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While this is not my favorite Bertolucci film, Stealing Beauty left me inspired and contented. Bertolucci's brush strokes are wide, yet meticulously placed, leading us down a sensual and beautiful path of discovery. He packs a lot of plot into a week of story and two hours of film, but it is believable because many extraordinary things can happen in a short time frame when one travels abroad. Liv Tyler did well, reminding me of my teenage years, yearning yet still undecided. This movie has one of the best (sexy!) loss of virginity scenes in recent memory.

A question especially uneasy to answer in this case. The plot, of course, is very simple and even trivial: young girl loses her virginity and discovers her father's identity, gaining love and surrendering death (the never understood death of her mother), while her older admirer (Jeremy Irons) who only felt in love once - with her mother - gains love again but death at the same time. This pretty kitschy plot, together with the lack of movement in great part of the film, could make it unbearable. But it results much more ambivalent... First note that you wouldn't think at all you're dealing with a movie from 1996. Actually, when I saw it I had no idea from when it was and I estimated it to be from the late 1970's or early 80's. That has to do, above all, with the ethereal landscape-cinematography, this really magnific beauty of every movement the camera (and Liv Tyler!) make, but with the music, too. When there appears Mozart's clarinette concert, for the first time, while you see the field and the house sleeping "siesta", it can make you cry because of pure beauty you conceive... And there are many moments in this film, where music (timeless and time-switching) and picture make you feel so unsure about the era this film is telling about. "Beauty hurts the heart" says Jean Marais' character once. And actually, it does. The eroticism of this movie, for my taste, was sometimes almost painfully sad and joyful at once. Difficult to describe. Between, there are many occasions where you can find the vulgarity of the story just repelling, but then comes such a vigorous sequence again... It reminds me of some of the last Rohmer movies, in some respect, although it is much warmer and not that boring. (Rohmer's coolness, nevertheless, prevails him for falling in kitsch, something that Bertolucci doesn't avoid.) The movie, in some precious moments, does exactly do what its title promises: it steals pieces of beauty from this incredible world - but it has few awareness of it. Its explicitly "deep" parts are too immature and presumptious, but its superficiality contents a profoundness that convinced me. As a piece of art, I have to consider this movie too superficial, as a piece of " just feeling" (a word that I normally hate), I cannot let to like it. 6 of 10.

This is my favorite film. I first saw it in 1996 at the age of 16, and have been relentlessly teased ever since for enjoying it as much as I do. True film buffs, I am told, walked out on this one. I insist though that I don't have bad taste; the film simply struck a chord in me early on, and yes, it was probably because its was such a pretty film. Beauty can be quite a hook. Since then I have watched Stealing Beauty no less than a hundred times, studied Bertolucci's other films, and - of course - listened to the soundtrack, and the Mozart Concerti, so much that I have been known to hum them in my sleep. Now, I know why I love it so much. Every time I watch Stealing Beauty, there is more to discover. The premise - looking for her father/true love - and the apparent conclusion seem no more than a frame work for a hundred different leitmotifs that Bertolucci seems strangely familiar with, fascinated by, and adept at expressing in all of his films.

Liv Tyler's first leading role was in a movie about a girl who, after mother's death, travels to Italy, to the property of mother's friends, in search of father and her own identity. After great movies such as "Ultimo tango a Parigi" and "The Last Emperor", not to mention the later masterpiece "The Dreamers", I expected much more from Bertolucci than the coming-of-age drama about a nineteen-year-old virgin, which brings nothing in terms of storytelling and plot, nor does it stand out as a study of personalities. However, "Stealing Beauty" has one indisputable quality. The film is visually excellent, and a perfect choice if you want to relax, rest your mind and feast your eyes on the beautiful landscapes of Tuscany.

6,5/10.

