''Enchanted April'' is a 1991 British

historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...

film directed by Mike Newell. The screenplay by Peter Barnes was adapted from

Elizabeth von Arnim Elizabeth von Arnim (31 August 1866 – 9 February 1941), born Mary Annette Beauchamp, was an English novelist. Born in Australia, she married a German aristocrat, and her earliest works are set in Germany. Her first marriage made her Countess v ...

's 1922 novel ''

The Enchanted April ''The Enchanted April'' is a 1922 novel by British writer Elizabeth von Arnim. The work was inspired by a month-long holiday to the Italian Riviera, and was probably the most widely read of her novels (as an English and American best seller in ...

''. It stars

Miranda Richardson Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an English actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. After graduating from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Richardson began her career in 1979 and made her West End theatre, West ...

Josie Lawrence Josie Lawrence (born Wendy Lawrence; 6 June 1959) is an English actress and comedian. She is best known for her work with the Comedy Store Players improvisational troupe, the television series '' Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' and as Manda Best in ...

Polly Walker Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress. She has starred in the films '' Enchanted April'' (1991), ''Patriot Games'' (1992), '' Sliver'' (1993), '' Restoration'' (1995), '' The Gambler'' (1997), and '' Savage Messiah'' (2 ...

, and

Joan Plowright Joan Ann Olivier, Baroness Olivier (; 28 October 1929 – 16 January 2025), commonly known as Dame Joan Plowright, was an English actress whose career spanned over six decades. She received several accolades including two Golden Globe Awards, an ...

, with

Alfred Molina Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British and American actor. He is known for his leading roles and character actor roles on the stage and screen. In a career spanning over five decades he has received a Drama Desk Award ...

, Michael Kitchen, and

Jim Broadbent James Broadbent (born 24 May 1949) is an English actor. A graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1972, he came to prominence as a character actor for his many roles in film and television. He has received various accolades ...

in supporting roles. The film was nominated for several

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

, and the director and two actresses were awarded

Golden Globes The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

for their work on it.

Plot

Following

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Rose Arbuthnot and Lotty Wilkins, unacquainted, belong to the same ladies' club. Lotty sees Rose sigh wistfully after reading a newspaper advertisement to "those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine" for rental of a small Italian castle. Impulsively, Lotty approaches Rose, suggesting they share a month's expenses as a break from domestic tedium. Initially wary, Rose begins to fancy the idea of a vacation from her unhappy marriage. Advertising for two reputable ladies to share expenses, they find the elegant but peevish elderly Mrs. Fisher and the beautiful, aloof, and wealthy Lady Caroline Dester. Rose's husband, Frederick, authors erotic novels under a pseudonym, and they have grown distant due to her disapproval. Rose is unaware he moves in a literary circle frequenting the salon of Lady Dester, mother of Lady Caroline. Frederick is careful to keep his extramarital escapades discreet; thus Rose is unaware he has designs on Caroline. Fed up with "grabbers" latching onto her for her celebrated beauty and wealth, Caroline seeks a month's refuge at San Salvatore. Tired of always being the centre of attention, she initially secludes herself from the other renters, relaxing in the lush landscape. Lotty's bored frugal husband, Mellersh, concentrates on business and networking. He tracks her expenses to the penny but neglects her. Inconveniently, Mellersh suggests they take a holiday. Uncharacteristically asserting herself, Lotty replies she has been invited on holiday by an acquaintance and will go there instead. She does not disclose she is paying her expenses with money saved from her household allowance. Mrs. Fisher, a widow rigid in her ways, immerses herself in memories, rereading works of now dead illustrious personalities she has met during her lifetime in an exalted circle. Initially, at San Salvatore, finding the other three women a disturbance, she insists on reserving the main drawing room for her exclusive use. During the holiday, Lady Caroline and Mrs. Fisher clash over dominance and expenses. With tact, the meek Lotty becomes the peacemaker, nonconfrontationally exerting subtle influence over the others. With fresh insight, Lotty observes the attitudes among themselves that have contributed to their life discontentment. Lotty decides to invite Mellersh to San Salvatore and encourages Rose to invite Frederick to repair their marriages. Lotty's disclosure of the presence of Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline, two wealthy prospective clients, brings Mellersh eagerly to the refuge. Thrilled at his wife's intimate friendship with rich prospects, Mellersh exerts himself to be agreeable, mitigating the problem over the first week's expenses. Mellersh declares privately to Lotty that he will pay her expenses so she can keep her savings. He reevaluates his wife and begins to see her as a real social asset. Tracking the elusive Caroline to San Salvatore in amorous pursuit, Frederick arrives unaware of Rose's presence or her invitation to him at Lotty's urging. Caroline, who knows Frederick by his pseudonym, does not know he is Rose's husband. Caught off-guard when an unexpected Rose greets him warmly with a kiss, Frederick "introduces" himself to Caroline as "Frederick Arbuthnot, Rose's HUSBAND." Tactfully, Caroline does not reveal their prior acquaintance. San Salvatore's owner, George Briggs, pays an unexpected call on his tenants. Attracted to Rose, who he had mistaken for a war widow, he is disappointed to find her living husband. Used to always being the centre of attention, Caroline is astonished to see George—extremely nearsighted due to a war injury—is clearly more drawn to Rose. Frederick, too, begins to see Rose with new appreciation. Perversely, Caroline is drawn to George because he does not fawn over her. His nearsightedness means he judges women by their qualities, not their looks. Perceiving George's distress, during a walk, Caroline elicits his confidence in admitting his disappointment in Rose's marriage. In turn, Caroline confides lingering unhappiness at the loss of her fiancé in the war. When the nearsighted George trips over a tree root, Caroline reaches out to steady him, declaring "I had to grab you!" Mrs. Fisher now values connection with other people. She and Lotty discuss how the group has organically paired off. Lotty assures her there can be many combinations of "pairs". She and Mrs. Fisher will be a pair, forming an enduring friendship.

Cast

as Lotty Wilkins *

as Rose Arbuthnot *

as Caroline Dester *

as Mrs. Fisher *

as Mellersh Wilkins *

as Frederick Arbuthnot * Michael Kitchen as George Briggs

Production

The film was shot on location at Castello Brown in

Portofino Portofino (; ) is a ''comune'' located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore. Since the late 19th centur ...

, Italy, the castle where the author of the book had stayed in the 1920s. The score by

Richard Rodney Bennett Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (29 March 193624 December 2012) was an English composer and pianist. He was noted for his musical versatility, drawing from such sources as jazz, romanticism, and avant-garde; and for his use of twelve-tone technique ...

, featuring flute and oboe themes, evokes the film's mood and accentuates the story's yearning and nostalgia.

Reception

The film premiered as the opening night gala of the

London Film Festival The BFI London Film Festival is an annual film festival held in London, England, in collaboration with the British Film Institute. Founded in 1957, the festival runs for two weeks every October. In 2016, the British Film Institute, BFI estim ...

on 6 November 1991. It gained a positive reaction from critics and holds an 85% rating on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

based on 33 reviews. The consensus summarizes: "Mike Newell's adaptation of Elizabeth von Arnim's novel moves at a more generous pace than the 1935 version, allowing excellent performances from Miranda Richardson and Joan Plowright to flourish."

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{Mike Newell 1991 films 1991 drama films 1990s British films 1990s English-language films 1990s female buddy films 1990s historical drama films British buddy drama films British female buddy films British historical drama films English-language buddy drama films English-language historical drama films Films based on British novels Films directed by Mike Newell Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe winning performance Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe–winning performance Films scored by Richard Rodney Bennett Films set in the 1920s Films set in Liguria Miramax films