Stealing Beauty 1996

In the picturesque Tuscan villa of Ian and Diana Grayson, Lucy Harmon, a 19-year-old American poet and model, arrives as a guest, bearing the weight of her recently deceased mother’s legacy. The estate is abuzz with an eclectic mix of visitors, including a New York art gallery owner, an Italian advice columnist, and a terminally ill English writer, Alex Parrish (played by actor). As Lucy settles into her new surroundings, she finds herself drawn to Diana’s daughter, Miranda, who is enjoying the company of Richard Reed, an entertainment lawyer.

As the days unfold, Lucy’s thoughts are consumed by Niccolò Donati, a charming individual she had briefly met and shared a romantic connection with four years prior. Her hopes for rekindling their romance are further fueled by the arrival of her brother, Christopher, who is traveling with Niccolò from a nearby villa. However, Lucy’s plans are soon upended when Parrish shares her secrets with the group, leaving her feeling embarrassed and furious.

Seeking solace in marijuana, Lucy confides in Parrish about her virginity, only to have him broadcast the information to the rest of the villa the following day. Enraged, she decides to cut short her visit, but fate intervenes as Christopher and Niccolò arrive, reuniting Lucy with her brother and stirring up a mix of emotions.

As the night wears on, Niccolò and his brother, Osvaldo, join the group for dinner, followed by an impromptu gathering of young adults who opt to indulge in marijuana. As the conversation turns to their personal experiences with virginity, Lucy finds herself reconnecting with Parrish, sharing stories of their own lost innocence. The evening takes a dramatic turn when Osvaldo demurs from participating, deeming the conversation and the political discussions at the adult table equally absurd.

Lucy’s interactions with Niccolò become increasingly charged, as she struggles to reconcile her feelings for him with his apparent indifference. Their emotional rollercoaster reaches new heights when Lucy vomits in Niccolò’s lap, leaving her feeling embarrassed and vulnerable.

The next day, Lucy cycles to the Donati compound, seeking out Niccolò, only to be told he is occupied in the garden. Her disappointment turns to despair as she discovers him with another person, prompting her hasty departure. As she pedals away from the compound, Osvaldo calls out a greeting, but Lucy fails to acknowledge it, instead focusing on her emotional distress.

Later, Lucy poses for Ian’s sketch outdoors, unwittingly exposing one of her breasts. Niccolò and Osvaldo arrive by car, with Niccolò displaying an unmistakable gaze towards Lucy. Meanwhile, Osvaldo looks away, his eyes focused on the scenery. Lucy wanders off into a nearby olive grove, followed by Niccolò, who initiates a romantic kiss. However, their moment is short-lived as Lucy soon pushes him away, leaving her emotions in turmoil.

As Lucy retreats to the guest house, she shares with Parrish a treasured notebook belonging to her mother, containing a poem that holds the key to unlocking the identity of her real father. Throughout the film’s narrative, Lucy has been probing for answers about her mother, seeking to fill in the gaps of her past. She presents Parrish with a series of seemingly innocuous images, all of which are found in the poem: Sara’s penchant for green sandals, Ian’s fondness for olive leaves, and Carlo Lisca’s reputation as a viper slayer. Lucy’s theory is that these vignettes must relate to her father, and Parrish concurs.

That evening, Lucy dons her mother’s dress at the Donati’s annual soiree, where she encounters Niccolò with another woman, their interaction marked by an air of indifference. Later, she witnesses Osvaldo weaving a hypnotic melody on his clarinet, his soulful performance drawing in a crowd. As the night wears on, Lucy catches Osvaldo dancing with a new partner, their gazes locking in a poignant moment of mutual understanding. Feeling emboldened, Lucy pairs off with a young Englishman and departs for the Grayson’s villa, where they share a chaste but tender evening.

The next morning finds Parrish hospitalized, his condition prompting Lucy to sneak into his quarters in the guest house. As she gazes out at Ian’s sculpture of a mother and child, a profound epiphany strikes her. Seeking answers, Lucy confronts Ian about his whereabouts on August 15, 1975, the fateful day she was conceived. Ian reveals that he was likely here, tending to the villa and possibly working on Sara’s portrait. He suggests they query Diana, but then recalls she was in London finalizing her divorce at the time. The realization dawns on them: Ian is Lucy’s biological father, and she vows to keep this truth hidden.

Meanwhile, Osvaldo arrives on the scene, his presence marked by a sense of inevitability. As Lucy exits Ian’s studio, she inadvertently stumbles into a swarm of bees, prompting Osvaldo to rush to her aid. He applies clay to the affected areas, his hands gentle and reassuring as they walk through the rolling countryside. It is here that Osvaldo confesses his long-held secret: he wrote to Lucy once, pouring out his heart in a letter she holds dear. This confession sets the tone for the evening ahead, as Osvaldo leads her to the very tree where their shared history began.

Under the star-studded sky, Lucy and Osvaldo surrender to their desires, their passion igniting like wildfire as they make love beneath the ancient tree’s boughs. As dawn breaks on a new day, Osvaldo reveals that this was his first time, too, their shared vulnerability forging an unbreakable bond between them.