Bertolucci films are always magnificent to look at. From the epic scenes of The Last Emperor to the claustrophobic bedroom in Last Tango, he is a film-maker whose mastery of visual language is immense. Stealing Beauty is no exception. Right from the start, the film has a dream-like beauty which reflects its 19-year-old protagonist, Lucy (played by the stunning Liv Tyler). Lucy is beautiful, naive, dreamy and still a virgin. Her mother's suicide prompts her to go to Italy to visit her parents' bohemian friends...

There is nothing really wrong with this film but there isn't much to it either. The story is extremely slight, and even some good performances (particularly from Charles Dance as the dying man) can't save it from being slightly dull. It hints at some interesting themes - the way the post-AIDS generation is more hesitant about sex, how the past haunts the present - but does little with them. Instead, Bertolucci seems content to focus the camera on Tyler for most of the film, trying to intoxicate us with her breathtaking beauty to make us forget that there's nothing much here. This works for a while, aided greatly by the short summer dresses and some lovely scenery, but basically it can't carry the film through its entire length. Somewhere along the way I just got bored.

If this happens to be on, you could do a lot worse, but it's definitely not worth a trip to the cinema to see - not even to the video shop, I don't think. Considering Bertolucci's pedigree, I had expected better from Stealing Beauty, but I suppose everyone has their off days. Average.

There were a fair few reasons for wanting to see 'Stealing Beauty'. That it had Italy, or Tuscany to be more specific, as its location, which has as beautiful scenery as one can get. Bernardo Bertolucci was an interesting director and made some great films in his career. The soundtrack also sounded appetising, with some great pieces/songs featured (i.e. the 2nd movement of Mozart's clarinet concerto) as well as an immensely talented cast that one could not go wrong with.

'Stealing Beauty' to me was not a bad film. There are many good points, the best assets brilliant even and luckily they were the components that were what made me want to see it. 'Stealing Beauty' also though could have quite a lot better, with some important components not executed to full potential or properly. There are directors that make great films but also are responsible for the odd big misfire that make one wonder "this comes from the same director that made that". 'Stealing Beauty' doesn't reach that level, or so that's to me (not an agreeable opinion with critics), though it's not one of Bertolucci's best and not on the same level as masterpieces of his such as 'Last Tango in Paris' and 'The Last Emperor'.

Will start with what worked very well. The best thing about 'Stealing Beauty' is the scenery, which really takes the breath away. If you have not been to Tuscany or Italy, it cannot be recommended highly enough as they are even more beautiful in real life than depicted in the film. Adding further to the visual magic is the wondrous photography, a lot of the shots left me in awe and is as entranced by the scenery as the viewer is (the camera also clearly loves Liv Tyler, perhaps a little too much at times, and she does look wonderful in the film as a result). Bertolucci's visual style and overall directing style are all over the film. The soundtrack is also a major strength, a wide variety of styles used well and not feeling too much of a mishmash, the Mozart especially is used well (haven't seen Mozart used this well on film in a while) and brings a real poignant air.

Liv Tyler did go on to much better things and inexperience shows at times here, but mostly she does a more than credible job in a role not easy to pull off. The standout of the rest of the game cast is Jeremy Irons in a very touching performance as the most sympathetic character in the film. His and Tyler's chemistry is both charming and poignant and by far the most believable of all the character interactions. Alex's dialogue is beautifully poetic, and his last scene did bring tears to my eyes. Although the script and character writing is flawed, the cast give more than game performances and nobody really is bad (had reservations with one). 'Stealing Beauty' does have a gentle charm that does endear.

For all those great things, there are elements that 'Stealing Beauty' falls short upon. The script only really rings true with Alex's dialogue, too much of the rest felt artificial and insipid. The only well developed characters are Lucy and Alex, found the rest one-dimensional and lacking in warmth. Focusing on less characters and developing the rest more that already would have made things better. Rachel Weisz's character is especially shallow. Do agree that Weisz didn't seem to fit and does little to bring much to her role.

Although the gentle charm is there, there are poignant moments in the chemistry between Lucy and Alex and the character of Alex and the atmosphere is there, the story does slip on more than one occasion into bathos. It also tends to meander and feel unfocused and it can drag, too little feels explored enough. The ending felt almost too pat and abrupt.

