, even moving, and you actually believed they'd make good songs.

The singer isn't a major star, but rather a kind of one hit wonder who has lost her confidence. The poet runs a print shop and has zero belief in his talent. Their chance encounter happens over him asking her to take his photo. It's not a pickup ploy because his reasons for wanting this photo become clear. So, not a typical "meet cute."

In fact, if you're looking for romance cliches, you won't find them here. You won't really find romance, but there is a promise of one, or at least a future where they will both fulfill their considerable potential and become friends. The attraction is there, so yes, perhaps lovers too.

And such a beautiful setting! I want to go there. Ahhhh....

In these fraught times, a relaxing, sweet escape in good company.