A Month by the Lake (1995)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

H.E. Bates (story)
Trevor Bentham (writer)

Release Date:

22 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A charming, wealthy English gentleman. Two beautiful women. If it only takes a moment to fall in love, imagine what can happen in...

Plot:

For 16 years Miss Bentley has been spending April at an elegant hillside villa on Lake Como. This year...

Plot Keywords:

Ear | Italian | Nanny | Flirting | Switzerland

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Vanessa Redgrave	...	Miss Bentley
Edward Fox	...	Major Wilshaw
Uma Thurman	...	Miss Beaumont
Alida Valli	...	Signora Fascioli
Carlo Cartier	...	Mr. Bonizzoni
Alessandro Gassman	...	Vittorio Balsari
Natalia Bizzi	...	Signora Bonizzoni
Frances Nacman	...	1st American Lady
Paolo Lombardi	...	Enrico
Riccardo Rossi	...	Guido
Sonia Martinelli	...	Maria
Veronica Wells	...	2nd American Lady
Carlotta Bresciani	...	Bonizzoni Angel
Bianca Tognocchi	...	Bonissoni Angel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ayanta Barilli

MPAA:

Rated PG for moments of sensuality.

Runtime:

92 min | Germany:85 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Lake Como, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

Anuline

Trivia:

This film also reunites Edward Fox with Vanessa Redgrave since their previous film Oh! What a Lovely War (1969). There is a gap of twenty-six years between the two films.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Miss Bentley is listening to the BBC broadcast it reports a meeting between British prime minister Winston Churchill and German foreign minister von Ribbentrop over German demands that, if not granted, would lead to war. Churchill did not become prime minister until after the war had begun; the pre-war prime minister was Neville Chamberlain.

Quotes:

Vittorio Balsari: [talking about Wilshaw while on a motorcycle] Is he your boyfriend?
Miss Bentley: No! He's not my type!

Soundtrack:

Tuli-Tulip Time

A picture postcard perfect little tale

"A Month by the Lake" has strong parallels with "Up at the Villa" as both films are about the idle rich who spend time at a villa in the North of Italy in the days prior to WWII. "A Month..." is a sublime story about a very starched Brit (Fox) and a somewhat capricious lady (Redgrave). Both mature, in late middle age, the principals stumble along on a collision course with love in this sweet, airy, picture postcard perfect little tale. An enjoyable watch for more mature audiences. A must see for Redgrave fans.