Overall, lots of great things but some big flaws too. 6/10

There is beauty in this movie. The landscape, the light, the photography...but the people, oh the ugly people! A nastier bunch of lazy, hypocritical arseholes I've yet to see. Except for Jeremy Irons' character Alex, every one of them is a waste of space. The men sit around in the glorious Tuscan countryside moaning about their useless lives, hoping to de-flower Liv Tyler while the women drift around waiting on the men, knowing that the vapid Liv Tyler is hovering around like a mayfly, just waiting to be f****d. The men sniff around her like slavering, leering dogs on heat while she shows them her knickers and wafts clouds of pheromones in their direction, oblivious to the flames of lust (and possibly incest) she is fanning. How innocent she looks as she reveals her naked breasts for the artist, who isn't actually drawing her but intends making an ersatz Picasso-type sculpture from a lump of wood. Of course she has no idea that the artist just wants to see her tits and show her his idea of a good time. While she sits around waiting to be be de-flowered, she writes poetry on newspapers and then burns it. She writes "I wait I wait so patiently I'm as quiet as a cup I hope you'll come and rattle me Quick! Come wake me up." The only rattle she really wants to hear is from the bouncing rusty bed springs of course. That should wake her up pretty quickly. And of course she has no idea that every male in the villa is nursing an erection and wants to soak her in his gene pool. It's just a question of which one of these walking spermatazoa will reach the target first. In the end, she chooses the nice boy with morals and a conscience to lose her virginity with, and so "become a woman". How innocent, how beautiful, how unlikely. Not much of a story really, young virgin girl on holiday in Tuscany supposed to be having her portrait painted by a miserable bloke in a commune of middle aged bourgeois hippies. Or at least they would like to be hippies but they can't really be bothered. They smoke a lot of dope and talk a lot of rubbish. How do these people make enough money to be able to afford this beautiful Tuscan villa? They don't work, unless carving up logs with a chainsaw to make ugly sculptures is classed as work, they don't sell anything because all the ugly sculptures are scattered around the grounds of the villa, they don't DO anything except sit around all day. The art they make is ugly, the lives they lead are ugly and what they stand for is ugly. It's a shame really because there is some beauty in this movie. But too many beasts.

While Liv Tyler is the "star" of this film she is only one facet of a beautiful film. While many comments focus on the coming of age plot line. This film not only presents a sexual beginning, but also an emotional journey. With the death of her poet laureate mother, Lucy (Liv Tyler) must find her way to emotional and sexual adulthood. Fortunately, the film never gets bogged down, or depressing.

Set in the lovely Tuscany province, Lucy's father sends her to spend time with friends of her mother and pose for an artist. Several of the characters are transparent, and easily understood, others are far more complex. Like life not all the answers are give, but the film rewards the viewer on multiple levels.

Enjoy watching the secondary characters grow in their own ways as well.

I hope this helps you.

Unfortunately the scenery and Liv's looks are the only things good about this film. Pointless plot and go nowhere characters. A day in the life of mundane artist hippies set in Italy. Story, what there is of one, seems to have been made up on the spot as the film was shot. No point to anything in the movie. Seems like the people who made this did it for no reason other then to state their views on sex, and display a vulgar European fetish. If you've always wanted to see Liv's breasts, or you love looking at the Italian countryside then this is the movie for you. Otherwise stay clear of this bore fest. I gave it a two instead of a one for one simple reason, there are worse movies... although it's hard to imagine when watching this.

I am a Bertolucci fan, and this film is one of the reasons why. I watch it again and again and never get tired of it. Don't be fooled by the 'losing virginity' theme; this film is about life, and death, and everything that happens in between. It's about what you seek and what you're willing to give up to get it.

