A Small, English Feel-Good Movie With Great Charm
Published in 1922, Elizabeth von Arnim's novel The Enchanted April was successful then and is still easily obtainable. The novel has been adapted twice to the screen and once to the stage, these later incarnations of the story dropping the article adjective from the title. In 1935 Hollywood released a now nearly forgotten film adaptation. But in 1992 a delightful British screen version came out that was a modest commercial success and received three Oscar nods: Best Supporting Actress (Joan Plowright), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Costume Design. In 2003 a stage adaptation ran on Broadway and went on to win the Tony for Best Play. At last, the 1992 movie Enchanted April is being released on DVD for the first time, and that is what is discussed here.
The story is straightforward, but the film is extremely pleasant and exquisitely done. In about 1921 four discontented Englishwomen "who appreciate wisteria and sunshine" leave their humdrum lives behind to spend a month at a castle on the Italian coast. After a series of small incidents, the ladies' attitudes improve, and they are joined by three men. By the end of their sojourn at the castle, all the major characters are enjoying a feeling of well-being.
There's lots of dialog, but it sparkles. The ensemble cast, which includes Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Alfred Molina and Jim Broadbent, is topnotch. The location shooting at a real-life castle on the Italian Riviera makes you long to be there with the characters. This is a slight film, but if you appreciate wisteria and sunshine, you'll almost certainly like it.
A Good Audio Commentary by Director and Producer
The DVD's only extra is a feature-length audio commentary by director Mike Newell and producer Ann Scott. They recorded the commentary some 17 years after making the film, so they have forgotten some production details, but this is more than made up for by the perspective they have gained. Newell occasionally wonders aloud what he could have been thinking back then, as in a scene where he shot a beautiful actress staring into a bunch of weeds.
Scott says the film was funded by the BBC and originally intended for television, but American distributor Harvey Weinstein changed that. Newell's recollection is that he had a final version of the movie he was completely happy with, but Weinstein forced cuts totaling 15 minutes, although Scott recalls it as being more like six minutes.
The stunning location where they shot was Castello Brown, which is on the Italian coast in the wealthy enclave at Portofino, near Genoa and Rapallo. There was no road that went all the way to the castle, which is perched high on a cliff, so logistics were difficult because everything was hand-carried up a steep incline by people on foot for the final mile or so. There's irritation in Newell's voice as he recalls the frequent noise made by helicopters flying the rich and their guests from boats up to nearby cliff-top villas.
The commentators talk a little about the film's music, and Newell identifies an unusual sound as emanating from an ondes Martenot, an electronic instrument that dates back to the 1920s.
All in all, Newell and Scott provide a commentary that is both informative and amusing.
DVD Details
Below I have listed all the details for the DVD containing Enchanted April.
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Feature Film Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for Some Mild Language
Widescreen (1.85:1), Color
English 5.1 Dolby Surround
English Captioned for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Audio Commentary by Director Mike Newell and Producer Ann Scott
