Monday, August 22, 2011

Movie Monday: A Little Romance

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To Europe With Kids presents Movie Monday as a weekly feature to recommend films that might expose children and their families to any small bit of European history, folklore, scenery, or animated imagery as entertainment, perhaps new knowledge, or just a couple of hours of electronic babysitting.
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A Little Romance is a very sweet love story of an adolescent boy and girl in Paris, and if it weren't for a couple of sexual references in the movie, making it rated PG, I would say it's a must-see for every family.  Diane Lane as an intelligent, mature 13 year old American girl going to school in Paris is genuinely adorable in her role as Lauren, who falls in love with Daniel, a French boy.  When Lauren learns that her family will be leaving France to go back to America, she and Daniel decide to run away to Venice.  The film's scenery in Venice is enchanting, and yes, very romantic, especially the climactic scene where the two young lovers glide under the Bridge of Sighs in a gondola to kiss at sunset while the campanile bells are tolling.



A legend, possibly inspired by Lord Byron, says that lovers who kiss underneath the Bridge of Sighs at sunset will be granted eternal love.






Other stunning movie scenes are the Palace of Versailles and its opulent gardens, where the two lovers first meet, and the Italian countryside.



Finally, Sir Laurence Olivier's performance as Julius, an elderly gentleman who befriends the two teenagers and accompanies them in their journey to Venice, is quite entertaining and rich in character.  A Little Romance was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for screenplay and one for original score, and it won the Oscar for original score.

2 comments:

  1. It's been years since I've seen this movie. I think I might have to remedy that soon. Thanks for reminding me what a fun film this is.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had never heard of this movie but I definitely want to see it now - thanks for another great recommendation!

    ReplyDelete

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