One of the best things about this film is that every character has a story, and an arc in the film, most of which is given by just one or two lines or shots in the film. For example, near the end of the film, Sinead Cusack's character slumps at the table after having taken an old friend to the hospital, probably for the last time. She says she misses England "and rain, and milk that goes off", and says that she's tired of looking after people. Then everyone starts coming in and asking about dinner, and she just gets up and opens the fridge. In less than a minute, we see into her life and character in a way that most films would take at least an act to explore. We even learn a lot about Lucy's mother (Lucy is played by a young Liv Tyler), even though she has died before the beginning of the film and never appears in it except in a photograph (also of Tyler).

There is not a flaw in any of the performances. Never do we feel that these are people acting. They just feel like people, interacting, and we always have a feeling of their life leading up to the moments we see them, and they are interesting lives.

The location itself is one of the characters, and it is beautifully shot, the colours saturated and rich. It feels like you can touch the stones, smell the air, feel the grass and flagstones beneath your bare feet. If you don't want to go to Tuscany after seeing this film, you are ill or on the wrong medication. The beauty that is being stolen, or that people want to steal, is not just the beauty of the young virgin on the hill, it is the beauty of life, of living, of learning, of looking back and finally giving it all up, knowing it cannot be stolen. I know that some people criticize Bertolucci for his aesthetic, for bringing the beauty out of every moment, even the horrible ones, and I say to those people that they live the life they choose.

Finally, there is the soundtrack, which runs from alt-pop to classical to everything in between and works perfectly. It illuminates Lucy's internal reality and is true to the music that a girl of her age would have been listening to at that time, and it also helps set the scene and smooth transitions between scenes.

This is a master work by a master director, and one of my favourite films of all time.

I was looking forward to seeing this film but I was disappointed. I found it dull, a random assembly of unlikely people gathered together in a house in Tuscany, the grounds of which were dotted with awful "sculptures", people entering scenes and dropping out, the whole generally going nowhere.The film didn't capture the beauty of the Tuscan countryside, it felt very detached from the film in my view, as if the characters had been plucked up and dropped down at this villa. Many of the characters I found stereotypical American or British (and Irish) and at the end of a tiring day, hoping for some spiritual refreshment, well I didn't get it from this film and frankly,I'd rather have had an early night.Liv Tyler looks beautiful (my boyfriend didn't think so) but that's about it.Not one to see again and this from someone who loves Italian cinema.

Stealing Beauty is a character piece, not so much ever really driven by plot, and which makes it a particularly European-flavored entry in the Bernardo Bertolucci cannon of films he's made. This shouldn't be a surprise; the guy's been making them this way for most of his career, save for when he can't not have some semblance of a story (i.e. 1900 and Last Emperor, which were epics). It's got some purely luscious cinematography- thanks, in part, to the equally luscious and vibrant locations out in these Tuscan fields and villas and vineyards and homes, all secluded like in an over-elaborate dream- and some brilliant moments, though in the end it's almost something of a minor work for the director. The most admirable aspect is that he's able, in short, to make a contemporary movie that doesn't feel stuck in time.

It's a 90's movie, with a hot-young-talent in her first role (I think it's her first), Liv Tyler, and in a way it works that she's not all that great in the part. Her awkwardness, her moments of sadness over her character's loss of her mother and the confusion over who her father really is, and the girlish and nearly overrated conundrum of still being a virgin, works to her ability as a 'first-timer', so to speak. And, luckily, she's surrounded by much better actors, people like Jeremy Irons who has a presence that is immense and cool even when bed-ridden for much of the film (thankfully it doesn't turn out how I originally thought the set-up would be with him wooing Tyler), and Rachel Weisz in one of her early roles as a woman who has reasonable suspicion her self-absorbed American husband is a lying/cheating louse. There are others as well, like the one who plays the old Frenchman (I forget his name), who's incredible as the old crank who can't bear to be where he's at.

