| The Amalfi coast is famous for its beautiful vacation destination and that’s what’s on display here. People frolicking in the sun, the rest of their lives barely put on hold. I say “barely” because I think some of these people are perpetually on vacation, the others are trying to figure out the next step in life. Under the Amalfi Sun is a pleasant but minimal slice of romantic life. | | 2022
Directed by: Martina Pastori
Screenplay by: Enrico Vanzina, Catarina Salvadori, and Ciro Zecca
Starring: Lorenzo Zurzulo, Ludovica Martino
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A romantic drama that is first about the gorgeous Italian coast and its elegant setting, and second is about the characters and where they’re at in life, and third, well there is no plot so we’re just back to looking at the cliffs and the turquoise water and the historical streets of a still-thriving 11th century town.
There are multiple relationships on display but centered on Camilla and Vincenzo. Vincenzo is blind and in love and ready to commit to Camilla, someone who’s his equal and not someone who will pity him. Camilla is returning to Italy after grad school in Canada. Camilla has brought along her friend Nathalie a Canadian who studied in Italy and is fluent in English and Italian. Nathalie has body and self-image issues, presented in the most annoying manner even if it does make sense. Vincenzo’s friends Furio and Hans are polar opposites. Hans is the super confident, let all the women come to him and all he has to do is wink at them. Furio throws himself at every woman out of his league and then drowns in self-pity. Meanwhile Vincenzo’s mother is also in town on vacation with her new boyfriend.
There are obstacles for all of these characters. Vincenzo is ready to start his life with Camilla but at the same time convince everybody that he is independent and doesn’t need to be doted on. Camilla is thinking about returning to Canada, Nathalie is trying to find romance despite her body-image issues, Furio has to realize that he’s falling for the wrong women and has to find them based on other qualities not just attractiveness, and Vincenzo’s mother has to learn to live her own life and know that her son will be fine without her.
If that sounds very pedestrian and low-stakes and lacking a significant level of interest, you’re right, that’s exactly what this is. Under the Amalfi Sun is a very pretty movie about very little. The characters are well enough constructed but this would work much better cut in half and played out as a pilot for a show about 20-something people with relationship issues.
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