Amarsi sotto la pioggia

... BUT! ... Prepare to be EXTRAORDINARILY disappointed with the LOUSY image quality of the 2003 DVD release from "Legacy Entertainment" that I happened to be crippled with when I saw this.

I'm a technically competent person who recognized the symptoms of a cheap copy straight-from-videotape. Colors are washed out and you can even see the garbled scan lines at the bottom of the screen from the crease of the original video-tape source. Fans of Sharon Stone may agree with me that if you walked into a theater and found this playing on the screen and someone asked you, "Who is that actress playing Casey Cantrell?", you might say, "I have no idea". She's YOUNG in this movie!

This early film starring Sharon Stone is one that you don't want to miss. Great performances by Christopher Cazenove and Paul Daneman compliment Ms. Stone. This is a very compelling and realistic movie. It takes you through the sense of loss, adventure, falling in love, happiness, disappointment, anger, heart-wrenching sadness, and exhilarated happiness. Believe me, once you start this movie, you won't want to leave for a minute. I can't believe I hadn't seen it before now. Great for all ages and the romantics at heart. It's one of those movies that you end up saying to yourself, "only in the movies" with the perfect ending. I plan to add this movie to my collection in the future.

Christopher Cazenova and Sharon Stone are charming in this movie, but their talent is wasted in an implausible script. The plotline was highly unbelievable and only the performances of some of the cast make it worth watching at all. Leigh Lawson is very amusing as Cazenova's womanizing Arab friend and Anna Massey is interestingly ruthless as Cazenova's mother. If you should happen to get this on tape I would keep the remote control handy so that you can fast forward as needed.

Those with a cynical view or experience of love need not bother with this movie. Those who have dreamed that love could be deep and lasting will enjoy this movie but find it unrealistic. Those who have experienced this type of love will be gratified watching this movie and will find such a love very well and accurately depicted.

It is sad that the Shakespearean actor Paul Daneman, who gave such a nuanced and convincing portrayal of the middle age man whose love never ends, has recently died. His performance gave this movie its seriousness and credibility. Sharon Stone gave the performance of her life in this early film. This role provided a range of emotions and situations and she portrayed every one of them movingly and accurately. Her vivacious and multifaceted character is one every man will fall in love with.

It is unfortunate for move lovers that this film was so poorly and so briefly promoted that millions who would have loved it will never see it. (A newly produced DVD will be available on Feb. 28, 2006.)

Contrary to most of the other comments, I found this movie wonderfully romantic and believable. Christopher Cazenove and Sharon Stone had great chemistry together. If you like romantic dramas like I do, you should see this film!