If it does feel like a minor work, as I mentioned, it's that Bertolucci- working from his original concept with a screenwriter- doesn't give very much depth to the situation, or to some of the characters, until a little more than halfway through the movie. For a while it feels like a shallow enterprise, the kind of "will she or won't she" attitude towards sex that should be above him. But at some point there's something that opens up a little bit, then a little more, and all the while as Tyler's Lucy becomes more aware of what matters the central conceit starts to become less and less like some big hurdle and something more natural. As well as this, Bertolucci does litter his film, which is uncharacteristically good in the present setting (he blends musical choices very well, from alternative rock to old R&B and classical and jazz) and has a couple of really tremendous scenes. The bit at the party where Tyler and a possible-father dance and the dancers all choreographed and strange come in, it's enthralling.

Fans of the director should check it out, as should for those of the actors, but this being said it's almost kind of a light work. Lacking really hardcore dramatic tension, it's mostly predicated on a 19-year old girl's quasi-coming-of-age. Which is interesting, up to a point.

I'm not a huge Bertolucci fan, but I checked this out anyway because it was the first movie he had filmed in his native Italy in quite some time. Overall, this film is not great thematically or in terms of plot development. But lord, is Liv Tyler a lovely young woman!

In fact, the primary feature this film has going for it is its visual appeal. There's plenty of beautiful people to ogle, and of course the Tuscan countryside is worth the price of admission by itself. I'm an "Italy-phile," so I'm inclined to look with favor upon anything that reminds me of that wonderful country. Overall, Stealing Beauty is better than average, and at least it makes an attempt, however feeble, to discuss intelligently sex and sexuality.

Very engaging - great performances by Liv Tyler, Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Irons and some beautiful music including Nina Simone. Definitely the work of a master, Bertolucci.

Liv Tyler's (Armageddon, LOTR trilogy) mother has just committed suicide and she goes to Tuyscany to visit her mother's friends in a coming-of-age adventure. Director Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emporer) strive to bring out in Tyler what is probably her best screen performance.

This was Joseph Fiennes' (Shakespher in Love) first film role, and one of the first for Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener, The Mummy).

With a great performance by Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I, Reversal of Fortune), this film is a story about life and death and the search for who you are. It is character focused. Some of the best parts are gatherings where you just watch the characters interact.

A good European film for those looking for quality, not action.

I just saw this for the first time a little while ago and I thought it was one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. It captures all the aspects of life, the anger, elation, pain, and just being. Liv Tyler was perfect for this movie because she can reach into her soul and bring out this perfect, virginal girl. As I watched the first time, I did not pick up on everything, but the second time around, it was all rising action, leading to the end that amazed me in the innocence and beauty portrayed in the love between two people. I found myself wishing that I was that beautiful girl on a trip to Italy, figuring out my past and controlling my sexuality. I view this film as a work of art because of its perfect portrayal of love and the way it can sneak up behind us when it is standing right in front of us.

This film blew me away. The hurt, love and pain expressed in this movie through the most simple forms of cinematography are amazing. A classical film of life and death, of love and pain. One of Liv Lylers best acting jobs. Again I agree that this is a film that maybe Americans won't really understand. Its very European in the way the individual characters interact. A must see for anyone who demands detail in a film. Its not just a love or romance film. Its about life in its purest form, about peoples imperfections and their desires. It brings out human nature as its over all theme. Once again, it blew me away. I haven't seen a film like this before.

A 19 year old American virgin arrives in Tuscany and stirs the souls of the inhabitants of the peaceful country household. A teenage art house film with interesting characterisation and some sensual moments. Yes, I remember the days...

The international cast looked interesting. That's basically what made me watching this movie. And that it was supposed to be a mystery. That said Stealing Beauty is a big disappointment. It's long, nothing happens during the entire movie, except some weird behavior for grown-ups ever now and then but if that's entertaining to some it sure wasn't to me. As for the mystery, well let's be honest there is almost none and if at the end you don't even get an answer to that I don't see the point of making a movie like this one. They're all good actors though but the story is so boring and pointless you will just be ending wasting your time with this one.