My House in Umbria

Movie Info:
My House in Umbria
Overview
The film recounts a tale of healing and human connection, with a blend of picturesque emotions in the form of “My House in Umbria.” The film is directed by Richard Loncraine and was released in 2003 and is based on Thriller: A Novella by William Trevor. The film is set in an Italian Farm house where after a bomb explodes on a train, a young middle-aged woman, Emily Delahunty who is an author and has a mild romantic history invites several people after the tragic event.
It focuses on the surviving people, a little girl who is an orphan, an old general, and an inconspicuous English- It is the same misery that connects them, and with the generosity of Emily, they start to make progress. Films explore issues of trauma, comfort, love, family, and the intricacies of interpersonal relations as the plot slowly unfolds more secrets and complexities in the character change.
Achievements & Honors
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Maggie Smith).
Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (Maggie Smith).
Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.
Actors & Actresses
Director: Richard Loncraine
Apart from being an award-winning director and screenwriter, Loncraine has a good command on how to combine descriptively strong and lively characters with calm nurturing visuals in most of his works.
Main Cast:
- Maggie Smith as Delahunty: She also performs your emotions perfectly portraying multiple angles and psychology aspects of the character.
Chris Cooper as Thomas Riversmith: The protagonist seeks resolution after the catastrophic tragedy even as he grieves.
Ronnie Barker as the General: An interesting off character of sorts within the group.
Timothy Spall as Quinty: One of Emily’s friends loyal companion who has his quirk.
IMDb Ratings
The film has an IMDb rating of 6.9 and the audience bears a great praise for its relevant acting especially the backdrops filled with Italy.
Personal Insights
My House in Umbria is, in a subtle way, a strong and touching movie which deserves the praise particularly for the many nuances of Emily brought by Maggie Smith in perhaps one of her finest roles. She manages to craft a multi-layered character arc, infusing the role with depth where the character of Emily is the emotional drive of the storyline. The movie itself is rather slow for most of its runtime, focused on showcasing interactions between characters and the gorgeous scenery.
Cultural Significance
The film conveys in stunning ways the themes of art and nature as healing forces through the Umbria landscape, symbolizing healing, nurturance and potential for growth. It also dwells on grief and love, and how relief may, at times, come from the most ambiguous places. The film’s emphasis on highlights the ‘never give up’ attitude of people who have experienced such terrible events seems apt due to current global issues.
Final Thoughts
For all the people who love dramas that focus more on character explorations rather than the action itself with the perfect balance and the right intensity, My House in Umbria is not to be missed.
The film tells a tale of hope conveyed by Maggie Smith’s performance set against the beautify of Italy. A film that will surely be remembered as the closing credits scrolls.