Puccini for Beginners (2006)

Director:

Maria Maggenti

Writer (WGA):

Maria Maggenti (written by)

Release Date:

7 February 2007 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A love triangle of operatic proportions

Plot:

A recently-singled New York writer finds herself in two surprising and complicated relationships.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Engagement Party | Commitment | Affair | Party

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Elizabeth Reaser	...	Allegra
Gretchen Mol	...	Grace
Justin Kirk	...	Philip
Julianne Nicholson	...	Samantha
Tina Benko	...	Nell
Jennifer Dundas	...	Molly
Kate Simses	...	Vivian
Brian Letscher	...	Jeff
Will Bozarth	...	Jimmy
Ken Barnett	...	Scott
Becca Anderson	...	Waitress
Ashlie Atkinson	...	Woman on Bench
Jill DeMonstoy	...	Restaurant Patron
Yoshiro Kono	...	Sushi Chef
Nick Psinakis	...	Athletic Guy

Runtime:

USA:82 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Eden Wurmfeld Films

Goofs:

Continuity: Philip's clothing changes three times during his date to the opera with Allegra. When they leave for the opera, he is seen wearing jeans, a sweater and a suit jacket. Immediately after the opera, he is wearing a button-up shirt and khakis instead of his sweater and jeans. During dinner, Philip is seen wearing the sweater with the khakis while his jacket is hanging over the back of his chair.

Quotes:

Allegra: Commit! Just listen to that word, it's what they do in insane asylums!

Movie Connections:

References "The L Word" (2004)

Likable Romantic Triangle Comedy Hamstrung by a Lackluster Lead and Plodding Pacing

Directed and written by Maria Maggenti ("The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love"), this disheveled 2007 romantic triangle comedy has several likable elements, but it never seems to coalesce into something more resonant. The chief problem is that the protagonist, a neurotic, opera-loving lesbian writer appropriately named Allegra, is so perpetually self-absorbed that her dilemma never elicits much sympathy. Elizabeth Reaser is an appealing character actress but frankly not charismatic enough to get away with the commitment-phobic shenanigans that Maggenti throws her way in the acerbic script. The gap causes an odd imbalance with her more intriguing co-stars Justin Kirk and Gretchen Mol. Kirk, who soared as Prior Walter in Mike Nichols' epic 2003 adaptation of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", harnesses his quirky persona effectively to play Philip, a bored philosophy professor who becomes attracted to Allegra.

In turn, Allegra finds herself drawn to Philip but is still reeling from a break-up with her conflicted girlfriend of nine months. Meanwhile, Mol (refreshingly frank as "The Notorious Bettie Page") seems to be channeling a bit of Meg Ryan's flaky self-righteousness in playing Grace, a pert glass-blower who just broke up with Philip. Grace meets Allegra, and the standard complications ensue. Even with the lesbian angle, which Maggenti handles with aplomb, the indie movie feels more like a throwback to a 1930's screwball farce, especially seen in a hectic party scene where all three principals converge in a most haphazard way. Emotional isolation is a worthy theme to explore, but Maggenti can't make the film snap with the strength of her witty observations. One would have also expected a reference to Puccini, in particular, his tragic opera "Turandot", to be reflected more fully than it does here through the plodding plot structure. The 2007 DVD has an insightful commentary track from Maggenti and editor Susan Graef, as well as a couple of deleted scenes.