Under the Tuscan Sun

I just finished watching a good movie that had a great message...at least in my opinion. "Under the Tuscan Sun" chronicles the life of Frances -- a San Francisco writer who impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany after a bitter divorce. There are many things that I like about this film including the acting, the characters, and the lush scenery that makes me want to go back to Italy immediately. But the best part of it is the central theme.

Frances dreams of filling her Tuscan villa with a family of her own someday -- and a kitchen full of people to cook for. Throughout the film, Frances returns to one analogy over and over again: "they built the tracks from Vienna to Venice before they had the train that could make the trip." I interpreted the meaning to be that each person must build a life for themselves -- and decide to be happy even if everything isn't perfect. Once you do, you can open yourself up to the possibility of love. And throughout the journey, you may find that you've had everything you ever wished for all along.

In the end, Frances realizes all of this....and most importantly that her impromptu decision to change her life in such a drastic way allowed her to be truly happy. I hope that all of us can be as lucky, even though luck has nothing to do with it.